Wellness
Medically reviewed by Dr. Matthew Fainman Virtual Care Medical Director at NextCare
Dr Fainman is an experienced Internal Medicine specialist, who earned his Bachelor’s, MBA, and Medical Doctorate from the University of Manitoba. He completed his residency at Cleveland Clinic and, with over 20 years in healthcare, is a leader in Telehealth innovation and patient care.
Let’s talk about something important: STI vs. STD. What’s the difference? Why does it matter? Understanding the distinction between STIs (sexually transmitted infections) and STDs (sexually transmitted diseases) is crucial for your sexual health and overall well-being. Learning about this difference can be eye-opening and change how you think about sexual health.
What is an STI vs STD
An STI, or sexually transmitted infection, occurs when bacteria, viruses, or parasites are transmitted through sexual contact. This contact includes vaginal, oral, and anal sex.
STIs are common. The CDC recommends yearly STI testing if you’re sexually active because some STIs may have few early symptoms. Sometimes these infections lead to noticeable changes in your body. At this point, they become an STD, or sexually transmitted disease.
Dr. H. Hunter Handsfield, in Sexually Transmitted Diseases, explains infections occur when pathogens invade your body and multiply. These infections become STDs after cell damage and physical signs appear. Essentially, what is an STI vs. STD boils down to how these pathogens and illnesses manifest. Understanding this can alleviate some anxieties about STIs.
At NextCare, we understand the importance of proactive sexual health. Our clinics provide discreet, professional STI/STD testing and treatment options, ensuring you receive timely care for any concerns. If an STI progresses into an STD, our team can refer you to specialized care when necessary.
Why the Shift from STD to STI?
The shift to STI is for several important reasons. The term “disease” carries stigma. “Infection” reduces shame associated with STIs. This helps reduce the STI stigma surrounding these infections.
Many STIs don’t always progress to a disease state, especially with early treatment. Using “infection” acknowledges this. The term STI helps describe the infections more accurately and clarifies when an infection occurs.
People might be more willing to get tested for an “infection.” This can lead to earlier detection and treatment, preventing the spread of infections caused by sexual contact.
Common STIs and Their Potential Progression to STDs
Let’s explore common STIs and their potential STD progression if left untreated. These include common STIs/STDs like HPV and HIV.
| STI | Potential STD Outcome |
|---|---|
| Human Papillomavirus (HPV) | Genital warts, cervical cancer |
| Chlamydia | Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID), infertility |
| Gonorrhea | PID, epididymitis |
| Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) | Genital herpes |
| Syphilis | Neurosyphilis, cardiovascular syphilis |
| Trichomoniasis | Increased risk of other STIs |
| HIV | AIDS |
Many conditions are asymptomatic initially, hence the importance of common types of STI/STD testing, even without symptoms.
NextCare urgent care clinics provide testing for many of these conditions and offer immediate treatment or referrals for follow-up care, depending on the diagnosis.
The Importance of Regular Testing
Regular STI testing is crucial, given many STIs can be asymptomatic. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends testing schedules based on age, sexual behaviors, and risk factors. These include factors such as skin-to-skin contact during sexual activity. STI testing can often include things such as blood tests, or testing any abnormal vaginal odor or abnormal vaginal discharge in the vagina.
For example, the CDC recommends yearly gonorrhea and chlamydia testing for sexually active women under 25. For men who have sex with men, more frequent testing for various STIs is recommended. Open communication with your partner can encourage healthy sexual activity while helping to prevent STIs.
These are general guidelines. Discuss your specific needs with a healthcare provider. The national institute of health has plenty of information to provide you with an update on how many STD cases occur in your area.
Treatment and Prevention: A Two-Pronged Approach
Treatment and prevention go hand in hand in managing STIs and STDs. NextCare Urgent Care provides treatment for many bacterial STIs with antibiotics. For viral infections like herpes or HIV, our providers can connect you with specialists for long-term management.
