Parasitic STIs
Parasitic STIs
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Parasitic STIs are caused by the presence of a living organism that is using your body as a host for survival.
There are four types of parasitic STIs:
There are four types of parasitic STIs:
Scabies
Scabies
The most common signs and symptoms of scabies include intense itching, especially at night, and a rash resembling itchy pimples. The itching and rash can affect a large portion of the body or be localized to specific areas such as the wrist, elbow, armpit, spaces between the fingers, nipple, penis, waist, belt-line, and buttocks. The rash may also exhibit small blisters and scales. Scratching the rash can lead to skin sores, which can potentially become infected by bacteria.
More information about scabies
Scabies are tiny, insect-like, parasitic mites that live in the top layer of your skin. They cause an itchy rash as the result of a female mite burrowing into a person's skin to lay her eggs. Similar to public lice, the microscopic scabies use your body as a host.
How does Scabies transmit?
Direct skin-to-skin contact, usually during sex but they can be contracted through other means as well in environments with frequent close skin contact: sharing clothes, towels, or bedding with an infected person.
Getting scabies through quick, casual touching like handshakes or hugs is highly unlikely. Typically, close and prolonged contact with an infected individual is necessary for scabies to spread.
Symptoms of Scabies
The most common signs and symptoms of scabies include intense itching, especially at night, and a rash resembling itchy pimples. The itching and rash can affect a large portion of the body or be localized to specific areas such as the wrist, elbow, armpit, spaces between the fingers, nipple, penis, waist, belt-line, and buttocks. The rash may also exhibit small blisters and scales. Scratching the rash can lead to skin sores, which can potentially become infected by bacteria.
How to prevent Scabies?
The only guaranteed way to prevent scabies is to not engage in sexual activity. Because they live in and on your skin a barrier method will not prevent transmission. However, you should still use a barrier method to help prevent other STIs. Knowing your STI status, examining yourself, and getting tested frequently will help you monitor your status. Asking any prospective sexual partner(s) the same questions and making decisions based on their answers can mitigate your risk level.
Additional information about Scabies
Pubic Lice (Crabs)
Pubic Lice (Crabs)
The primary symptom, if you have symptoms, is intense itching around your genitals (or the infected area).
Light-brown insects, about the size of a pinhead, may be observed moving on the skin, along with oval eggs attached to body hair.
More information about pubic lice
Pubic lice ("crabs") are tiny insects that attach to your skin and hair around your genitals. Like all parasites they feed off of your body and use you as a host. While “crabs” can be very uncomfortable as they cause intense itching, they do not cause long term harm and are easy to get rid of. Millions of people become infected with Pubic Lice every year.
Having pubic lice has nothing to do with your personal hygiene and does not mean you are dirty.
How does Pubic Lice transmit?
Primarily through sexual contact as they tend to infest pubic hair. These lice can easily move from one person's hair to another person's hair when their genitals come into close contact.
Public lice can also be found in other areas: eyelashes, eyebrows, chest hair, armpits, beards, and mustaches.
Sometimes they can spread through infected fabrics, but they do not spread through casual interactions, such as handshakes or hugs. Pubic lice don't survive long away from the human body and cannot cling to smooth surfaces.
How to prevent Pubic Lice?
The only guaranteed way to prevent “Crabs” is to not engage in sexual activity. Because Pubic Lice live on skin and hair a barrier method will not prevent transmission. However, you should still use a barrier method to help prevent other STIs. Knowing your STI status, examining yourself, and getting tested frequently will help you monitor your status. Asking any prospective sexual partner(s) the same questions and making decisions based on their answers can mitigate your risk level.
Additional information about Pubic Lice
Center of Disease Control Pubic Lice
Trichomoniasis
Trichomoniasis
About 70% of people with the infection do not have any signs or symptoms. Symptoms range from mild irritation to severe inflammation.
Some people get symptoms within 5 to 28 days after getting the infection. Others do not develop symptoms until much later. Symptoms can come and go. Having trich can make sex feel unpleasant. Without treatment, the infection can last for months or even years.
