Sexually
Transmitted
Infections
Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) are a group of infections passed from one person to another during sex or intimate contact.
Sexually
X
WHAT
IS YOUR
RISK?
MASTURBATION (touching yourself or using sexy toys alone)
Masturbation is a very safe way to receive sexual pleasure. There is no risk of STBBIs being passed when you're touching yourself or using sex toys alone.
CAN be passed
CANNOT be passed
HOLDING HANDS OR CUDDLING WITH CLOTHES ON
Holding hands or cuddling with clothes on is a very safe way to be intimate with your partner(s).
CAN be passed
CANNOT be passed
KISSING
TO HAVE SAFER SEX: Avoid kissing if you or your partner(s) have sores on your lips or in your mouth.
CAN be passed
CANNOT be passed
HAND JOB & FINGERING (fingerfucking, mutual masturbation)
TO HAVE SAFER SEX: Use a condom or rubber glove on your hand when fingering your partner(s), or use an internal condom when being fingered.
CAN be passed
CANNOT be passed
SHARING SEX TOYS
There is no risk of STI transmission if you are using sex toys alone. The risk increases when sex toys are shared between partners.
TO HAVE SAFER SEX: Wash sex toys well with soap and water after each use. Use a new condom or oral dam on sex toys for each partner.
CAN be passed
CANNOT be passed
GETTING CUNNILINGUS (oral sex, eating out, going down, licking pussy)
TO HAVE SAFER SEX: Use a barrier (like an oral dam) on your vagina.
CAN be passed
CANNOT be passed
GIVING CUNNILINGUS (oral sex, eating out, going down, licking pussy)
TO HAVE SAFER SEX: Use a barrier (like an oral dam) on your partner's vagina.
CAN be passed
CANNOT be passed
GETTING FELLATIO (oral sex, blow job, getting head, blowing, going down)
TO HAVE SAFER SEX: Put a condom on your penis
CAN be passed
CANNOT be passed
GIVING FELLATIO (oral sex, blow job, getting head, blowing, going down)
TO HAVE SAFER SEX: Put a condom on your partner's penis
CAN be passed
CANNOT be passed
GIVING & GETTING ANILINGUS (rimming, eating ass, eating out)
TO HAVE SAFER SEX: Use a barrier (like an oral dam) on the anus.
CAN be passed
CANNOT be passed
PENIS IN VAGINA INTERCOURSE (vaginal sex, fucking)
TO HAVE SAFER SEX: Put a condom on the penis or an internal condom inside the vagina
CAN be passed
CANNOT be passed
PENIS IN ANUS INTERCOURSE (anal sex)
TO HAVE SAFER SEX: Put a condom on the penis or an internal condom inside the anus
CAN be passed
CANNOT be passed
How does someone get an STI?
Every sexual activity carries some risk of getting an STI. Most often, STIs are passed through unprotected oral sex, vaginal sex or anal sex. Some STIs can be passed through touching (skin to skin contact).
Your risk of getting an STI depends on a few things.
1
Do you know your STI status?
To get an STI, you or your partner(s) need to have one. Some people get symptoms from an STI, but lots don’t. The only way to know for sure if you or your partner(s) have an STI is to get tested.
2
What kind of sex are you having?
STIs are passed more easily with some types of sex. When you know the chance of getting or passing an STI through different types of sex, you can decide what kinds of sex you and your partner(s) are comfortable with.
3
Do you use protection?
Most STIs are passed between sexual partners during oral, vaginal and anal sex. Some STIs are passed during close intimate contact through sexual fluids or sores. If you use a condom or other barrier device each time you have sex, the risk of getting and STI is reduced.
How will I know if I have an STI?
Every Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) has specific symptoms, but you can also have an STI with no symptoms at all. Even when there are no symptoms, an STI can still be passed from one person to another.
Some STIs can cause serious health problems like pelvic
inflammatory disease (PID) & epididymitis if left untreated.
Getting tested is the only way to know for sure.
If you have any of these symptoms, you could have an STI:
- Unusual discharge from the penis or vagina
- Burning or pain when you pee
- Pain during sex or pain in your genitals
- Sores or bumps on the penis, vagina or anus. Rash on the body, hands, or bottoms of feet.
STI INFORMATION SHEETS
Find the KIS-SK App from the SK Prevention Institute.
How can I protect myself and my partner(s)?
Having safer sex means making choices that lower your risk of getting an STI, and of passing one to your partner(s).
1
Get routine STI testing.
