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True or False: Sexually Transmitted Infections

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Julie

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are so cringe. Why does something so awesome like sex have to be so … un-sexy?

We know no one wants to think about STIs, but the reality is that they’ve been around forever and can happen to anyone. In fact, about 1 in 5 people in the U.S. have an STI.

The happy ending here is you can have nice things like orgasms on a Sunday morning and vacation sex whenever — wherever — your inner Shakira wants to. You just have to be proactive about screening and protecting yourself.

Take our quiz to test your STI smarts and learn what women need to know about sexually transmitted infections.

1. Women are at greater risk for STIs than men.

Correct

Incorrect

true. Women are more susceptible to STIs, in part because the lining of the vagina is thin and delicate and more vulnerable to infections compared to the male anatomy.Women also tend to have more serious health problems from STIs than men.

2. Being monogamous means zero risk for STIs.

Correct

Incorrect

false. Although it’s true that being in a monogamous relationship is one of the best ways to avoid STIs, many STIs don’t have any symptoms. So, unless both you and your partner were tested and got a clean bill of health before you became sexually active with each other, you could have an STI. So, if you haven’t already, talk to your partner about getting tested or go get tested together. Knowledge is sexy!

3. The most common STI is chlamydia.

Correct

Incorrect

false. While chlamydia is the most common bacterial STI, the most common STI overall is human papillomavirus (HPV). Both infections usually have no symptoms, so people don’t know they’re passing the infection on. Since many STIs don’t have symptoms, testing is important. And screening for HPV is particularly important for women because some strains can cause cervical cancer, among other types of cancer.

4. You can get an STI from oral sex.

Correct

Incorrect

true. At some point you’ve probably heard that oral sex is “safe” sex — but it’s not. STIs are passed through skin-to-skin contact and bodily fluids, and oral sex is no exception. Condoms and dental dams (a thin piece of plastic that goes over the vagina or anus) can help reduce the risk for STIs during oral sex.

5. Douching helps protect against STIs.

Correct

Incorrect

false. Douching can actually increase the risk for STIs because it removes helpful bacteria in the vagina that helps prevent infection. PS: Douching isn’t good for your vagina — ever. Pass it on.

6. You can’t get an STI in perimenopause or menopause.

Correct

Incorrect

false. Fluctuating estrogen levels during menopause can cause thinning of vaginal tissue, which can lead to tearing and can make you more susceptible to infections. And age ain’t nothing but a number to an STI: Rates of gonorrhea, syphilis and chlamydia have more than doubled among people 55 and older over the past decade.

7. You can get STIs from towels or clothing.

Correct

Incorrect

true. While most STIs can’t be passed through used towels or clothing, pubic lice (crabs) and scabies (burrowing mites) can live in the fabric of towels, clothing and bedding and be passed from one person to another.

8. STI tests and Pap tests are the same thing.

Correct

Incorrect

false. Although both types of testing can include swabbing, STI tests are separate from Pap tests. You have to tell your clinician that you want to be tested for STIs, and you may have to do different tests like a blood test or a urine test depending on what STIs you’re being tested for. That said, testing for the human papillomavirus (HPV), the most common STI, can be done as part of a routine Pap test. Talk with your clinician about your options.

9. Having an STI increases the risk of getting HIV.

Correct

Incorrect

true. People with STIs are at an increased risk of getting HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, compared to people who don’t have an STI.

10. Most STIs go away if you pray hard enough.

Correct

Incorrect

false. Sometimes the symptoms of an STI will go away, but that doesn’t mean the infection is gone. If left untreated, STIs can lead to serious health problems such as pelvic inflammatory disorder (PID), pregnancy issues, infertility and even death. The one exception here is human papillomavirus (HPV). Your immune system will clear some strains of the virus on its own within two years of becoming infected. But the strains that don’t clear may cause cervical, vulvar and other types of cancer.

If you’re having sex, talk to your clinician about getting tested for STIs. Many STIs can be cured with prescription medications.

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