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A UTI occurs when bacteria enter and infect the urinary tract (the body’s drainage for removing urine). UTIs can affect several parts of the urinary tract, but the most common type of UTI is a bladder infection (also called cystitis). 

You may experience pain or burning while urinating, frequent urination, the need to urinate even when your bladder is empty, low fever, cloudy or bloody urine, and/or 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 clear the bacteria 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 and always wipe from front to back after using the toilet. Stay well-hydrated and urinate regularly, take showers instead of baths, and avoid using vaginal douches and minimize use of sprays or powders in the genital area.  

Yeast is always present in and on the body, but in small amounts. A yeast infection occurs when there is an overgrowth of the normal yeast in the vagina. This is a common infection. 

Your genitals may itch or burn, and you may 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. 

Antifungal creams, ointments, or suppositories inserted in the vagina, or oral tablets. 

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

Keep your vulva clean but avoid using 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 douches. Wear breathable, cotton underwear, and avoid tight-fitting clothes in the groin area.  Change out of wet clothes right away. 

Bacterial vaginosis is not an STI—it is not caused by external bacteria, viruses, or parasites. It is an overgrowth of bacteria in the vagina. It happens when the normal balance of bacteria in the vagina changes. This imbalance may be caused by douching, using scented soaps or sprays, and having multiple sexual partners. Hormonal changes during pregnancy can also alter the balance of vaginal bacteria. 

Many women with BV 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, BV may increase your chance of getting infected with an STI. If you are pregnant, it can cause early or preterm birth. 

Limit your number of sex partners. Do not use vaginal douches. Wear breathable, cotton underwear. Use latex, polyurethane, or polyisoprene condoms EVERY time you have sex. In some cases, semen may upset the balance of normal vaginal bacteria, increasing your risk for getting BV.  If you think this is the case for you, consider using a condom. 

Hepatitis B, or Hep B, is a viral infection that causes inflammation of the liver. You get Hep B from contact with blood, semen, vaginal fluid, or other body fluids from an infected person. Hep B can be treated and managed but not cured. 

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 Hep B infection you have, it may either resolve on its own or require treatment. 

A person with untreated Hep B may develop cirrhosis of the liver and/or liver cancer. 

Abstinence is the only way to prevent it 100%. Communicate with your partner before having sex to know if they are infected. Use a latex, polyurethane, or polyisoprene condom EVERY time you have sex. Get a Hepatitis B vaccine before becoming sexually active. Babies have been vaccinated at birth since 1991, so find out if you are already vaccinated.

Human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, is a viral infection. You can get HIV through unprotected vaginal, anal, and oral sex, and through needle sharing. HIV infections can be treated and managed but not cured. 

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. In the later stages, the immune system is weakened, which can make the person vulnerable to serious infections, weight loss, and lymph node swelling. 

Some people may develop brief, flu-like symptoms soon after infection. However, it may take up to 10 years to develop later-stage symptoms.

Cheek swab or blood test.

There is no cure. There are treatments to keep the virus under control and prevent the development of other infections. 

Untreated HIV leads to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome), the most advanced stage of HIV, in which the immune system gets seriously compromised. 

Abstinence is the only way to prevent it 100%. Communicate with your partner before having sex to know if they are infected. Use a latex, polyurethane, or polyisoprene condom EVERY time you have sex to reduce your chance of getting infected.

People at very high risk for HIV may decide to take PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) medications (pills or injections) when they are not infected to reduce the risk of a future infection. If a person is not taking PrEP and believes they may have been exposed to HIV, they may decide to take PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis), which is an HIV-preventing medication that must be started within 72 hours of the possible exposure.

Oral and genital herpes are viral infections. You can get herpes through vaginal, anal, and oral sex, and through direct contact with a herpes 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 herpes sore, you can spread the infection to any other body part you touch. Herpes can be treated and managed with antiretroviral medications but not cured. 

Some people who have genital or oral herpes do not have symptoms. Genital herpes symptoms include sores on the vagina, penis, anus, buttocks, cervix, and mouth, with tingling, burning, itching, or pain. Herpes sores bleed easily and can increase your risk for infection with other STIs like HIV. Oral herpes symptoms include blisters or cold sores around the lips or mouth.

Genital and oral herpes are caused by related strains of the same virus. It is possible for the oral strain to infect the genitals and for the genital strain to infect the lips or mouth.

Test performed on material from a genital sore and/or a blood test. 

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

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

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

Human papillomavirus, or HPV, is a big family of viruses. Some strains may cause genital warts, and others may cause 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. HPV can be treated and managed but not cured. 

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

A health care provider uses a brush to take a cervical sample during a pelvic exam. The sample is usually taken at the same time as a Pap smear, which tests for cervical cancer. 

There is no cure. Some warts can be removed. Cervical cancer can also be treated, but there is no guarantee that the person will be cured of cancer. 

Abstinence is the only way to prevent it 100%. Communicate with your partner before having sex to know if they are infected. Use a latex, polyurethane, or polyisoprene condom EVERY time you have sex to reduce your chance of getting infected. 

