Viral STIs

• Hepatitis refers to an inflammatory condition of the liver. It’s commonly caused by a viral infection, but there are other possible causes of hepatitis. These include autoimmune hepatitis and hepatitis that occurs as a secondary result of medications, drugs, toxins, and alcohol.

• Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C can be transmitted through bodily fluids (most typically blood)

• External and internal condoms are great prevention and it is curable with antiviral medication. It should be treated as soon as possible.

• Abstinence

• Hepatitis vaccine(s)

• STI testing and treatment

• Communicate with partner(s) about protection and possible risk

• Barrier methods (condoms, dental dams, etc.)

• Washing hands

• Pee before and after sex

• Avoid shaving, waxing, or removing pubic hair

• Avoid sharing personal care items that may have blood on them

• Don't use intravenous drugs (never share needles)

• fatigue

• flu-like symptoms

• dark urine

• pale stool

• abdominal pain

• loss of appetite

• unexplained weight loss

• yellow skin and eyes, which may be signs of jaundice

• Chronic hepatitis B is treated with antiviral medications. This form of treatment can be costly because it must be continued for several months or years. Treatment for chronic hepatitis B also requires regular medical evaluations and monitoring to determine if the virus is responding to treatment. Vaccination can prevent HBV.

• Antiviral medications are used to treat both acute and chronic forms of hepatitis C. People who develop chronic hepatitis C are typically treated with a combination of antiviral drug therapies. They may also need further testing to determine the best form of treatment.

• HPV stands for human papillomavirus. It’s the most common sexually transmitted infection. HPV is usually harmless and goes away by itself, but some types can lead to cancer or genital warts.

• "Genital Warts"

• External and internal condoms are great prevention and it is curable with antiviral medications. It should be treated as soon as possible.

• HPV Vaccine

• Abstinence

• STI testing and treatment

• Communicate with partner(s) about protection and possible risk

• Barrier methods (condoms, dental dams, etc.)

• Washing hands

• Pee before and after sex

• Avoid shaving, waxing, or removing pubic hair

There is no test to find out a person’s “HPV status.” Also, there is no approved HPV test to find HPV in the mouth or throat.

There are HPV tests that can be used to screen for cervical cancer. These tests are only recommended for screening in people with uteruses aged 30 years and older. HPV tests are not recommended to screen people under the age of 30 years.

Most people with HPV do not know they are infected and never develop symptoms or health problems from it. Some people find out they have HPV when they get genital warts. People with uteruses may find out they have HPV when they get an abnormal Pap test result (during cervical cancer screening). Others may only find out once they’ve developed more serious problems from HPV, such as cancers.

Usually, your body will get rid of the HPV in your body before it develops into visible symptoms. However, visible symptoms of HPV are warts, especially around the genitalia.

There is no treatment for the virus itself. There is a vaccine that can completely prevent HPV. However, there are treatments for the health problems that HPV can cause:

1. Genital warts can be treated by your healthcare provider or with prescription medication. If left untreated, genital warts may go away, stay the same, or grow in size or number.

2. Cervical precancer can be treated. Women who get routine Pap tests and follow up as needed can identify problems before cancer develops. Prevention is always better than treatment. For more information visit www.cancer.org

3. Other HPV-related cancers are also more treatable when diagnosed and treated early. For more information visit www.cancer.org

• Genital herpes is a common sexually transmitted disease (STD) that any sexually active person can get. Most people with the virus don’t have symptoms. Even without signs of the disease, herpes can still be spread to sex partners.

• External and internal condoms are great prevention and it is curable with antiviral medications. It should be treated as soon as possible.

• Abstinence

• STI testing and treatment

• Communicate with partner(s) about protection and possible risk

• Barrier methods (condoms, dental dams, etc.)

• Washing hands

• Pee before and after sex

• Avoid shaving, waxing, or removing pubic hair

• Don't have sex during a herpes outbreak (most likely and most common to spread during that time)

• Your healthcare provider may diagnose genital herpes by simply looking at your symptoms. Providers can also take a sample from the sore(s) and test it. In certain situations, a blood test may be used to look for herpes antibodies. Have an honest and open talk with your health care provider and ask whether you should be tested for herpes or other STDs.

• Blisters/open sores/itchiness of the genitals

• Flu-like symptoms (including fever)

• Pain while urinating

There is no cure for herpes. However, there are medicines that can prevent or shorten outbreaks. One of these anti-herpes medicines can be taken daily, and makes it less likely that you will pass the infection on to your sex partner(s).

• HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that attacks cells that help the body fight infection, making a person more vulnerable to other infections and diseases. It is spread by contact with certain bodily fluids of a person with HIV, most commonly during unprotected sex (sex without a condom or HIV medicine to prevent or treat HIV), or through sharing injection drug equipment.

• If left untreated, HIV can lead to the disease AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).

• External and internal condoms are great prevention and it is curable with antiviral medications. It should be treated as soon as possible.

• Abstinence

• PrEP and PEP

• STI testing and treatment

• Communicate with partner(s) about protection and possible risk

• Barrier methods (condoms, dental dams, etc.)

• Washing hands

• Pee before and after sex

• Avoid shaving, waxing, or removing pubic hair

• Don't use intravenous drugs (Never share needles)

• Don't have sex when inebriated

HIV

• Flu-like symptoms

• No symptoms at all

AIDS

• Rapid weight loss

• Recurring fever or profuse night sweats

• Extreme and unexplained tiredness

• Prolonged swelling of the lymph glands in the armpits, groin, or neck

• Diarrhea that lasts for more than a week

• Sores of the mouth, anus, or genitals

• Pneumonia

• Red, brown, pink, or purplish blotches on or under the skin or inside the mouth, nose, or eyelids

• Memory loss, depression, and other neurologic disorders

• HIV treatment involves taking medicines that slow the progression of the virus in your body. HIV is a type of virus called a retrovirus, and the combination of drugs used to treat it is called antiretroviral therapy (ART). ART is recommended for all people living with HIV, regardless of how long they’ve had the virus or how healthy they are. ART must be taken every day, exactly as your health care provider prescribes.

• Talk to your healthcare provider about effective means of treating HIV/AIDS.