Prevention Strategies:
⊕ Safe sex practices: Consistent use of condoms or dental dams reduces STI risk.
⊕ Vaccination: Protect against infections like HPV and hepatitis B.
⊕ Regular testing: Early detection prevents infections from progressing to diseases.
⊕ Open communication: Honest discussions with partners about STI testing and prevention.
NextCare’s experienced providers can support you in these prevention strategies, helping you stay proactive about your health. Read our guide to essential safe sex practices.
The Role of Education in STI Prevention
Education is vital in STI prevention and stigma reduction. Comprehensive sex education about STIs and STDs empowers informed decisions about sexual health. Learn about STI symptoms and infections caused, as well as treatment for the most common types of STIs.
Dispelling Myths and Misconceptions
Many myths surround STIs/STDs. Some believe STIs can’t be transmitted through oral sex, or that you can visually identify STIs. These misconceptions promote risky behaviors and STI spread. Accurate information and open dialogue dispel these myths, creating a health-conscious society.
The Future of STI/STD Management
As STI/STD understanding evolves, so does management and prevention. Research focuses on new treatments, prevention methods, and diagnostics. Regular STI testing is one way that infections develop. However, sometimes certain bodily fluids and skin-to-skin contact are enough to transmit bacteria and lead to STIs.
Researchers are exploring CRISPR gene-editing for HIV and a genital herpes vaccine. These advancements offer hope for effective STI/STD prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Awareness, education, and regular testing remain our best tools.
Conclusion
Understanding the difference between an STI and an STD is important for your health. An STI is the initial infection, while STD refers to the disease that can develop if the infection progresses and causes noticeable symptoms. Regular STI testing and using condoms or dental dams are crucial prevention methods. Learning about transmission, risk factors, and practicing safer sex helps protect your well-being. Being aware of all risk factors, including injection drug use, helps individuals protect their health. Recognizing the differences between unusual vaginal bleeding and vaginal bleeding related to menstruation can be important for detecting certain STIs.
FAQs
While often used interchangeably, there’s a difference. An STI is the presence of an infectious agent. An STD is a condition resulting when an STI causes symptoms or complications. All STDs begin as STIs, but not all STIs become STDs. Many of these cases occur and start due to public health and access to care providers for accurate and informative healthcare.
Chlamydia is both, depending on the stage. Initially, it’s an STI. If untreated and causing symptoms like PID, it’s an STD. Many different types of STDs are also considered infections because of transmitted diseases through the vagina. Many vagina sores are sexually transmitted and STDs can also include symptoms such as abnormal vaginal discharge, causing health problems in those infected.
The shift reduces stigma and improves accuracy. “Infection” is less stigmatizing than “disease”. It accurately describes the condition, especially asymptomatic cases. This encourages testing and treatment. STIs often affect the genital area. The CDC provides detailed information on how many cases occur across various demographics and age groups (people ages 15-24 are the most affected).
Yes, many STIs can be asymptomatic, meaning individuals may not experience noticeable symptoms. Regular testing is crucial to detect and treat these infections early.
If you test positive for an STI, follow your healthcare provider’s treatment plan, inform your sexual partners, and abstain from sexual activity until the infection is fully treated to prevent further transmission.
Yes, vaccines are available for certain STIs, such as HPV and hepatitis B. Consult with your healthcare provider about vaccination options suitable for you.
Untreated STIs can lead to serious health complications, such as infertility, pelvic inflammatory disease, certain cancers, and increased susceptibility to other infections, including HIV.
The frequency of STI testing depends on individual risk factors, sexual behaviors, and age. It’s advisable to discuss your specific situation with a healthcare provider to determine an appropriate testing schedule.
Treatment options are tailored to the patient’s current condition and the examples are to be used as possible treatment options. The actual treatment will be determined after an assessment performed by a medical professional. Additionally, procedures are recommended only after a comprehensive evaluation and a thoughtful determination of the most appropriate treatment options.