Quick and easy guides to help keep you healthy and out of danger

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  Infections you can get by having sex with some who has an infection
  
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  Usually passed by having vaginal intercourse
  
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  Can also be passed through anal sex, oral sex, or skin-to-skin contact
  

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  Can be caused by a virus, bacteria, parasites
  
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  Viruses include: Hepatitis B, Herpes, HIV, and the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)
  
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  Bacteria include: Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, and Syphilis
  
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  Parasites: Trichamoniasis
  

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  Anyone who ever had sex
  

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  Risk is higher if you:
  
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    Have sex with many partners
    
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    Have sex with someone who has had many partners
    
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    Have had sex without using a condom
    

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  Itching around the vagina and/or discharge from the vagina for women
  
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  Discharge from the penis for men
  
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  Pain during sex or when urinating
  
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  Pain in the pelvic area
  
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  Sore Throats in people who have oral sex
  
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  Pain in or around the anus for people who have anal sex
  
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  Chancre sores (painless red sores) on the genital area, anus, tongue and/or throat
  

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  A scaly rash on the palms of your hands and the soles of your feet
  
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  Dark urine, light-colored stools, and yellow eyes and skin
  
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  Small blisters that turn into scabs on the genital area
  
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  Swallow glands, fever and body aches
  
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  Unusual infections, unexplained fatigue, night sweats and weight loss
  
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  Soft, flash-colored warts around the genital area
  

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  Any time you have unprotected sex with a new sexual partner
  
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  If you have any of the symptoms listed above
  
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  If you have concerns about whether you have an STI
  

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  Through exam by your doctor
  
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  A culture of the secretions from your vagina or penis: Chylamydia, gonorrhea, Trichamoniasis
  
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  A pap smear: HPV
  
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  A blood test: Hepatitis, HIV, Herpes, Syphilis
  

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  Untreated chlamydia and gonorrhea can lead to Pelvic Inflammatory Disease and cause infertility and increase your chances for an ectopic pregnancy
  
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  HPV can lead to cancer of the cervix or penis
  
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  Syphilis can lead to paralysis, mental problems, heart damage, blindness, and even death
  

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  YES – The only way is by NOT having sex
  
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  If you have sex, you can lower your risk of getting an STI by only having sex with someone who isn't having sex with anyone else and who doesn't have an STI.
  
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  You should always use condoms when having sex, including oral and anal sex.
  

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  Male latex condoms can reduce your risk of getting an STI IF USED CORRECTLY.
  
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  Be sure to use them every time you have sex.
  
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  Female condoms aren't as effective as male condoms, but should be used when a man won't use a male condom.
  

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  Condoms aren't 100% safe and can't protect you from coming in contact with some sores (such as those that can occur with herpes) or warts (which can be caused by HPV infection).
  

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  Limit the number of sex partners you have.
  
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  Ask your partner if he or she has, or has had, an STI and tell your partner if you have had one.
  
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  Talk about whether you've both been tested for STIs and whether you should be tested.
  
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  Look for signs of an STI in your sex partner.
  
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  But remember that STIs don't always cause symptoms.
  
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  Don't have sex if you or your partner are being treated for an STI.
  
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  Wash your genitals with soap and water and urinate soon after you have sex. This may help clean away some germs before they
  

IN WOMEN

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  No symptoms or health problems -- In 90% of cases, the body’s immune system clears HPV naturally within two years
  

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  Usually appear as a small bump or groups of bumps in the gential area
  
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  They can be small or large, raised or flat, or shaped like a cauliflower
  
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  Warts can appear within weeks or months after sexual contact with an infected partner – even if the infected partner has no signs of genital warts.
  
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  If left untreated, genital warts might go away, remain unchanged, or increase in sixe or number.
  
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  They will not turn into cancer
  

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  Usually does not have symptoms until it is quite advanced
  
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  For this reason, it is important for women to get regular screening for cervical cancer
  
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  Screening test can find early signs of disease so that problems can be treated early, before they ever turn into cancer
  

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  Might not have signs or symptoms until they are advanced and hard to treat
  
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  Theses include cancers of the vulva, vagina, penis, anus, and head and neck (tongue, tonsils, and throat)
  

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  Very rarely the virus may cause warts in the throat
  
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  It can sometimes block the airway, causing a hoarse voice or troubled breathing
  

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  The types of HPV that can cause genital warts are not the same as the types that can cause cancer.
  

