What it means
An infection spread through vaginal, anal or oral sex and sometimes through skin-to-skin contact, blood or from mother to baby. Examples are chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, trichomoniasis, genital herpes, human papillomavirus (HPV) and HIV. Many cause no symptoms, so a person can spread an infection without knowing it.
For the nurse
Take a sexual history in private and without judgment. Teach condom use, testing, the HPV and hepatitis B vaccines, finishing all antibiotics and treating partners. Some infections, such as syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia and HIV, are reportable to the health department.
At a glance
| Abbreviations | STI; STD (sexually transmitted disease, the older term) |
|---|---|
| Spanish | infección de transmisión sexual |
| Also written | STD, STI, sexually transmitted disease, sexually transmitted diseases, sexually transmitted infections, STIs, STDs |
Related terms
infectious disease
An illness caused by a germ such as a bacterium, virus, fungus or parasite.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The United States government agency that studies disease and sets national guidance on preventing and controlling it.