A Word From Our Experts

A UTI occurs when bacteria enters and infects the urinary tract. UTIs can affect several parts of the urinary tract, but the most common type of UTI is a bladder infection.

You may feel pain or burning while urinating, frequent urination, feeling the need to urinate even when your bladder is empty, low fever, cloudy or bloody urine, and pressure or cramping in the groin or lower abdomen.

Physical exam and/or urine test.

Antibiotics. You will also need to drink plenty of water to help the bacteria clear from your body.

If you don’t take medicine for a UTI, the UTI can hurt other parts of your body such as your kidneys.

Urinate before and after sexual activity, stay well-hydrated and urinate regularly, take showers instead of baths, and minimize douching and sprays or powders in the genital area.

Yeast infections are very common. A yeast infection occurs when there is overgrowth of the normal yeast in the vagina. Yeast is always present in and on the body but in small amounts.

Your genitals may itch or burn, and see “cottage cheese-like” vaginal discharge. Your genitals may look red and swollen.

A pelvic exam and testing of the discharge to look for overgrowth of fungus.

For yeast infections use antifungal creams. Keep the area clean and dry. Avoid tight fitting clothes, panty hose and soaps. Do not use a vaginal douche.

Untreated yeast infection can be transmitted to other partners. Also, an untreated infection can cause discomfort. It can cause vulvovaginitis, an inflammation or infection of the vulva or vagina.

Keep your vulva clean but avoid strong soaps and perfumes in your genitals. Clean your genitals very well after using the toilet wiping from front to back. Do not use vaginal douche.

Bacterial vaginosis is not an STI. It is an overgrowth of bacteria in the vagina. It happens when too much of certain bacteria change the normal balance of bacteria in the vagina.

Many women with vaginosis do not have symptoms. Some may notice white or gray vaginal discharge, fishy odor, pain, itching, or burning in the vagina.

Vaginal swab.

Antibiotics. It can come back even after treatment.

If you are sexually active, vaginosis may increase your chance of getting infected, if exposed to STIs, or cause premature birth if pregnant.

Limit your number of sex partners. Do not use vaginal douches. Use latex, polyurethane, or polyisoprene condoms every time you have sex. Abstinence is the only way to prevent it 100%.

Hepatitis B is a viral infection that causes inflammation of the liver. It is transmitted from contact with blood, semen, vaginal fluid, or other body fluids from an infected person.

Many people with hepatitis do not have symptoms and do not know they are infected. Symptoms can include fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine, grey-colored stools, joint pain, and jaundice.

Blood test.

Depending on the type of Hepatitis B infection you have, it can either get cured on its own or with treatment.

You may develop cirrhosis of the liver and/or liver cancer.

Know if your partner is infected before having sex. Abstinence is the only way to prevent it 100%. Use a latex, polyurethane, or polyisoprene condom for vaginal and anal sex. Get a Hepatitis B vaccine before becoming sexually active. Babies get vaccinated at birth, you may already be vaccinated.

HIV is a viral infection that can be contracted through unprotected vaginal, anal, and oral sex, and through needle sharing.

Some people may develop brief flu-like symptoms soon after infection. However, it may take up to 10 years to develop later stage symptoms. There are several stages of HIV; the first stage includes swollen glands in the throat, armpit, or groin, slight fever, headaches, fatigue, and muscle aches. The later stages includes weakening of the immune system causing you to become vulnerable to unusual serious infections, weight loss, and lymph node swelling.

Cheek swab and blood test.

No cure. There are treatments to keep the virus under control and prevent developing other infections.

If you don’t treat it, HIV leads to AIDS, the most advanced stage of HIV where the immune system gets seriously compromised.

Know if your partner is infected before having sex. Abstinence is the only way to prevent it 100%. Use a latex, polyurethane, or polyisoprene condom for vaginal and anal sex. People at very high risk may take PrEP (pre exposure prophylaxis) medications prior to high risk exposures when they are not infected, to reduce the risk of an infection.

Oral and genital herpes are viral infections transmitted through vaginal, anal, and oral sex, and direct contact with a sore. Even when using a condom, herpes can be contracted through skin-to skin contact with infected areas not covered by the condom. Herpes is very common among teens. If you touch the fluid from a sore, you can infect any other body part you touch with herpes.

Most people do not have symptoms for both genital and oral herpes. For genital herpes, symptoms include sores on the vagina, penis, anus, buttocks, cervix, and mouth, with burning or itching. Herpes sores bleed easily and can increase your risk for HIV infection if you have sex with an HIV positive person. For oral herpes, symptoms include blisters or cold sores around the lips or mouth.

