Gonorrhea is a commons STI that can be cured with proper treatment. Gonorrhea often has no symptoms, but in female bodies, infection can present as a painful/burning sensation when peeing, increased vaginal discharge, or vaginal bleeding between periods. In male bodies, symptoms include a burning sensation when peeing, a white, yellow, or green penile discharge, and/or painful/swollen testicles. Rectal infection symptoms include discharge, bleeding, soreness, anal itching, and/or painful bowel movements.

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that attacks the human immune system. There is currently no cure, but proper medical treatment can control the virus. HIV often does not prevent with symptoms, but may look like flu-like symptoms 2 to 4 weeks after the sexual encounter. The only way to know your HIV status is to get tested. Only certain bodily fluids can transmit HIV. These include blood, semen, pre-seminal fluid, rectal fluids, and vaginal fluids. Prevention strategies include using condoms the correct way in every sexual encounter, using PrEP and PEP, and not sharing needles or syringes. Without treatment, HIV can lead to AIDs (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).

Herpes is a common infection that is caused by two types of viruses: HSV-1 and HSV-2. There is no cure, but proper treatment can prevent or shorten outbreaks. HSV-1 often causes oral coldsores or no symptoms at all, and is most often contracted in youth or young adulthood through non-sexual saliva contact. Genital herpes is often asymptomatic, but may cause sores that appear as one or more blisters around the genitals. After an initial outbreak, repeated outbreaks can occur, especially in those with HSV-2. Herpes is spread through contact with a herpes sore, saliva from a partner with an oral herpes infection, genital fluids from a partner with a genital herpes infection, or skin in the area of infection from a partner with herpes. Genital herpes can also be transmitted through sex with an asymptomatic infected partner. 

Syphilis is a common STI with four stages. It is curable with proper treatment. In the primary stage, infection often presents as firm, round, and painless sores at the location the syphilis entered your body (penis, vagina, rectum, anus, lips or mouth). The infection is spread through direct contact with a sore during vaginal, anal, or oral sex. In the secondary stage, there may be a rough, red or reddish-brown rash, non-itchy in your mouth, vagina or anus, or the palms of your hand and/or bottoms of your feet. Other symptoms at this stage are fever, swollen lymph glands, sore throat, patchy hair loss, headaches, weight loss, muscle aches, and fatigue. The latent stage is when there are no visible symptoms of the infection. The tertiary stage is a very serious, final stage that can occur within 10-30 years if an untreated syphilis infection, and can harm several organ systems. More people with untreated syphilis will never reach this stage. Without treatment, syphilis can spread to the brain, eyes, or ears.

Trichomoniasis (‘trich’) is a common infection that is often asymptomatic (70% asymptomatic) and more likely in female bodies. Symptoms in male bodies include itching or irritation inside the penis, burning after peeing, or discharge from the penis. Female bodies may experience itching, burning, redness, or swelling of the genitals, discomfort while peeing, a clear, white, yellowish or greenish vaginal discharge with a fishy smell. Trich can increase the risk of contracting other STIs, and is curable with proper medical treatment.

HPV (human papillomavirus) is a very common STI. Nearly everyone will get HPV at some point in their lives. 9/10 HPV infections will go away themselves within two years, but can last longer and cause some cancers (those if the cervix, vagina, and vulva, penis, anus, or back of the throat). Most HPV infections are asymptomatic and resolve spontaneously, some persistence infections can cause anogenital warts, precancers, or certain types of cancer. HPV can be prevented through vaccinations.