180 Degrees - the sex test

DID YOU KNOW…

There are 27 different STIs with various types of each. 1

HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) is the most common STI (instances) in the United States. 2

1 in 4 people under the age of 25 will be infected with an STI. 3

Less than half of high school students are sexually active. 4

You can potentially get 26 STIs through oral sex. 5

You can even get some of the most common STIs from genital touching. 6

Condoms only significantly reduce your risk from some of the STIs! But for condoms to be effective they have to be used 100% of the time and 100% correctly. 7

Extreme Exposure: Are You a Risk Taker?

The Simple Facts about STIs:

Human Papilloma Virus/ Genital Warts

HPV has the most new cases each year in the United States.
HPV is highly contagious and is spread by SEXUAL CONTACT (vaginal/oral/anal sex and genital touching)

Certain HPV strains can cause painless warts on the genital area that in some cases have to be frozen, burned or cut off by a medical professional.
Cervical cancer's main causation is HPV but there are other risk factors including smoking and being infected with multiple STIs.
HPV usually only persists 8 months to 2 years but in 10% of cases it will persist for life.
50 – 75% of sexually active people have come in contact with HPV.8
There are two vaccines available
- Gardasil which is approved for MEN and WOMEN aged 9-26.
- Cervarix which is approved for women aged 10-25. 9

Herpes Simplex II

1 in 5 Americans over the age of twelve has the herpes virus.10
Herpes can cause painful blisters on the genital area.
Oral herpes can be spread to the genital area and visa versa.
Herpes can be spread even when there are no symptoms present.
90% of people with herpes don’t know it.
Herpes is highly contagious and is spread by SEXUAL CONTACT. (vaginal/oral/anal sex and genital touching)

There is NO cure for herpes. Once infected, people remain infected for life.11

Syphilis

Initial symptoms can include a painless sore at the site of infection.
After the sore heals syphilis symptoms include a skin rash, sore throat, headache and fever.
Untreated syphilis (latent stage) can damage all major body organs.
15% of cases will proceed to the latent stage.
Some people will be asymptomatic and thus go undiagnosed for 10 to 20 years.
Syphilis is spread by SEXUAL CONTACT. (vaginal /oral/ anal sex and genital touching)12

Chlamydia

Chlamydia is the most frequently reported bacterial STI.
This is called the "silent" disease because 3/4 of women and 1/2 of men have no symptoms.
Women and men who do have symptoms will generally have a genital discharge or burning sensation when urinating.
Teenage girls are more at risk than any other group because their cervix is not completely developed.
Untreated chlamydia can turn into PID (Pelvic Inflammatory Disease) which can lead to infertility.
PID occurs in 40% of untreated women.
Chlamydia is spread through SEXUAL ACTIVITY. (vaginal/oral/anal sex) 13

Gonorrhea

Teenagers have one of the highest reported rates of infection.
Most people infected with gonorrhea have no symptoms but when symptoms are present:
- Men - Burning sensation when urinating, white/yellow/green discharge, swollen or puss-filled testicles/penis.
- Women - Burning sensation when urinating and increased vaginal discharge.
There are some long term affects for those who are untreated:
- Men - Epididymitis which is a painful condition of the ducts attached to the testicles that may lead to infertility.
- Women - PID which can also lead to infertility
- Both - Can spread to the blood or joints which can be life threatening. 14
Those infected with gonorrhea has an increased risk of HIV acquisition.
Gonorrhea is spread by SEXUAL ACTIVITY (vaginal/oral/anal sex) 15

HIV

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) leads to AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome)
HIV is treatable but not curable and will eventually lead to AIDS which is deadly.16
Scientists have identified the source of HIV in humans with chimpanzees in West Africa where hunters ate the chimpanzee meat thus exposing the hunters to the infected blood.
HIV is transmitted by:
- Having anal, vaginal or oral sex with someone infected with HIV. (Transmission through oral sex is less risky but still possible.)
- Sharing needles and syringes for drug or steroid use.
- A fetus being exposed during birth or breastfeeding.17
About a million Americans are living with HIV today. 18

Hepatitis B & C

Hepatitis is a serious viral STI that affects the liver.19
It is transmitted through blood and body fluids by:
- Having anal, vaginal, or oral sex. (Heb C is the only one transferred through oral sex.)
- Sharing needles for drug or steroid use. 20
There is treatment available but no cure.
Though there is no cure some people are able to fight off the virus with their immune systems. 21

Bacterial Vaginosis

A condition in women where is an imbalance of bacteria in the vagina.
BV is the most common vaginal infection in women of childbearing age.
Any woman can get BV even those who have never had sex. But there are some risk factors:
- Having multiple sex partners
- Douching
Symptoms generally include a vaginal discharge with an unpleasant odor.
BV is treatable with doctor prescribed antibiotics. 22

Trichomoniasis

This is the most common curable STI in young sexually active women.
Trichomaniasis is a parasite that is transmitted through genital to genital contact.
There are generally few symptoms but possible symptoms include:
- Men - irritation inside the penis, mild discharge, or burning while urinating.
- Women - frothy yellow/green discharge, discomfort during intercourse and irritation of the genital area.
Trichomaniasis is treatable with doctor prescribed antibiotics. 23

*180 Degree's goal is to offer complete and medically accurate information to all our audiences. Therefore, please refer to the footnotes for biographical information. There is further research and data available upon request.