Image
A couple lay in their bed.
Preventive Care

How to Avoid Common STDs

What’s common, preventable, treatable, but can be devastating if ignored? Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) — also known as sexually transmitted infections (STIs) — perfectly describe what they are. They are infections or diseases transmitted in blood or genital fluids through vaginal, anal, or oral sex. Millions of cases are reported annually despite being entirely preventable, treatable, and curable in most cases. 

Staying safe from STDs and STIs is not only simple, but it’s essential to your overall health. 

The Difference Between STD and STI

STD was the common term decades ago, but now there are differentiators between STDs and STIs. An STI can be a virus, bacteria, parasite, or fungus transmitted through sexual contact. There may not be any symptoms from the STI. Left untreated, it could evolve into an STD.

People use these abbreviations interchangeably. Doctors use “STI” more often because health care and public health officials target the infection before it becomes an STD.

A gay couple sit in their bedroom.

STI Prevalence

There are more than 30 different bacteria, parasites, and viruses transmitted through sexual contact, according to the World Health Organization. It estimates more than 1 million STIs are acquired daily. Many infections are asymptomatic.

Anyone can contract an STI, but specific populations are affected more than others. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, young people aged 15–24, men who have sex with men (MSM), and racial and ethnic minority groups are often most affected by STIs.

Pregnant women must be prudent as they can pass STIs to their unborn children or their babies during childbirth. It is essential for anyone who has sex to get tested for an STI.

The Most Common STIs
 

  • Chlamydia — This common bacterial STI can infect men and women in the genitals, throat, and rectum. It often presents without symptoms. If untreated, it can result in pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) in women and infertility in both sexes. It can cause eye infections or pneumonia in babies during childbirth. It is curable with the proper medication.
  • Gonorrhea — This is another bacterial STI infecting the genitals, rectum, and throat of men and women. Symptoms can include painful urination, unusual discharge, and pelvic pain in women. Infertility and joint problems can result if not treated. It is curable with the proper medication. There are some drug-resistant strains of gonorrhea. Gonorrhea cases increased by 11% from 2018 to 2022, according to the CDC.
  • Human Papillomavirus (HPV) — This viral infection is the most common STI in the U.S. A person infected with HPV can pass it on despite having no symptoms. It can cause genital warts or cancer of the vulva, vagina, penis, anus, or the back of the throat. The cancers don’t develop until years after the person gets HPV. Luckily, there is a vaccine that prevents HPV. It is administered to children when they are around 11 or 12 years old. 
  • Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) — HSV exists in two forms, HSV-1 and HSV-2. While HSV-1 typically causes oral herpes (cold sores), HSV-2 is responsible for genital herpes. Symptoms include painful sores or blisters in the genital area, fever, and swollen lymph nodes. Antiviral medications can help manage symptoms and reduce the risk of transmission. There is no cure.
  • Syphilis — Syphilis can be cured with the proper antibiotics. Untreated, it can be devastating as it advances through four stages. It starts with sores that can be scarring and could lead to blindness, deafness, hair loss, or dementia. Syphilis cases increased by 80% from 2018 to 2022, per the CDC. There was a 183% increase in cases of syphilis among newborns (congenital syphilis) during that same period.
  • Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) — HIV is a virus that weakens a person’s immune system by destroying important cells that fight disease and infection. Many people have flu-like symptoms (fever, sore throat, muscle aches, rash) within 2 to 4 weeks after infection, but some people have no symptoms at all. The only way to know if you have HIV is to get tested. There is currently no effective cure for HIV, but with proper medical care, HIV can be controlled. People with HIV who get effective HIV treatment can live long, healthy lives and protect their partners. 
A patient and nurse review a medical chart.

Prevention

There are many ways you can prevent STIs, including:

  • Vaccination — Get vaccinated against HPV and hepatitis B, which can be transmitted sexually.
  • Condoms — Use male latex condoms or female condoms the correct way every time. They’re better than non-latex or natural membrane condoms for STD prevention.
  • HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) — You can take PrEP, a medication to prevent HIV before getting exposed to it. PrEP is available as a daily pill or an injection every 2 months. PrEP prevents HIV by up to 99% if you are exposed to HIV through sexual encounters. Talk to a medical provider about starting PrEP. 
  • HIV post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) — You can take PEP, which is usually made up of two medications, after you have potentially been exposed to HIV. You must see a medical provider and start PEP within 72 hours of exposure to HIV to prevent getting infected. PEP is taken for 28 days to stop the virus from infecting your body.
  • DoxyPEP — If you are a man who has sex with men (MSM) or a transgender woman, you can take an antibiotic called doxycycline within 72 hours of condomless sex to prevent getting bacterial STIs like chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis. Talk to a medical provider about getting DoxyPEP.
  • Fewer sex partners — The fewer sexual partners you have, the lower your risk of exposure.
  • Mutual Monogamy — You and your partner agree to only have sex with each other. Get tested to make sure you’re both STD-free.

Your Options with AltaMed

There are numerous new ways to prevent the transmission of STIs. Yet, this increased risk is due to our education system’s shortcomings in effective sexual education, as well as limited access to STI testing and treatment. In addition to health resources and information, AltaMed offers condoms, rapid HIV testingPrEP, PEP, DoxyPEP, and screenings.

If you are looking for ways to reduce your risk for an STI or if you received an STI diagnosis and need help, call (888) 499-9303 or click here to get started. For those in need of immediate medical attention, find an AltaMed urgent care location near you.

Get started with AltaMed

See how AltaMed Health Services can help your family grow healthy.

Learn More

How to Avoid Common STDs