STI Smarts

Someone who looks “clean” can’t have an STD

• Fact

• Myth

Answer explanation

STDs don't discriminate.

All STDs are 100% curable.

• Fact

• Myth

Answer explanation

Most are manageable, but they may not be curable. Gonorrhea and chlamydia are both treatable and curable, whereas herpes and HIV are not curable, but they are manageable and can be suppressed with different medications.

Many STDs have no symptoms.

• Fact

• Myth

Answer explanation

Even doctors often can't tell by looking if people have STDs. So they need to do tests, like bloodwork. People with STDs might not know they have them: STDs don't always cause symptoms. But it is possible to carry and spread an infection even if you feel completely healthy. Untreated STDs can add up to serious health problems

Some STDs can have long-term consequences, like fertility issues and pain.

• Fact

• Myth

If a person injects drugs intravenously or gets a tattoo or piercing, avoiding

sharing needles or using a sterilized needle greatly decreases the chance of HIV

transmission.

• Fact

• Myth

Answer explanation

Fact! HIV transmission is greatly reduced by avoiding needle sharing or using

sterilized needles. Sharing needles is one the highest risk activities for HIV transmission,

because this allows direct blood to blood contact. If someone’s blood comes into contact

with the blood of someone infected with HIV, there is a very high risk of contracting this

virus. Even tattooing and piercing have this risk, so medically sterilized needles are a must!

The “window period” for HIV detection can be from 2 weeks to 6 months.

• Fact

• Myth

Answer explanation

The window period is the amount of time it takes for HIV to be detectable after

someone has become infected. This can last from 2 weeks to 6 months after

exposure, so it is important to know that getting tested right after a possible exposure

(such as having unprotected sex or sharing needles) will not necessarily show

whether someone has contracted HIV. If someone is concerned about a specific

incident, they would need to go back and get tested 6 months after the incident and

be sure to use protection in the meantime, so they don't unintentionally transmit it to

someone else.

It is not possible to get HIV from insects that have bitten an infected person.

• Fact

• Myth

HIV can be transmitted through sweat, tears, and spit.F

• Fact

• Myth

Someone can get HIV from sharing swimming pools & hot tubs with people living

with HIV.

• Fact

• Myth

Abstinence from all sexual contact is the only 100% effective way to prevent STDs.

• Fact

• Myth

Answer explanation

Some STIs have no visible signs or symptoms, or very mild signs that can be easily overlooked. T