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Chapter
11
Lowering Your Risk of
Sexually Transmitted
Infections
Elizabeth Lytle, MPH, BSN, RN
Los Altos School District
Learn About Sexually Transmitted Infections
Symptoms, treatments and
Common STIs
transmission
Safer Sex
STI risk factors
Behaviors to reduce risk
HIV
Incidence, treatment and
protection
Odds of acquiring a
Sexually Transmitted
Infection in your lifetime are
1 in 4
STIs Have Dramatic Effects
They can:
 Last a lifetime
 Impair fertility
 Cause birth defects
 Put stress on relationships
 Lead to major illness and death
 Cause serious medical complications
Here Is How STIs Are Spread
Direct sexual contact with someone’s
STI symptoms
Direct sexual contact with infected
semen, vaginal fluids, blood and other
body fluids
Sharing contaminated needles
Maternal Transfer
How STIs spread
STI Risk Different For Men And Women
Women
Men
More mucosal
membranes exposed
to trauma during sex,
so higher risk for STI
Less like to avoid error
if partner is involved in
protection
Symptoms are
‘silent’, so may not
know you have STI
Ask for testing or it
won’t be done
After exposure, urinate
and wash genitals with
antibacterial soap
Ask for testing or it
won’t be done
STI Risk Is A Continuum
Here are factors that put you at risk:
 Feelings of invulnerability
 Multiple partners
 Failure to use condoms
 Substance abuse
Failure of partner to be notified and

treated
ABC’s Of Safer Sex
A
Abstain
B
Be faithful
C
Use condoms and store them
properly
Human Papillomavirus: Most common STI
Danger
Most people have no symptoms
HPV can cause cervical cancer
Condoms provide only limited
protection against HPV
Treatment Nothing completely eliminates it
Gardisil and Cervarix (women)
Vaccine
Must be under 26 years old and not
pregnant
3 doses over 6 months required
Genital Herpes
Contagious even when no
Danger symptoms
Risk to infant during childbirth
Lives in host for their lifetime
Anitviral medications decrease
transmission
Treatment
• Acyclovir
• Valacydovir
• Famcydovir
Chlamydia
Danger
Higher risk of HIV infection
May lead to Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
Babies exposed during birth can have
pneumonia and eye infection
Epididymitis which can cause sterility
Treatment Antibiotics for both partners
Many do not have symptoms
Symptoms Painful urination and intercourse
Cervical or rectal inflammation
Gonorrhea or ‘The Clap’
Urinary obstruction and sterility in men
Danger
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease in women
Newborn infections
Blood-borne infection
Treatment Antibiotics for both partners
Thick, yellow-white pus from penis
Symptoms
Pain and fever in women
Syphilis Rates Are Increasing In US
Urinary obstruction and sterility in men
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease in women
Danger
Newborn infections
Blood-borne infection
Treatment Antibiotics for both partners
Syphilis Can Have Effects 10-20 Years Later
• Primary—chancre
• Secondary (not all experience this) —
skin rash, patches on mucous
membranes, fever, swollen glands, more
sores
Stages of • Late & Latent—2-4 years later
Syphilis
makes its way into brain and organs
• Tertiary—10-20 years later
Ruptured aorta, heart damage, brain
or spinal cord damage, blindness,
insanity or paralysis
Effect of STI: Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
Affects women – 10-20% experience enough
scarring of fallopian tubes to cause infertility
Half of cases have no symptoms
Responsible for
Danger
• half of ectopic pregnancies
• 15-30% of infertility cases
Half of cases caused by gonorrhea
Cause
and chlamydia
Treatment Antibiotics for woman and partner
Trichomoniasis Is Curable
Danger
May increase susceptibility to HIV
None, commonly
Symptoms Discomfort during urination, intercourse
or ejaculation
Treatment Antibiotics for both partners
Chancroid
Danger
Infection of lymph glands with
destruction of tissue
May increase susceptibility to HIV
Symptom Soft, painful sore
Treatment Antibiotics for both partners
Keep genitals clean and wash after
Prevention
possible exposure
HIV Risk Highest For Four Groups
Gay and Bisexual Men
Only group with new infections on rise
Black Americans
Black men: rate 8 times that of white men
Black women: rate 19 times that of white women
Women
Black women followed by Latina and then white
Young People
Account for 34% of new infections
Reducing Risk of HIV Transmission
Sexual Practices Influence Risk
All types of sex can result in infection: oral,

anal and vaginal
Have fewer sexual partners and avoid high

risk partners
 More susceptible when you have another STI
 Teenage girls especially vulnerable
 Use protection
Recognizing HIV
Many experience a flu-like illness followed by
no symptoms for weeks to years
Swollen lymph nodes
Fever, chills, night sweats
Diarrhea and weight loss
Coughing and shortness of breath
Symptoms
Persistent tiredness
Skin sores
Other infections such as pneumonia
Blurred vision and headaches
Effects of HIV
Susceptibility to cancers and
tuberculosis
Diminished mental function
Impaired coordination
Psychological problems
Stroke and bone fractures
When AIDS Is Diagnosed
AIDS diagnosis occurs when HIV severely
compromises the immune system
CD4+ counts less than 200 (800-1200 is normal)
Recurrent pneumonia
Cervical cancer
Pulmonary tuberculosis
Effects of AIDS
Secondary infectious
Neurological disease
diseases
Involuntary weight loss
Kaposi’s sarcoma
Treatment of HIV
Antiretroviral Therapy
Decreases viral load, but does not eradicate
virus
Uses one of 250 combinations of medications
Not available everywhere