STIs, also known as STDs, are infections passed between people through sexual contact. They can be caused by viruses or bacteria. Common STIs include chlamydia, gonorrhea, herpes, HIV, and HPV. STIs spread through unprotected vaginal, oral, or anal sex with an infected partner. Women are often at higher risk than men because female anatomy makes transmission easier and some STIs may not show obvious symptoms. The best ways to prevent STIs include getting vaccinated, using condoms consistently, getting tested regularly, being in a mutually monogamous relationship, limiting number of partners, and avoiding alcohol and drug abuse.

1. STI Prevention For Woman
By: Samantha White

2. What is an STI?
Sexually transmitted infections (STI’s) are infections you can get by having sex with
someone who has an infection. These infections are usually passed from person to
person through vaginal intercourse, but they can also be passed through anal sex, oral
sex or skin-to-skin contact. STIs can be caused by viruses or bacteria.

3. Common Types:
Bacterial vaginosis (BV)
Chlamydia
Cystitis (urinary tract infection, UTI)
Gonorrhea
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis C
Herpes (herpes simplex type 1 and 2, HSV)
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
Human papillomavirus (genital warts, HPV)
Lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV)
Molluscum Contagiosum
Non-gonococcal urethritis (NGU)
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
Phthirus pubis (crabs, pubic lice)
Syphilis
Trichomoniasis
Vaginitis (vaginal yeast infection)

4. How Do STI’s Spread?
● Having unprotected (without a condom) vaginal, oral, or anal sex with
someone who has an STI. It can be difficult to tell if someone has an STI.
STIs can be spread even if there are no signs or symptoms.
● During genital touching. It is possible to get some STIs, such as syphilis
and herpes, without having sex.
● Through sexual contact between women who have sex only with other
women
● From a pregnant or breastfeeding woman to her baby

5. ASK!
Although it may be uncomfortable, talk to your partner before having any sexual contact.
Some of the risk factors are having sex with several partners, using injected drugs and having had an STI
in the past.
To be safe, protect yourself no matter what the person says.
You must also tell your partner if you have an STI.
You aren’t doing yourself or your partner any favors by trying to hide it.
How do I know if my partner has an STI?

6. More than 9 Million woman
in the United States are diagnosed with an STI each year.

7. Why women are more at risk than men:
Women have a greater likelihood of confusing the symptoms with something else. Many women often have signs of an STD that
can be mistaken for another common ailment, such as a yeast infection. Since discharge is considered abnormal in men, their
symptoms are much more clear.
Female anatomy puts women more at risk than men. Female genitals are thinner and more delicate than male genitals, giving
bacteria and viruses an easier pathway.
Sores are easier to see for males than females. For STDs like herpes and or syphilis, ulcers and sores are common issues.
However, women may have a more difficult time locating these problems because they may not see them on their skin.
Women are less likely to show symptoms of gonorrhea and chlamydia. Unfortunately, these are also two of the most common
STDs in the United States. For women, sometimes these symptoms can go away even though the infection is still in their bodies.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the U.S. Although men do have the ability to
carry the infection and pass it to others, women have much more dire consequences from the infection. In fact, HPV is one of the main
causes of cervical cancer.
It's possible to pass STDs from mother to child. Genital herpes, HIV and syphilis can all be passed from a mother to a baby during
pregnancy and at delivery.

8. How To Prevent
STI

9. The #1 way to prevent STI’s is to not have sex
If you do have sex, lower your risk of getting an STI with the following steps:
● Get vaccinated. There are vaccines to protect against HPV and hepatitis B.
● Use condoms. Condoms are the best way to prevent STIs when you have sex. Because a
man does not need to ejaculate to give or get some STIs, make sure to put the condom
on before the penis touches the vagina, mouth, or anus.
● Get tested. Be sure you and your partner are tested for STIs. Talk to each other about
the test results before you have sex.
● Be monogamous. Having sex with just one partner can lower your risk for STIs.
● Limit your number of sex partners. Your risk of getting STIs goes up with the number of
partners you have.
● Do not douche. Douching removes some of the normal bacteria in the vagina that
protects you from infection.
● Do not abuse alcohol or drugs. Drinking too much alcohol or using drugs increases risky
behavior and may put you at risk of sexual assault and possible exposure to STIs.

11. References
https://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/sexually
-transmitted-infections
https://familydoctor.org/condition/sexually-transmitt
ed-infections-stis/
https://www.sexualhealth.com/why-women-are-mo
re-at-risk-for-stds-than-men_n_1592/
https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/sexually-transmitte
d-infections-sti
https://www.optionsforsexualhealth.org/sexual-hea
lth/sexually-transmitted-infections