Get tested before you have sex with a new partner, whenever you or your partner(s) have an STI symptom or yearly if you haven’t had an STI test in the last 12 months.
2
Use condoms or other barrier devices.
Use condoms every time you have vaginal or anal sex, and a condom or other barrier device every time you have oral sex.
3
Get up to date on immunizations.
Make sure you’re up to date on your immunizations. Some viruses (like Hepatitis A & B and HPV) can be prevented with vaccines.
4
Talk with your partner(s).
Talk with your partner(s) about your STI status, the types of sex you want to have, and how you can protect one another.
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What Lube Should I Use?
Lubricants make sex more pleasurable. They come in fun flavours and colours, and help to prevent condoms from breaking by reducing friction.
Water Based Lubes
Water based lubes are safe to use with toys, condoms, and are safe for internal (oral, anal, vaginal) use. Some water based lubes contain glycerin, which can increase the chance of yeast infections for some people.
Silicone Based Lubes
Silicone lubes are not water soluble and should not be used with silicone toys. Silicone lubes don’t breed bacteria or yeast, and they are safe to use with condoms.
Oil Based Lubes
Oil based lubricants are not recommended for internal use because they can breed yeast and bacteria. Oil based lubes also break down condoms (very quickly) and damage rubber toys. Oil based lubes should only be used externally, for masturbation or massage.
WHERE CAN I GET CONDOMS?
Condoms are available for sale at most drugstores, but there are lots of places to get condoms for FREE. You don’t have to be a certain age and you don’t need a prescription.
Free condoms are available at all sexual health clinics and most public health offices in Saskatchewan.
Water soluble lubricants come in fun flavors, help sex feel good, and prevent tears and cuts from friction during sex.
What Lube Should I Use?
What can I expect when I get tested?
Getting tested is simple, confidential, and free.
1
To get tested for Chlamydia & Gonorrhea...
you'll give a urine sample and your health care provider will swab your mouth and anus if you have had oral or anal sex.
2
To get tested for HIV, Syphilis & Hepatitis...
you’ll give a small blood sample.
3
To get tested for Herpes...
your health care provider will swab the sore.
If you think you have an STI...
get tested and hold off on having sex with anyone until you get your results.
You have options to get tested:
Ask your family doctor
for a requisition for STI testing, then take that requisition to give your sample(s) at a lab.
Go to a Sexual Health or Walk-in Clinic
to see a nurse and have STI testing done.
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Window Period
Every STI has a unique window period. This is the time between exposure to an STI and when that STI will produce a positive test result.
If your STI test is negative, ask your health care provider to be re-tested after the window period.
- HIV & Hep C – 12 week window period
- Syphilis – 8 week window period
- Chlamydia & Gonorrhea have no window period.
What can I expect if I have an STI?
If your STI test comes back positive (meaning you have an STI), your health care provider will let you know within 7-10 days.
They will also tell you what kind of treatment you need and how to access it. Hold off on having sex for 7 days after treatment for Chlamydia and Gonorrhea or 14 days after treatment for Syphilis to give the medication time to work and prevent spreading the STI to your partner(s). Most STIs are completely curable with antibiotics and the ones that can’t be cured can be managed with medication.
All positive STI results are reported to Saskatchewan Health. Your health care provider or a public health nurse may ask about your sexual partners so that they can be tested and treated if needed. Partner notification is completely confidential and there are several ways you can let your partner(s) know.
CAN IT BE CURED?
STIs caused by bacteria (including Gonorrhea, Chlamydia and Syphilis) can be cured with antibiotics.
Once the STI is treated, you’ll still need to have safe sex in the future. You can get the same STI again if you’re exposed to it again.
STIs caused by viruses (includinvg Herpes, HPV or HIV) can’t be cured, but they can be managed with medications that help with symptoms and lower the chance of passing the STI to your partner(s).
If you’ve just been diagnosed, or if you’ve been living with it for a while, you’re not alone. There are great local resources to help you live a healthy life with non-curable STIs.
Living with an STI
If you or your partner(s) are living with an STI (like HIV, hepatitis or herpes), it’s important to know your risks and how to have safer sex. If you’ve just been diagnosed, or if you’ve been living with it for a while, you’re not alone. There are great local resources to help you live a healthy life with non-curable STIs like HIV, hepatitis and herpes.
PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis)
PrEP is medication taken daily by people at very high risk for HIV to lower the chance of getting infected with HIV. Your risk of getting HIV from sex can be even lower if along with PrEP, you use condoms every time.
