REDUCING THE RISK

The best way to prevent STIs is to not have sexual contact at all. If you choose to have sex, there are ways to reduce the risk of infection.

Ways of reducing your risk include:



Using CONDOMS or “rubbers” that are latex, polyurethane, polyisoprene or nitrile correctly and consistently each and every time, start to finish.

 Using condoms with a WATER-BASED or siliconebased LUBRICANT to prevent breakage.

 Not having sex with people who have sores, discharges, or blisters around their mouth or sex organs.

 Not having sex with someone you don't know well.

 Finding out your partner’s sexual history

WARNING: Condoms do not protect against all STIs. If not treated, STIs can result in serious organ damage (even if the outward symptoms disappear) including sterility (inability to have children), heart disease, and damage to unborn babies, blindness, deafness, non-healing skin sores, paralysis, and even death.

Tests

If you want to get tested for sexually transmitted infections, you may ask for a confidential test. This means that these services are kept private and no one but you will be given your test results.

All you have to do is contact your doctor or local clinic, and let them know you want to be tested. You will be given a medical examination and a blood test that determines the presence of HIV or other STI’s.

There is a chance that you may not be able to tell when you have an STI because many of them do not show any symptoms.

If you think you may have an STI, do not be embarrassed to see a doctor. The longer it goes untreated, the more damage it will do to your body. Remember: most STIs can be treated, and most can be cured.

If you do find out that you have an STI or HIV, it is extremely important to tell anyone with whom you have had sexual contact because he or she has also been exposed to the disease and must seek appropriate medical attention.

To learn more about preventing or treating STIs call: