Chlamydia is the most common reported bacterial STI in the U.S. It is most common in younger people—it is estimated that 1 in 20 sexually active young women aged 14-24 years has chlamydia.
Gonorrhea (also known as “the clap”) is an infection caused by the bacteria Neisseria gonorrhoeae. It is passed on during vaginal, anal, and oral sex (performing or receiving).
While most adults know the most common STIs, there’s still confusion about lesser-known infections, vaccines to prevent STIs, and whether sitting on a toilet seat is risky (it’s not).
Herpes is a very common viral infection caused by herpes simplex virus (HSV). I can cause sores on the mouth or face or in the genital area. Herpes cannot be cured, but it can be treated.
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver that can be caused by a group of viruses—hepatitis A, B, C, D and E. When hepatitis viruses damage liver cells, scar tissue is formed and those cells can no longer function.
Sexually transmitted infections, or STIs—also called sexually transmitted diseases, or STDs—affect people of all ages, backgrounds, and from all walks of life. In the U.S. alone there are about 20 million new cases of STIs each year.
Ask the Experts was an ASHA program where experts answered STI-related questions from the public. You can now access a searchable archive of the thousands of questions answered by our experts.