The symptoms for people with vaginas may include:
itching, burning, redness or soreness of the genitals
discomfort when peeing
a clear, white, yellowish, or greenish vaginal discharge (i.e., thin discharge or increased volume) with a fishy smell
The symptoms for people with penises may include:
itching or irritation inside the penis
burning after peeing or ejaculating
discharge from the penis
More information about trichomoniasis
Trichomoniasis — called “trich” for short — is caused by a parasite and it is carried in sexual fluids, like semen, pre cum, and vaginal fluids.Trich is also the leading cause of vaginitis (the irritation of the vulva and/or vagina). Signs of being infected with trich include irritation and itching, smelly discharge, and painful or frequent peeing. Many other illnesses cause similar symptoms as Trich which is why it is important to see a doctor if you are concerned you may have Trichomoniasis.
How does Trichomoniasis transmit?
Trichomoniasis is spread through sexual contact, even if no symptoms are present. It can be transmitted through semen, pre-cum, vaginal fluids, and contact between genitals.
It is commonly passed during vaginal sex, but vulva-to-vulva contact, sharing sex toys, and touching infected fluids can also spread the infection.
People with vulvas usually get it from infected partners with vulvas or penises, while people with penises typically get it from partners with vulvas.
Trichomoniasis can survive on objects like sheets, towels, and underwear, so sharing them can lead to transmission.
The genital inflammation caused by trichomoniasis can increase a person's risk of acquiring HIV infection if exposed to HIV. Similarly it can increase the chances of transmitting HIV infection to a sex partner if the person has HIV and Trich.
How to prevent Trichomoniasis?
Trich is spread through infected semen (cum), pre-cum, and vaginal fluids so using barrier methods and avoiding direct contact with your partners genitals, fluids, or unclean sex toys helps prevent Trich.
Additional information about Trichomoniasis
MPox
MPox
People with Mpox often get a rash that may be located on hands, feet, chest, face, or mouth or near the genitals, including penis, testicles, labia, and vagina, and anus. The incubation period is 3-17 days. During this time, a person does not have symptoms and may feel fine.The rash will go through several stages, including scabs, before healing, and can initially look like pimples or blisters and may be painful or itchy.
Other symptoms of Mpox can include:
fever
chills
swollen lymph nodes
exhaustion
muscle aches and backache
headache
respiratory symptoms (e.g., sore throat, nasal congestion, or cough)
More information about MPox
Mpox (formerly “Monkeypox”) is an infectious disease caused by a pox virus that is similar to smallpox. While Mpox is not a STI, in the current Mpox outbreak, it is spreading primarily through sexual contact; however, infections have occurred through other exposures, including non-sexual contact with infectious lesions and from contaminated instruments in clinic settings.
Mpox was referred to as “monkey pox” by the WHO and other international organization. However, the term “monkeypox” could reinforce offensive stereotypes about Africa and perpetuate racism—and increase shame and stigmatization that could prevent people from seeking care, which is why it is now Mpox.
How is Mpox transmitted?
Mpox can spread to anyone through close, personal, often skin-to-skin contact. Direct contact with Mpox rash and scabs from a person with Mpox, as well as contact with their saliva, upper respiratory secretions (snot, mucus), and areas around the anus, rectum, or vagina
This direct contact can happen during intimate contact, including:
oral, anal, or vaginal sex, or touching the genitals (penis, testicles, labia, and vagina) or anus of a person with mpox
hugging, massage, and kissing
prolonged face-to-face contact
Touching objects, fabrics, and surfaces that have been used by someone with Mpox and not disinfected, such as clothing, bedding, towels, fetish gear, or sex toys is considered low risk.
Mpox prevention
Avoid close, skin-to-skin contact with people who have a rash that looks like Mpox.The rash might appear on the genitals (penis, testicles, labia, vagina) or anus and could be on other areas like the hands, feet, chest, face, or mouth.
Do not touch the rash or scabs of a person with Mpox.
Avoid contact with objects and materials that a person with Mpox has used.
Wash your hands often.
Get vaccinated!
What to do if you think you have Mpox?
If you show symptoms listed above or if you come into contact with someone who has Mpox, call Student Health Services and isolate yourself until further instruction from the Health Service.
Additional Information about Mpox
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