Prevention & Treatment.

How can I protect myself from getting an STI?

Choose not to have sex:
There are many ways to show affection besides sex. Kissing, touching, and talking feel good and are safe. You cannot give or get an STI if there is no contact between the penis, vagina, mouth, or anus.   Additionally, abstaining from sex if you are using drugs or alcohol is extremely important, as these substances may inhibit your ability to make healthy choices and may prevent you from using condoms and dental dams correctly.

Use a condom or dental dam during all sexual contact:
This means during foreplay (before you have intercourse) too. Have condoms on hand, and be ready to use them. Click here to learn how to use condoms correctly. Click here to learn how to make and use dental dams correctly.

Use a spermicide (foam, cream, jelly) with a condom:
These two methods together provide the best protection against passing an STI.

Get tested!
Go in for yearly exams from your doctor or nurse practitioner and ask to be tested for STIs. Confidential and anonymous testing and treatment are available from clinics, health departments and most other health care providers.

Before having sex, know your partner's past sexual history:
Ask him or her to get tested; and talk with your partner about what kind of protection you will use. This can be a hard conversation, but really worth it.

Millions of people have STIs, so you are not alone. There is nothing to be ashamed about. Sexually transmitted infections are very common among sexually active people.   STIs do not go away by themselves, but many can clear up with treatment. If you have any symptoms or think you have been exposed to a STI, call your doctor or local health clinics for confidential testing and treatment. Being tested is the only way that you will know for sure whether or not you have an STI.

It is very common to have an STI without showing any symptoms.   In fact most people, especially women, do not show symptoms (three out of four females and one out of two males who have an STI do not have symptoms).   If left untreated, some STIs can lead to irreversible damage to internal organs or infertility.

If you have had unprotected sex you should visit a doctor or nurse practitioner and be tested for STIs at least once per year.   If you are showing symptoms such as; abnormal discharge from your penis or vagina, itching or soreness on your genitals, rash, bumps, or redness on your genitals, painful, cloudy, smelly or bloody urination, sores or blisters on your genitals, anus, mouth or throat or abdominal cramps (different than PMS) or pain in your lower abdomen, you should be tested as soon as possible. With or without symptoms, the infection can spread to your partner. If you have had unprotected sex you should be tested for an STI before having sex with a new partner.  

The sooner you are treated, the better. Untreated STIs can cause serious health problems. All sexually transmitted infections are treatable and many curable.   Ask your partner to get tested and treated too.

Talking To Your Doctor:

Because STIs often have no symptoms, you may need to talk to your doctor or nurse about whether or not you should be tested. Most doctors decide what tests to give based on what you tell them. You can get the best care by talking honestly about your sex life and your body. You could say something like:

"I've had sex with someone new, and we haven't been using condoms every time. Should I be tested for STIs?" or "I think my partner had sex with someone else. I want to be tested for STIs."

I tested positive for a STI, what are the next steps?

• When a person tests positive, he or she should notify all past and present sexual partners.

• Sexual partners should be treated at the same time.

• Having an STI and treating it does not make a person immune to becoming infected with it again. Additionally, having certain STIs can increase a person's risk of HIV infection.

• For STIs that have a cure, refrain from sexual activity until infection is completely gone. For those that do not have a cure, be sure to use a condom or dental dam when engaging in sexual behaviors.

Talking To Your Partner:

If you test positive for an STI, it is important to tell your past and current sexual partners about the STI.   If you are infected with an STI that does not have a cure, it is important to tell your future sexual partners about the STI before engaging in sexual behavior. 

Telling a partner can be hard. However, it is extremely important so that your past or current partner can be tested and prevent additional spread of the infection. Here are a few tips you may find helpful:

•  Don't jump to conclusions: Being diagnosed with an STI can provoke many emotions.    Distrust, self-blame, and anger are common responses.    Before placing blame on your partner for cheating keep in mind that some STIs may not cause symptoms immediately. It is possible that you or your partner contracted it in a previous relationship without even knowing it. Try to control your emotions and focus on receiving the medical care you and your partner need as soon as possible.

•  Be honest, straightforward and sensitive: Remember that your partner may express similar emotions when you tell him or her about your diagnosis.   Be sensitive; listen to your partner's concerns and fears.

•  Provide resources: Pick up extra brochures about your STI to give to your past, current or future partners so that they have correct medical information.   Provide them with an STI hotline number or the phone number to your physician so that they do not postpone making a doctor's appointment and so that they can get their questions answered.   If you are telling your current partner, you may want to offer to accompany him or her to the doctor's office to be tested.  

•  Pick the right place and time: Telling your partner as soon as possible is important; however, do it at a time that is considerate - finding a quite, private place and a time where you will not be interrupted can help calm emotions and keep the conversation respectful.   If it is a new partner, avoid telling them right before having sex.

•  Practice: You may want to practice what you are going to say and your partner's possible responses.   This will help you anticipate their questions as well as stay calm during the discussion.  

•  Sexual Violence: If you feel that a partner will be abusive to you if you disclose your STI status, you do not have to tell your partner. Or you may choose to tell your partner with the support of a family member or close friend with you. If you are in an abusive relationship, you should consider contacting the Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assult, National Domestic Abuse Hotline (1-800-799-SAFE) or First Call for Help (1-800-HELP-555)

Top of page

What Is A STI

Your Rights

Prevent & Treat