Facts About STDs
(Sexually Transmitted Diseases)

The Basics

• 1 in 4 sexually active teens will get an infection from sex (STD).
• You could have an STD and not know it.
• Are you sexually active AND under 26 years old? If so, get checked for STDs. Your age group is at higher risk for STDs.
• Getting checked for STDs is easier than you think. And it's often free (if you qualify for Family PACT.)
• If you have ever had an STD, it is easier to get HIV.
• Use a condom or dental dam for all types of sex - anal, oral, vaginal. Check out the Safer Sex Toolbox.
• You can get some STDs even if you use a condom.
• Questions about STDs? Talk to a nurse at 454-4339, Mon - Fri 8 am - 5 pm. If you get an answering machine, your call will be returned by the next business day.

How do STDs spread from person to person?

You can get an STD if you have sex (vaginal, anal, or oral) with an infected person. This includes kissing, touching, or rubbing someone's mouth, vagina, penis, or anus. Some STDs (HIV and hepatitis B) are also spread by contact with infected blood.

Here are some common STDs:

Chlamydia or NGU: the most common STD, often has no symptoms
Genital Warts: wart-like bumps on the penis, vagina, cervix, or anus
Gonorrhea: common symptoms in men: hurts to pee, penis drips fluid
Hepatitis B: much more infectious than HIV, but a vaccine is available
Herpes: sores or blisters on sex organs or mouth
HIV/AIDS: check out Rubberman's The Facts about HIV for info

For more information on these and other STDs, check out San Francisco City Clinic's website.

You could have an STD and not know it.

Sometimes STDs do not have any signs or symptoms. Or sometimes the signs go away. Either way, you may need to get checked by a doctor or nurse.

So how do you know if you should get checked for STDs? Take this quiz to find out if you are at high risk for STDs or not.

What are common signs of STDs?

Here are common signs or symptoms of STDs. (But remember, 80% of guys have no symptoms.)

• If your penis drips fluid
• If it hurts to pee
• If you have bumps, sores, or a rash around your penis or anus
• If it itches around or on your penis
• Swollen testicles

If you have any of these signs, get checked. Go to one of these clinics.

How do you prevent getting an STD?

The only way to protect yourself 100% from STDs is not to have sex. If that doesn't work for you, check out Rubberman's Top 10 Ways to Protect Yourself.

So why are STDs a big deal?

STDs can make you:
· Sick, and may even kill you.
· Sterile - you might not be able to get a woman pregnant.

Also:
·You could pass the STD to your partner.
·If your partner is pregnant, you can pass the STD to the baby.

If you think you have an STD…

• Get treated. Check out these clinics.
• Tell your partner(s). They need to get treated too.
• Do not have sex till you are done with your treatment.
• This means waiting 7 days after both you and your partner have been treated. If you have sex too soon, you and your partner can get the STD again.
• When you start having sex again, use a condom every time.

Women should use a male condom or a female condom up to a month after treatment. Their bodies need to heal. Before they heal, they are at higher risk for HIV.

It's your right!

If you are 12 years or older, it's your right to get confidential reproductive health services. What does this really mean? You can get STD exams and birth control without anyone else finding out about it. There is no reason to feel uncomfortable about getting these services. It's your legal right!

What's an STD checkup like?

For some guys, it's embarrassing for a doctor or nurse to examine their penis. And some guys have said that STD exams hurt a little.

Here is the good news:

• It's quick.
• The end result is that you know whether you have an STD or not.
• Ask for the urine test - it's painless and simple. It only tests for 2 STDs, chlamydia and gonorrhea, so you might need a different test to check for other STDs. Planned Parenthood, UCSC, and some doctors offer the urine test.

Where should you go to get a checkup? Go to your doctor or to one of these clinics.