Bird and Bee
closeWe’re also known as sex, making love, sleeping with, doing it, fornicating, getting laid, hooking up, getting lucky, getting it on, taking to bed, getting busy, going all the way, humping and making babies.
We’re vaginal, anal or oral sex.
We happen with people of all genders.
We can cause pregnancy and spread STDs.
If you wear a condom, it reduces your chance of getting pregnant and/or catching an STD.
There are more than 110 million STDs in the United States caused by us. And young people between the ages of 15 and 24 account for 50% of all new STDs.
Gonorrhea
closeI may be a pretty common STD, but there’s nothing pretty about me. Just ask anyone who’s been left with burning urination, vaginal discharge, anal itching or painful bowel movements.
I’m also called the Clap, the Drip, Morning Drip and The Dose.
My hometown is your genitals, rectum and throat.
I’m spread through vaginal, anal or oral sex.
I affect people of all genders.
If you have a penis, I create a burning sensation during urination, a white, yellow, or green discharge from the penis, and painful or swollen testicles. If you have a vagina, it’s hard for you to see any symptoms at all. But I may express myself as a painful or burning sensation when urinating, an increased vaginal discharge or vaginal bleeding between periods.
If left untreated, I can cause serious health problems to the babies of infected pregnant women. If left untreated, I can also cause men to become sterile.
If you have testicles and I’m left untreated, I can cause pain and may even prevent you from having kids at all. If you have a uterus and I’m left untreated, I can cause scarring in the fallopian tubes, pregnancy outside the womb, infertility, and persisting pelvic and abdominal pain.
I may show no symptoms at all.
I hate condoms. They reduce my risk of spreading. My worst enemies are Antibiotics. They can cure me.
I’m the most common among young people between age 15 and 25.
Syphilis
closeI’m a bit of a late bloomer, but I’m constantly maturing. I’ve been through a few stages in life but my beginning symptoms look a lot like other common health issues.
I’m also known as The Great Imitator, The Pox and Bad Blood.
My hometown is your genitals, rectum, anus, lips and mouth.
I’m spread through vaginal, anal or oral sex.
I affect people of all genders.
I have four stages. Primary, secondary, latent and late syphilis.
During my primary stage, I’m a firm, round, painless sore (or sores). My secondary stage turns me into skin rashes and sores on your mouth, vagina or anus. If not treated for years, my latent and late stages can lead to paralysis, numbness, blindness, and even dementia.
My symptoms look a lot like other diseases, so I’m great at hiding in plain sight.
I hate condoms. They reduce my risk of spreading. My worst enemies are Antibiotics. They can cure me.
When I’m a painless sore, I can look like ingrown hairs, zipper cuts or other seemingly harmless bumps.
Chlamydia
closeI’m naturally shy and don’t like to show symptoms. But while I may be quiet, I still make my presence felt if I go untreated.
They also call me the Clam, the Silent STD and Gooey Stuff.
My hometown is your genitals or rectum.
I’m spread through vaginal, anal or oral sex.
I affect people of all genders.
I create a burning sensation during urination, abnormal vaginal discharge and discharge from the penis.
I like to cause permanent damage to a women’s reproductive system. I also enjoy causing pain, fever and infertility in men.
I don’t show many symptoms.
I hate condoms. They reduce my risk of spreading. My worst enemies are antibiotics. They can cure me.
If you’ve had me before, you can still get me again.
Herpes
closeI’m one of the most loyal STDs you’ll find. Once you get me, I’m with you for life. But don’t worry, with proper treatment you’ll see way less of me.
I’m also known as Fever Blister, Cold Sore and "The Gift that Keeps on Giving."
My hometown is your genitals, rectum and mouth.
I’m spread through vaginal, anal or oral sex.
I affect people of all genders.
While there’s no cure for me, the symptoms and outbreaks I cause can still be managed.
I’m often referred to as “having an outbreak.” When my sores break, they leave painful reminders that take weeks to heal.
I look similar to other skin conditions.
I hate condoms. They reduce my risk of spreading. I’m not a fan of medicine. It prevents and shortens my outbreaks.
You can still get me from someone who doesn’t have a visible sore.
Hepatitis B
closeI’m kind of a shy loaner. Besides the fact that I enjoy quietly wandering from person to person, I don’t like to show many symptoms.
I’m also called Hep B.
I’m spread through blood, semen, or other bodily fluid.
I affect people of all genders.
I may cause fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, dark urine, abdominal pain, joint pain and yellowing color in the skin.
I enjoy causing long-term health problems including liver damage, liver failure, liver cancer and even death.
I don’t show many symptoms.
I hate condoms. They reduce my risk of spreading through sex. My worst enemies are vaccines. They can prevent me completely.
I can live outside the body for at least 7 days.
Trichomoniasis
closeI’m just your average, everyday STD. But while I may be the most common curable STD out there, I still deserve some attention. So don’t ignore me.
My friends call me Trich.
My hometown is your genitals, rectum, hands and mouth.
I’m spread through any sexual contact.
I affect people of all genders.
I cause mild irritation and severe inflammation. If you have a penis, I cause itching and irritation inside, burning after urination, and discharge from the penis. If you have a vagina, I cause itching, burning, redness or soreness of the genitals, discomfort with urination, and a thin discharge with an odd smell or color.
There’s nothing I love more than infecting the lower genital tract and inside of the penis.
I don’t show symptoms in 70% of those infected.
I hate condoms. They reduce my risk of spreading. My worst enemies are antibiotics. They can cure me.
I’m the most common curable STD.
HPV
closeI’m very popular. So popular in fact, that almost every sexually active person will get me at some point in their lives. But, I still do my best to stay under the radar.
I’m also called genital warts.
I’m spread through vaginal, anal or oral sex.
I affect people of all genders.
I often look like genital warts that appear as small bumps around the genitals.
I enjoy causing genital warts and cancer. Note—the HPV strain that causes genital warts does NOT cause cancer.
I can sometimes cause cancer in the vulva, vagina, penis, anus, back of the throat and base of the tongue and tonsils.
I hate the HPV vaccine because it can protect people of all genders. I don’t like condoms. They can reduce your risk of catching me.
Almost every sexually active person will get me at some point in their lives.
HIV
closeI know I have a pretty bad reputation. And I can understand why. While I may be scary, I can still be managed and prevented from turning into AIDS with proper treatment.
I’m called the Virus, human immunodeficiency virus, Hi-Five (or Hi-V) and The Bug.
I’m spread through vaginal, anal or oral sex.
I affect people of all genders.
I can appear as the flu with symptoms like fever, chills, rash, night sweats, muscle aches, sore throat, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes or mouth ulcers.
I slowly destroy the immune system.
There is no cure for me, but I can be managed. In fact, with access to treatment, people can live high quality lives.
I hate condoms. They reduce the risk of anyone catching me. I don’t like proper medical care. If you seek it out then I can be managed and controlled with antiretroviral therapy called ART.
If left untreated, I can turn into the AIDS virus.
