Chlamydia is a common STI that can make it difficult or impossible to get pregnant. It can cause permanent damage to the reproductive system of a person who can get pregnant.

Chlamydia is spread through vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone with chlamydia. A pregnant person can spread the infection to their baby through childbirth. Sexually active young people are at a higher risk of getting chlamydia due to behaviors and biological factors. If you are sexually active, have an open and honest conversation with your provider to help determine your risk of getting chlamydia.

Chlamydia is treatable with antibiotics. Ask your provider if you have chlamydia and what options are available to you.

If you don’t get treated, you are at risk of:

• Formation of scar tissue that blocks the fallopian tubes

• Ectopic pregnancy

• Infertility

• Long-term pelvic/abdominal pain

People who can get pregnant are at the highest risk of permanent damage to their reproductive system. People who can cause a pregnancy are at a lower risk of permanent damage. Chlamydia can cause a fever and pain in the tubes attached to the testicles. In rare cases, this can lead to infertility.

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Gonorrhea is a common, treatable STI that can cause infection in the genitals, rectum, and throat. Untreated gonorrhea can cause permanent damage to the reproductive system of a person who can get pregnant.

It is spread through vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who has gonorrhea. A pregnant person with gonorrhea can pass it on to their child through childbirth. Sexually active young people are at a higher risk of getting gonorrhea due to behaviors and biological factors. If you are sexually active, have an open and honest conversation with your provider to help determine your risk of getting gonorrhea.

If you don’t get treatment, you are at risk of:

• Formation of scar tissue that blocks the fallopian tubes

• Ectopic pregnancy

• Infertility

• Long-term pelvic/abdominal pain

People who can get pregnant are at the highest risk of permanent damage to their reproductive system. People who can cause a pregnancy are at a lower risk of permanent damage. Gonorrhea can cause a painful condition in the tubes attached to the testicles. In rare cases, this can lead to infertility. Rarely, untreated gonorrhea can spread to your blood or joints. This condition can be life-threatening.

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Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection that can cause serious health problems without treatment. Infection develops in stages (primary, secondary, latent, and tertiary).

Syphilis is spread by direct contact with a syphilis sore during vaginal, anal, or oral sex. Syphilis can spread from a mother with syphilis to her unborn baby, which can cause life-threatening health problems or death. If you are sexually active, have an open and honest conversation with your provider to help determine your risk of getting syphilis.

Syphilis is treatable with antibiotics. Treatment may not undo any damage from the infection.

Without treatment, you are at risk of:

• Internal organ damage

• Mobility problems (muscle weakness, trouble with muscle movements)

• Changes to your mental state (trouble focusing, confusion, personality change) and/or dementia (problems with memory, thinking, and/or decision-making)

• Eye pain and changes in your vision

• Ringing, buzzing, roaring, or hissing in the ears (tinnitus), hearing loss, and dizziness

Untreated syphilis can result in death or irreversible damage. A pregnant person should be tested for syphilis at least once during their pregnancy. Some pregnant people may need to be tested again during the third trimester at 28 weeks and at delivery.

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Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a virus that attacks the body’s immune system. If HIV is left untreated, it can lead to serious health problems, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), opportunistic infections, and death.

Most people get HIV through anal or vaginal sex or sharing needles, syringes, or other drug injection equipment. Anal sex is the riskiest type of sex for getting or transmitting HIV. HIV can be transmitted from a person who can become pregnant to their child. This can happen during pregnancy, birth, or breastfeeding. All pregnant people should be tested for HIV and start treatment immediately.

Only certain body fluids from a person who has HIV can transmit HIV. These fluids include:

• Blood

• Semen (cum)

• Pre-seminal fluid (pre-cum)

• Rectal fluids

• Vaginal fluids

• Breast milk

If HIV is left untreated,

There is currently no effective cure for HIV. If a person gets HIV, they have it for life. HIV can be controlled through antiretroviral therapy (ART). ART can make the person’s viral load undetectable, which means they will not transmit HIV through sex. Having an undetectable viral load also prevents or decreases the risk of transmission in other ways.

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Genital Herpes is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by two different types of viruses - herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2). Oral herpes (HSV-1) can be spread from the mouth to the genitals through oral sex. If you are pregnant and have herpes, you can have complications with the pregnancy, miscarriage, and pass the infection to your child.

Herpes is spread through vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who has the infection. You can get herpes if you have contact with the following:

• A herpes sore

• Saliva from a partner with an oral herpes infection

• Genital fluids from a partner with a genital herpes infection

• Skin in the oral area of a partner with oral herpes

• Skin in the genital area of a person with genital herpes.

You can also get genital herpes from a sex partner who does not have a visible herpes sore or is unaware of their infection. If you are sexually active, have an open and honest conversation with your provider to help determine your risk of getting herpes.

There is currently no cure for genital herpes. Some medications can prevent or shorten outbreaks. A daily anti-herpes medicine can make the infection less likely to pass on to your sex partner(s).

If left untreated, herpes can cause painful genital sores. If you touch your sores or fluids from the sores, you may transfer herpes to another part of your body, like your eyes. If you do touch the sores or fluids, quickly wash your hands thoroughly to help prevent spreading the infection.

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Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common STI in the US. In most cases (9 out of 10), HPV goes away on its own within two years without causing lasting health problems. When it doesn’t go away on its own, it can cause ongoing health problems like genital warts or cancer.

HPV is spread by having vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who has the virus. It also spreads through close skin-to-skin touching during sex. A person with HPV can pass the infection to someone even if they have no signs or symptoms. You can develop symptoms years after having sex with someone who has the infection, which makes it difficult to know when you first got it. If you are sexually active, you can get HPV, even if you have had sex with only one person. Have an open and honest conversation with your doctor about your risks of HPV.

There is no treatment for the virus itself. There are treatments for the health problems that HPV can cause. Those treatments can include:

• Genital Warts can go away with in-office treatment from your healthcare provider or with prescription medicine. If left untreated, genital warts may go away, stay the same, or grow in size or number.

• Cervical precancer treatments may be available at your provider’s office and generally involves removing the precancerous tissue.

• Other HPV-related cancers have varied treatments depending on where it is located (most often the vulva, vagina, penis, anus, and the back of the throat)

The HPV vaccine is a safe and effective way to protect against diseases caused by HPV when given to the recommended age groups.

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Hepatitis B is a virus that infects your liver. Hepatitis B can cause severe chronic health problems like liver damage, liver cancer, and even death.

Hepatitis B is spread when blood, semen, or other body fluids from an infected person enters the body of someone who is not infected. Hepatitis B can spread through:

• Sex with a partner with hepatitis B

• Birth to an infected person

• Sharing contaminated needles, syringes, or drug preparation equipment

• Sharing contaminated items such as toothbrushes, razors, or medical equipment (like a blood glucose monitor) with a person who has hepatitis b

• Direct contact with the blood or open sores of a person with hepatitis B

• Exposure to the blood from a person who has hepatitis B through needlesticks or other sharp instruments.

• Poor infection control from healthcare facilities

Although the hepatitis B virus can be found in saliva, it is not spread through kissing or sharing utensils. Hepatitis B is not spread through sneezing, coughing, hugging, breastfeeding, or through food and water.

There is no medication to treat acute hepatitis B. Depending on your symptoms, you may need to be hospitalized. Otherwise, your provider may recommend rest, nutrition, and hydration. There are medications for chronic hepatitis B. People who start hepatitis B treatment may need to take medication indefinitely because the medicines do not cure hepatitis B. Ask your provider what is best for you.

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