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  There is no way to know which people who get HPV will go on to develop cancer or other health problems
  

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  No symptoms or health problems -- In 90% of cases, the body’s immune system clears HPV naturally within two years
  

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  Gay and bisexual men are 17 times more likely to develop anal cancer than heterosexual men
  
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  Men with weak immune system, including those who have human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and more likely than other men to develop anal cancer
  

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  About 1% of sexually active men in the U.S. have genital warts at any one time
  

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  One or more growths on the penis, testicles, groin, thighs, or anus
  
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  Warts may be raised, flat, or cauliflower-shaped. They usually do not hurt
  
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  Warts may appear within weeks or months after sexual contact with an infected person
  

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  Anal cancer is not the same as colorectal cancer. Colorectal cancer is more common than anal cancer, but it is not caused by HPV
  
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  Anal cancer is uncommon- especially in men with health immune systems
  
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  Sometimes there are no signs or symptoms
  
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  Anal bleeding, pain, itching, or discharge
  
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  Swollen lymph nodes in the anal or groin area
  
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  Changes in bowel habits or the shape of your stool
  

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  1 in every 100,000 men will develop penile cancer, especially in circumcised men
  

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  First signs: Changes in color, skin thickening, or a build-up of tissue on the penis
  
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  Later signs: a growth or sore on the penis. It is usually painless, but in some cases, the sore may be painful and bleed
  
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  There may be no symptoms until the cancer is quite advanced.
  

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  Can protect males and females against some of the most common types of HPV
  
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  These vaccines are given in three shots. It is important to get all three doses to get the best protection.
  
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  The vaccines are most effective when given before a person’s first sexual contact, when he or she could be exposed to HPV
  

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  Two vaccines (Cervarix and Gardasil) are available to protect females against the types of HPV that cause most cervical cancers.
  
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  Gardasil protects against most genital warts
  
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  Both vaccines are recommended for 11 and 12 year-old girls, and for females 13 through 26 years of age, who did not get any or all of the shots when they were younger.
  

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  One available vaccine (Gardasil) protects males against most genital warts.
  
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  This vaccine is available for boys and men, 9 through 26 years of age
  

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  Private and confidential program that provides vaccines free of charge to eligible adults – the uninsured who without assistance could not afford needed Merck vaccines
  

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  How to Qualify:
  

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  Reside in the United States and are age 19 or older
  
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  No health insurance coverage
  
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  Annual household income less than:
  
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    $43,320 for individuals
    
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    $58,280 for couples
    
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    $88,200 for a family of four
    

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  Merck recognizes that sometimes exceptions need to be made based on a patient’s individual circumstances.
  
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  Individuals who do not meet the insurance coverage criteria may still qualify for the vaccine program if the patient has special circumstances of financial and medical hardship
  

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  Call (800) 293-2881, 8:00 AM – 8:00PM EST, Monday through Friday
  
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  Application available at: http://health.unl.edu/forms/mvpap_app.pdf
  

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  May lower the risk of HPV
  
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  Must be used with every sexual act from start to finish
  
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  May also lower the risk of developing HPV-realted disease, such as gential warts and cervical cancer.
  
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  HPV can infect areas that are not covered by a condom – so condoms may not FULLY protect against HPV
  

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  Being in a faithful relationship with one partner
  
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  Limiting you number of sex partners
  
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  Choosing a partner who has had no or few prior sex partners
  
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  Even people with only one lifetime partner can get HPV
  
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  It may not be possible to determine if a parter who has been sexually active in the past is currently infected.
  
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  The only sure way to prevent HPV is to avoid all sexual activity.
  

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  Gardasil vaccine
  

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  Cervarix and Gardasil vaccine
  
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  Routine cervical cancer screenings (Pap test) and follow-up of abnormal results