Sexually transmitted infections
STIs and HIV
- A sexually transmitted infection (STI) is an infection spread through sexual contact.
- HIV is a virus that causes an STI and can lead to AIDS, in which the immune system stops working properly.
- HIV passes in infected body fluids — sharing needles, during sex, or mother to baby (placenta or breast milk).
Practice
HIV is:
HIV is a virus; it causes a sexually transmitted infection and can lead to AIDS, which damages the immune system.
Practice
HIV is spread through:
HIV passes in infected body fluids — through shared needles, sexual contact, or mother to baby.
Controlling the spread
- using condoms,
- having fewer partners,
- testing and treating infected people,
- not sharing needles.
Practice
Which help control the spread of STIs? (Choose all that apply.)
Condoms, not sharing needles, and testing/treatment all help; antibiotics do not work on HIV (a virus).
You've got it
Key idea
- an STI spreads through sexual contact; HIV is a virus that can lead to AIDS
- HIV passes in body fluids (needles, sex, mother to baby)
- control spread: condoms, fewer partners, testing/treatment, no shared needles