Last Updated: April 21, 2025

Many people have heard myths about sexually transmitted infections (STIs).  Maybe you were told you could get pregnant from a toilet seat – you can’t.  Maybe you remember hearing about the “blue waffle disease.”  That was a fictional STI talked about online in the early 2010s.  For many years people have talked about how it is not safe to share plates or cups with someone who has HIV.  Sharing utensils or food with someone who has HIV is safe!

STIs are a historically taboo subject.  People don’t like to talk about STIs, and many STIs often do not have symptoms.  These factors make it easy for rumors to spread about who gets STIs, and how they are spread.

From April 13-19, Virginia will observe STI Awareness Week.  During this time, we shine light on the reality of how STIs are contracted, treated, and prevented.  STIs are very common.  In 2018, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated that one in five people in the U.S. has an STI on any given day.  STI infections have increased dramatically over the five years since that time.  Syphilis is being diagnosed nationwide at levels not reported since 1950.  In Virginia, more cases of chlamydia are diagnosed than cases of the flu.

STI Prevention

Many people assume they will know if they get an STI.  However, getting tested is the only way to know for sure.  Most people infected with a bacterial STI will not have noticeable symptoms.  Bacterial STIs include chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis.  Even without symptoms, STIs can still be spread from person-to-person.  They can also cause serious health problems.  For example, untreated gonorrhea or chlamydia can result in being unable to have children.  They can also become life threatening in rare cases.  People with syphilis can experience permanent organ damage.  This usually occurs if the infection spreads to their brain, eyes, or ears.

Finally, most people are also aware of the most common ways to prevent an STI:

• not having sex (abstinence),
• only having sex with one partner who has tested negative for all STIs (monogamy), and
• correctly using barriers made of latex (or other materials): such as condoms and dental dams—during sex.

Medical Interventions

Taking certain medications before sex can significantly reduce HIV/STI risk.  People who are HIV-negative can take pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) before sex.  This will reduce the risk of getting infected with HIV by 99%.  People who are HIV-positive can take their HIV medications as prescribed.  This prevents passing the virus to others.

Some medications taken after sex reduces the risk of getting an STI.  People who may have been exposed to HIV can take post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP).  If taken within 72 hours, it may prevent infection.  Similarly, people who may have been exposed to some bacterial STIs can take DoxyPEP.  If taken within 72 hours DoxyPEP reduces the risk of bacterial STI infection.

What You Can Do This Week

Please join us in observing STI Awareness Week 2025.  Share reliable information about STIs.  Talk about your experience if you have had one before.  Consider encouraging people you know to get a free or low-cost test.  Virginia has a variety of options for testing, including:

• local health departments,
• nonprofit organizations,
• self-testing programs, and
• partnerships with private organizations.

Talk to your medical provider about whether PrEP or DoxyPEP are right for you.  By working together, we can make Virginia the healthiest state in the nation.