Get the HPV vaccine. The vaccine is given in 3 doses and helps prevent most cases of HPV that lead to cervical cancer. Even with the vaccine, it is essential to be tested for HPV and to get Pap smears to detect cervical cancer. Avoid sex until all symptoms have gone away after treatment. It is important to follow your health care provider’s instructions carefully during treatment.

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. You can get syphilis from direct contact with sores (caused by syphilis) on an infected person during vaginal, anal, and oral sex. Syphilis is curable, especially in its early stages. Damage to the body caused by syphilis in its later stages cannot be reversed. 

During the primary stage of syphilis, you may feel (often) painless sores lasting 3 to 6 weeks. Sores can appear anywhere on the body, but usually on your vulva or penis. During the secondary stage, skin rashes can develop on the body, including your hands and feet. You may also have sores in the vagina or anus, a sore throat, weight loss, headaches, and muscle pains. During the tertiary stage, syphilis can damage the nervous system, heart, and brain. It is possible to be infected with syphilis for many years with no symptoms. This is called the latent stage and happens before the tertiary stage.  

Blood test. 

Antibiotics. You and your partner(s) must be treated to be cured and to prevent re-infection. Syphilis is easier to treat in its early stages. Treatment of syphilis in its later stages requires multiple treatments with antibiotics. Damage to the body caused by syphilis in its later stages cannot be reversed. 

Syphilis can lead to skin, bone, heart, and brain disease, as well as blindness. It can also increase the risk of getting or spreading other STIs like HIV. Syphilis can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth, and infant death. The infection can be passed to the fetus at any stage of pregnancy—this is sometimes referred to as congenital syphilis. 

Abstinence is the only way to prevent it 100%. Communicate with your partner before having sex to know if they are infected. Latex, polyurethane, or polyisoprene condoms can protect you only if they cover the sore, but sores can appear anywhere on or in the body, including parts not covered by a condom. Avoid sex until all symptoms have gone away after treatment. 

“Trich,” as it is commonly called, is a parasitic infection. You can get trich from contact with the body fluids of an infected person during unprotected vaginal, anal, and oral sex.  Trichomoniasis is a common STI, and it’s curable. 

Most people do not have symptoms. You may have vaginal discharge, odor, itching, burning, redness, or soreness in your genitals. Many men with trichomoniasis do not have symptoms, but if they do, they may experience a slight discharge from the penis, burning after urination or ejaculation, or itching of the urethra. 

Urine test and/or genital swab of vaginal discharge. 

Antibiotics. You and your partner(s) must be treated to be cured and to prevent re-infection. It is important that you follow your health care provider’s instructions carefully when taking any medication for treatment. 

Untreated trich increases the risk of getting or spreading other STIs like HIV, and it can cause preterm birth if you are pregnant. 

Abstinence is the only way to prevent it 100%. Communicate with your partner before having sex to know if they are infected. 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. You can get gonorrhea from contact with the body fluids of an infected person during unprotected vaginal, anal, and oral sex. It is one of the most common STIs among young people. Gonorrhea is curable. 

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. Men may experience a burning sensation during urination and an unusual discharge from the penis that may be white, yellow, or green.  They may also have swollen testicles. 

Urine test and vaginal, throat, or rectal swab. 

Antibiotics. You and your partner(s) must be treated to be cured and to prevent re-infection. It is important that you follow your health care provider's instructions carefully when taking any medication for treatment. 

Gonorrhea can cause infertility, pelvic pain, pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy, arthritis, skin rash, and may increase the risk of getting other STIs like HIV. Untreated gonorrhea during pregnancy can increase the risk of miscarriage, premature birth, and low birth weight, and can also lead to eye infections in newborns during delivery. 

Abstinence is the only way to prevent it 100%. Communicate with your partner before having sex to know if your partner is infected. Use a latex, polyurethane, or polyisoprene condom EVERY time you have sex. Don’t forget that you can get it through oral sex, too. Avoid sex until all symptoms have gone away after treatment. 

Chlamydia is a bacterial infection. You can get chlamydia from contact with the body fluids of an infected person during unprotected vaginal, anal, and oral sex. It is the most common bacterial infection among teens. Chlamydia is curable.

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

Urine test and vaginal, throat, or rectal swab. 

Antibiotics. You and your partner(s) must be treated to be cured and to prevent re-infection. It is important that you follow your health care provider's instructions carefully when taking any medication for treatment.

Chlamydia can cause infertility, pelvic pain, pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy (when a pregnancy occurs in the fallopian tubes), and arthritis, and may increase the risk for getting other STIs like HIV. Untreated chlamydia during pregnancy can lead to preterm delivery and can be passed to the newborn, causing an eye infection or pneumonia.

Abstinence is the only way to prevent it 100%. Communicate with your partner before having sex to know if they are infected. Use a latex, polyurethane, or polyisoprene condom EVERY time you have sex. Don’t forget that you can get it through oral and anal sex, too. Avoid sex until all symptoms have gone away after treatment.