STDs are infections that people usually get by having sex with someone who already has one. Some STDs can be treated and cured with antibiotic medicine. Others cannot be cured, but many of those can be treated to make them easier to live with.
It is very important to remember that most of the time you will never know if you are having sex with someone who has an STD. Anyone can get one. It has nothing to do with how "clean" someone is or how the person dresses and acts. Most people who get an STD, including HIV, do not know the person they are having sex with has one.
That’s why getting tested is so important. Some STDs have no symptoms but you can still get very sick. You can end up with a very serious problem like not being able to get pregnant or cause a pregnancy. Protect yourself every time you have sex – any kind of sex, whether it’s oral, vaginal or anal. Always use a condom. Remember birth control only protects you from pregnancy, not STDs.
If you’ve ever had unprotected sex – that means oral, vaginal or anal sex you should get tested.
To learn more about different STDs, click here.