First, a description…

An STI (sexually transmitted infection)—sometimes referred to as an STD (sexually transmitted disease)—is caused by a bacteria, virus, or parasite passed from one person to another through condomless sexual contact and through intimate genital to genital—skin on skin— contact without penetration.

Why “STI” (sexually transmitted infections) and not “STD” (sexually transmitted disease)?

The terms STI and STD are synonymous. “STI” is used more frequently now because of the negative association with the term “disease” and because some diseases are considered incurable. In contrast, there is usually less stigma attached to the term “infection” and many STIs are actually easily curable.

Spread the words

Have you heard about dickgitis? What about vagfluenza, scrotoma or buttholiosis? If you haven’t, it’s ok. There aren’t a whole slew of new STIs for you to be worried about. Just new strains of the ones we’ve all come to know and fear.

Names like HPV, Gonorrhea, Syphilis and Chlamydia have been said and heard countless times. Sometimes the words lose their seriousness because we’re so used to hearing them, but the STIs they represent still pack a wallop.

There’s more than one way to talk about STIs, the important thing is that they get talked about. When everyone’s aware, we can all do our part to protect each other and lower the rates of STIs in Alberta.

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