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1.
I'm a teenager, I'm not at risk
for an STI, right?
Wrong. One out of every four teenagers will
get an STI, even though lots of teenagers
think they know how to protect themselves.
There are other STIs out there besides
HIV, and they are on the rise among
teens. They include chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, herpes,
and human papillomavirus (HPV) which causes genital warts and
abnormal Pap smears.
2.
Can you get an STD from a public
restroom?
This is
not very likely. Most STIs are
only transmitted during sexual
contact, either by skin to skin
contact or through body fluid exchange.
Crabs, or pubic lice, may be transmitted
through sexual contact, sleeping
in infected bedding, sharing infected
clothing and possibly through sitting
on an infested toilet seat. However,
lice cannot survive away from the
human body for longer than 24 hours.
So contracting pubic lice from
a toilet seat is possible, but
it's unlikely.
3.
Can I get HIV or another STD from getting
a tattoo or through body piercing?
There can be a risk for HIV or
another blood-borne infection (like
Hepatitis B or C) if the instruments
used for piercing or tattooing
either are not sterilized or disinfected
between clients. Any instrument
used to pierce or cut the skin
should be used once and thrown
away, or thoroughly cleaned and
sterilized before using them again.
Ask the staff at the parlor about
their equipment. They will show
you what precautions they use.
4.
Can I get an STI from kissing?
This is possible but not very common.
If your partner's mouth is infected with an STI, then he or she
may be able to pass that infection to your mouth during a kiss.
Fever blisters and cold sores (oral herpes) can be passed through
a kiss if your partner is infected. Blood-borne infections like
HIV or Hepatitis B or C can only be passed through kissing
if there is the exchange of infected blood. If your partner
has an infection in his or her genital area, then kissing
on the mouth will not transmit the infection.
5.
Can I get an STI from oral sex?
Yes. During oral sex, there is skin to skin contact and there
can be body fluid exchange, so it is important to use barrier
protection like unlubricated condoms or latex dental dams
to protect you during oral sex.
6.
Why don't teenagers protect themselves
if they are having sex?
It's
not always because people don't know.
Sometimes they. . .
- are
embarrassed about buying or getting
condoms
- feel
peer/date pressure
- use
alcohol and drugs
- have
a lack of knowledge
- believe
using birth control pills is enough
protection
- are
embarrassed about asking questions
- don't
think ahead of time
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