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 Be an Askable Parent
Does your child feel it's OK to talk with you about
sexuality?
Read
more...
 Continue
to Learn
Anticipate your child's questions by learning the
stage of your child's sexual development. Read
more...
 Build
Bridges
If a child does not learn about sexuality issues
from a parent, the child will learn about sex elsewhere—from friends,
the internet, magazines, television and other sources. Read
more...
 Talking
to Your
Teens about
STIs
Each
year,
1 in
4 sexually
active
teens
will
get
an
STI.
Learn
what
you
can
do
as
a concerned
parent. Read
more...
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STI Prevention
| How to Guide
- Abstinence,
or not having oral, vaginal or
anal sex, is the best way to protect
yourself. It is possible to get
an STI even without having intercourse
(penis in the vagina, mouth or
anus) through skin-to-skin contact.
- There
are many alternatives to intercourse,
like mutual or self-masturbation.
- If
you have sex, choose only one
partner who you know well and trust.
Someone who only has sex with you. This
is called "mutual
monogamy." Limiting your number of sex partners helps reduce
your risk of getting an STI.
- Use
latex condoms correctly for any
type of sex (vaginal, oral or anal)
from start to finish.
- Limiting
your number of sex partners helps
reduce your risk of getting an
STI. But remember, just because
you and your partner may be monogamous
with each other, the risk of getting
an STI is increased by the number
of previous sexual partners either
partner has had.
- Use
water-based spermicide for vaginal
sex. It is not safe or effective
for oral or anal sex.
- Always
use water-based lubricants (like
K-Y jelly, Astroglide or glycerin)
with latex condoms. Oil lubricants,
like petroleum jelly, baby oil
or cooking oil, can cause latex
condoms to break.
- Latex
condoms may protect the penis,
vagina, mouth or anus (butt hole)
from some STIs, but they will not
protect against genital warts (HPV)
or other lesions such as herpes,
when they are present on the base
of the penis or the scrotum (on
the male), or on the woman's vulva.
- Sometimes
infection can spread to or from
areas like the scrotum or anal
area. STIs like herpes and genital
warts are spread through skin-to-skin
contact.
- A
female polyurethane condom is available
and may protect these areas better,
but it is NOT to be used with a
male condom.
Know the
Facts. Know for Sure.
- If
you have had unprotected sex, you
may have an STI and not know it.
- If
your partner has had unprotected
sex, your partner may have an STI
and not know it.
- If
you think you have an STI, there
is something you can do about it.
The only way to know for sure is
to be tested. Call the CDC National
STD and AIDS Hotlines for more
information at (800) 227-8922,
Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to
11 p.m. EST.
- STIs
like chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis
are curable. While not curable,
diseases like HIV, HPV, herpes
and hepatitis B are treatable.
- If
left untreated, STIs can lead to
long-term consequences, like infertility,
long-term pain or cancer.
If
You Think You Have an STI:
- Talk
to your mom or dad, or another
adult you trust
- Ask
the school nurse about getting
help
- Call
your family doctor
- Call
your local public health department
or Planned Parenthood clinic
Remember: If
you call your local public health
department or Planned Parenthood
clinic and ask about testing, they
cannot diagnose you over the phone.
You will need to go to the clinic
and get tested to know for sure if
you have an STI.
How do I learn more about STI prevention?
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Related
topics.......
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