HIV AIDS STD & STIs

Bacterial, Viral and Parasitic STDs & STIs

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A Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) is a sickness that is passed on from one person to another during sexual activity.  There are many different types of STIs that can be passed on during oral sex, vaginal sex or anal sex. Some can even be passed on by skin-to-skin genital contact.  It is important to treat STIs as soon as possible and not to spread them. Many can easily be cured, but if an STI is left untreated, it may cause other complications in the body. Some types of STIs can cause infertility or even death. Some common STDs are chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, syphilis, herpes, and HPV (genital warts). Sometimes STDs are called "VD". You can get an STD if you have sex (ANY kind of sex - vaginal, anal or oral) without a condom with someone who has an STD.

HIV is the virus that causes AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome). HIV is spread by having vaginal, anal or oral sex without a condom with someone who has HIV. You can also get HIV if you share drug "works" (such as needles and syringes) with someone who has HIV.   HIV attacks the body's immune system and makes it weak. A person with HIV has AIDS when his/her body's immune system becomes too weak to fight diseases. There are medicines that can help people with HIV, but there is no cure for HIV or AIDS.