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stds and hiv

STDs

HIV

Get Tested, Get Treated

Birth Control
Condoms
Emergency Contraception
Keeping Safe and Healthy

Use a new condom every time.
Use it the right way every time.

- How to use a male condom
- How to use a female condom

Did you know?

Having one STD makes it more likely that you will get another STD, including HIV.

You can get STDs from oral sex.

For safer oral sex: Use a regular condom for oral sex on the penis. For oral-anal or oral-vaginal sex you can make a latex square (called a dental dam) by cutting the end off a condom before you unroll it, and then cutting down the length of the condom to make a square.

A dental dam will protect against STDs during oral sex - it's not a form of birth control. Use condoms and other birth control to prevent pregnancy during vaginal sex.

You have the right to:

Use protection.
Demand protection.

STDs: The Basics

How do you get STDs?

Sexually transmitted diseases (called STDs or STIs) are infections that are spread from person to person during sex. That includes: STDs and HIV: The Basics

Vaginal sex
Oral sex
Anal sex

There are many STDs:

Chlamydia
"Crabs" (pubic lice)
Genital Herpes
Gonorrhea
Hepatitis B
HIV/AIDS (spread through sex and in other ways)
HPV (which can cause genital warts and cervical cancer)
Syphilis
Trichomoniasis
Vaginal Infections (though not all vaginal infections are caused by sex)
and more

Symptoms

If you are having symptoms such as pain, swelling, sores, or unusual discharge/fluid from your penis or vagina, you might have an STD. But remember, some STDs have no symptoms. To know for sure, get tested. At STD clinics in New York State, tests and treatment are confidential and often free for teens.

How can I avoid STDs? Take Control:

Not having sex (vaginal, oral, or anal) is 100% effective!
For vaginal or anal sex, use a latex or polyurethane condom every time.
For safer oral sex, use a latex dental dam or condom.
Get Tested, Get Treated - because having one STD makes you more likely to get another, including HIV.
Know your partner's status too.Talk with your partner about STDs.

Can I tell if someone has a disease?

No. You really can't tell by looking at someone that they have an STD. The truth is that for some STDs, more than half of the people infected don't have symptoms! Even if you don't look or feel sick, you can still spread STDs to your partner. The only way to know for sure is to get tested.

Do many teens have STDs?

About 1 out of 4 sexually active teens has had an STD by their 18th birthday, and half of young adults have had an STD by their 25th birthday.
Over 25,000 New York teens were diagnosed with Chlamydia in 2008.
Every 9 1/2 minutes, someone in the U.S. is infected with HIV.

These are just a few of the statistics. If you have sex, take control by using condoms and dental dams.

Can STDs be cured?

Many STDs can be cured. STDs caused by bacteria - such as gonorrhea, Chlamydia and syphilis - can be treated and cured with medicine. There is no cure for HIV and other STDs caused by viruses - like herpes, genital warts, or hepatitis B and C - but these can be treated (to help with symptoms). Get tested and treated for a longer, healthier life.

Are STDs passed to babies?

Yes, they can be. If you get pregnant and you have an STD, your baby might need treatment too.

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