Visit the Knowsley Teen Sexual Health website and the RU Thinking teen sexual health website to learn the facts about sexual health with articles about puberty, menstruation, infections and just about everything else you wanted to know. Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
STIs can be caught by having sexual contact with someone who is infected. This can be vaginal, oral or anal sex.
Some STIs (such as Herpes and HPV) can be caught by touching the infected areas of someone's body and then touching your own private parts.
You can only catch an STI by having sexual contact with someone else who already has an STI, but many people do not have symptoms so you can’t be sure if you have contracted an infection unless you get tested.
How can I protect myself?
Using condoms during vaginal, oral and anal sex will help to protect you and reduce your risk of infection.
Different STIs include:
- chlamydia
- gonorrhoea
- syphilis
- hepatitis A
- hepatitis B
- hepatitis C
- genital herpes
- genital warts
- non-specific urethritis
You can find out more about STIs, symptoms and available treatments from the Knowsley Teen Sexual Health website (THINK) or the R U Thinking teen sexual health website and the Avert website.
Advice and support
Your local THINK clinic will give you confidential advice and support on sex, relationships, contraception and STI’s. To find your nearest clinic visit the THINK website or call the free 24 hour advice line on 0800 138 6559.
See also
