What young people need to know about STIs

Key messages about STIs and safer sex

• STIs can be passed on through unprotected vaginal, oral and anal sex.
• Most people don't realise they have an STI so they can spread very quickly and easily.
• STIs are very common in young people.
• Most STIs are easy to treat. For some STIs it is just a single dose of antibiotics.
• Some STIs and BBVs can't be cured but treatments are available to ease symptoms and reduce the risk of passing them on. (e.g. herpes and HIV).
• Most people don't have any symptoms at all but some may notice pain, discharge, itchiness, rash or sores in their sex parts.
• If untreated, STIs can cause long-term harm (e.g. infertility).
• If young people are having sex, the only way to know for sure if they have an STI is to get tested.
• People who are sexually active should consider getting tested once a year or when they have a new sexual partner.
• An STI test is very quick and easy.
• It usually just involves weeing in a specimen jar at the doctors or sexual health clinic. The urine sample is analysed in a laboratory.
• Sometimes blood samples and/or genital and mouth swabs are taken. You can't tell by looking at a person whether they have an STI or not.
• You can be reinfected with an STI.
• Condoms and dams (a thin latex square held over the anal or vaginal area during oral sex) reduce the risk of getting an STI.
• The Pill, contraceptive implants and injections and the Emergency Contraception pill do not protect you from STIs.
• The human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination, given in high school, prevents genital warts and genital cancers (e.g. cervical cancer). 
  It is important to have both doses for the best protection. (If a dose is missed, a catch up dose can be given by a doctor.)
• Talk honestly with your partner/s - if you and your partner are only having sex with each other, you might agree to stop using condoms after getting tested and treated (if needed). 
  Remember, other forms of contraception will still be needed to prevent pregnancy.
• Some kinds of sex are safer than others when it comes to reducing the risk of STIs. 
  Lower risk activities include kissing, masturbating, mutual masturbation, touching your partner's genitals, touching over clothes, oral sex. 
  Lower risk does not mean no risk at all - it is still possible to get some STIs from these activities. 
  Condoms and dams are the best ay to avoid contact with skin and fluids to prevent STIs.