Your Safer Sex Toolbox — It’s more than just condoms

Being sexual with someone carries risks—risk of rejection, of unintended pregnancy, of contracting an STI, or even a simple cold. But being sexual also provides physical, emotional and spiritual benefits.

What are scabies?

Scabies is similar to pubic lice, but the bugs are too small to be seen. The bugs dig under the skin. A health care provider can tell if you have scabies by looking at the burrows (often in a zigzag or “S” pattern) or rash.

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) — Five Things You Need to Know

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs), affect people of all ages, backgrounds, and from all walks of life. As the name suggests, STIs are usually are passed on through sex—vaginal, oral or anal.

Crabs (a.k.a. public lice) are a curable STI

Crabs are tiny little blood-sucking bugs (lice) that live in pubic hair and cause a lot of itching. You get crabs by touching or just being close to someone who already has them. Even if you don’t have sex, you can get crabs or give them to someone else.

Mgen: The STI You’ve (Probably) Never HeardMgen:

Mycoplasma genitalium, or Mgen, was first identified in 1981. It is a bacterium that can infect the reproductive tract and is passed on through sexual contact.

Syphilis can be dangerous if not treated early

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by bacteria. Even though it is curable, if syphilis isn’t treated, it can cause serious damage to your brain, heart, nervous system, and even lead to death.

Trichomoniasis (also known as trich) is Common and Curable

Trichomoniasis, sometimes called “trich” (pronounced “trick”), is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI) that affects both females and males, but symptoms are more common in females.

Understanding HIV and AIDS

HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. Imagine your body as an army. HIV attacks the part of your body that fights disease (the immune system), and makes the immune system not work right.

Herpes Is a Common Skin Infection

Herpes is common. More than two-thirds (67%) of people in the world have an infection with either herpes simplex type 1 or herpes simplex type 2.

Hepatitis: Understanding the Different Types

Hepatitis is a serious virus that can attack the liver. There are five types of hepatitis. The most common types are hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C.