STIs and HIV/AIDS

The first 200 words of this essay...

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)

What is a STI?

When two people have sex together their bodies are very close and this can lead to germs passing between them if one of the people already has a certain disease. This can be from touching or kissing each others genitals or from having sexual intercourse.

STIs are diseases which are passed from person to person in this way.

The main STIs are:

* chlamydia

* gonorrhoea

* thrush

* genital warts

* trich (trichomoniasis or TV)

* genital herpes

* pubic lice (crabs)

* syphilis (the 'pox').

* Hepatitis B

* HIV

Most STIs are passed between people through unprotected intercourse but some can also be passed on during oral sex and other intimate physical contact. They are not usually passed on through mouth to mouth kissing, sitting on a toilet seat, sharing a drinking cup, touching someone, sharing a towel or flannel, from swimming pools etc. This is because most of the germs causing STIs need warm, moist environments to survive. There are exceptions to this rule including;

* If someone has syphilis or