STI AWARENESS MONTH
STI AWARENESS MONTH
April is recognized as Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) Month, an annual observance to raise public awareness
about the impact of STIs and the importance of preventing, testing for, and treating STIs.
STI Facts
What is an STI?
•Any infection transmitted by sexual intercourse or genital contact.
•STIs are serious and painful and can cause major health problems. Some STIs infect the sexual and reproductive or-
gans; others (such as HIV and syphilis) can be transmitted from mother to child during pregnancy and child birth.
•Most STIs can be cured if you get treated early. Sometimes, you can have STIs with no signs or symptoms. At other
times the symptoms will go away without treatment but you still have the STIs and you must get treatment in order to
get rid of the STIs.
How to recognize Sexually Transmitted Infections
The following common symptoms may occur in infected men and women:
•A drip or unusual discharge from the sex organ
•Sores, bumps or blisters on or near the sex organs, anus or mouth
•Burning pain when you urinate (pee) or have a bowel movement
•A swelling or redness in your throat
•Swelling in your groin, the area around your sex organs
Additionally, women may have the following symptoms:
•Pain in the area between your belly bottom and sex organs
•Burning or itching around your vagina
•Vaginal bleeding between periods
•Pain deep inside the vagina when you have sex
STIs that cause discharge
The following STIs may cause genital discharge:
•Gonorrhea
•Chlamydia
•Bacterial Vaginosis
•Trichomoniasis
STIs can cause genital sores
The following STIs may cause genital sores:
•Chancroid
•Genital Herpes
•Syphilis
•Lymphogranuloma Venereum (LGV)
•Granuloma Inguinale (GI)
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON HIV AND STDs CONTACT RICKY PASCOE, HIV INFORMATION OFFICER, TPDCO
[email protected]
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