Test on material from a genital sore, blood test.

No cure. Symptoms can be managed with medications.

The virus hides in nerve endings and infection may come back from time to time. It may be passed to an unborn baby during pregnancy and birth.

Know if your partner is infected before having sex. Abstinence is the only way to prevent it 100%. Latex, polyurethane, or polyisoprene condoms can protect you only if they cover the sore, but sores can appear anywhere is the body not covered by a condom. Avoid having sex during an outbreak.

HPV is a big family of viruses. Some may cause warts and others cancer. You can get HPV through unprotected vaginal, anal, and oral sex. Even when using a condom, HPV can be contracted through skin-to skin contact with infected areas not covered by the condom. It is the most common viral STI among teens.

Most women may not have any symptoms and some HPV viruses clear out on their own. Some types of HPV produce warts (moist, pink growth around the anus or genitals). Other types of HPV can cause cancer of the cervix, vulva, vagina, anus, penis, and throat.

As part of your annual Pap test (swab of cervix).

There is no cure. Some warts can be removed.

No cure. Some warts may clear on their own, but they could still cause cancer years later.

Abstinence is the only way to prevent it 100%. Get the HPV vaccine before you become sexually active and always use a latex, polyurethane, or polyisoprene condom during sex to reduce your chance of getting infected. The vaccine is given in 3 doses and helps prevent most cases of HPV that lead to cervical cancer. Routine Pap smears help prevent cervical cancer.

Syphilis is a bacterial infection caused by direct contact with syphilitic sores during vaginal, anal, and oral sex. Sores can appear anywhere on the body but are usually painless.

You may feel painless sores lasting 3 to 6 weeks, usually on your vulva or penis. During the secondary stage people can develop skin rashes on the body, including their hands and feet, sores in the vagina, or anus; sore throat, weight loss, and headache and muscle pains. During the third stage people can develop damage to the nervous system, heart, and brain.

Blood tests.

Antibiotics. You and your partner(s) must be treated to prevent re-infection.

It can lead to skin, bone, heart, brain disease, and blindness.

Know if your partner is infected before having sex. Abstinence is the only way to prevent it 100%. Latex, polyurethane, or polyisoprene condoms can protect you only if they cover the sore, but sores can appear anywhere in the body not covered by a condom.

“Trich,” as it is commonly referred, is a parasitic infection. It is very common but also very curable.

Most people do not have symptoms. You can have vaginal discharge, odor, itching, burning, redness or soreness in your genitals.

Laboratory test done by a medical provider on the vaginal discharge.

Antibiotics. You and your partner(s) must be treated to prevent re-infection.

It increases the risk of getting or spreading other STIs. Can cause preterm birth if you are pregnant.

Know if your partner is infected before having sex. Abstinence is the only way to prevent it 100%. Use a latex, polyurethane, or polyisoprene condom every time you have sex. But condoms don’t cover all areas and you can still get infected. Avoid sex until all symptoms have gone away after treatment.

Gonorrhea is a bacterial infection caused by contact with body fluids through unprotected vaginal, anal, and oral sex. It is one of the most common STIs among young people.

You may feel abnormal vaginal discharge (most common), abdominal pain, bleeding between periods, pain during urination or sex, or frequent urination. However, many women never have symptoms.

Urine test and vaginal, throat, or rectum swab.

Antibiotics. You and your partner(s) must be treated to prevent re-infection.

Gonorrhea can cause infertility, pelvic pain, pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy, arthritis, skin rash, and may increase chances of getting HIV.

Know if your partner is infected before having sex. Abstinence is the only way to prevent it 100%. Use a latex, polyurethane, or polyisoprene condom every time you have sex. Don’t forget that you can get it through oral sex too.

Chlamydia is a bacterial infection caused by contact with body fluids through unprotected vaginal, anal, and oral sex. It is the most common bacterial infection among teens.

You may feel abnormal vaginal discharge (most common), abdominal pain, bleeding between periods, pain during urination or sex, and frequent urination. However, many women never have symptoms. Men also have discharge from the penis, a burning sensation while urinating and painful or swollen testicles.

Urine test, vaginal, throat or rectal swab.

Antibiotics. You and your partner(s) must be treated to prevent re-infection.

Chlamydia, can cause infertility, pelvic pain, pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy, and arthritis.

Know if your partner is infected before having sex. Abstinence is the only way to prevent it 100%. Use a latex, polyurethane, or polyisoprene condom every time you have sex.