Category: Sexually Transmitted Infections
Oral Sex and STIs
Oral sex is a sexual activity that uses the mouth, lips, or tongue as a way to stimulate a partner.1 There are many reasons why individuals enjoy oral sex, and it is a much more common sexual activity than people are led to believe. In fact, a statistic from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that more…
Pubic Lice
Trigger warning: This article includes graphic and highly detailed photos of pubic lice infestations that some people may find upsetting. If you wish to proceed, do so with caution of the explicit imagery. Pubic lice, often referred to as “crabs” due to their claw-like front legs, are small parasitic insects.3 Also known as “Phthirus pubis”…
An Overview of Parasitic Infections
A parasitic infection is a disease that is transmitted by parasites. Parasites are microscopic organisms that live inside or on the exterior of a larger host, using the host as their food source.1 There are three types of parasites that target humans: protozoa, helminths, and ectoparasites. Protozoa are microscopic, one-celled organisms that can pass to…
Bacterial Infections
Bacteria are single-celled microorganisms that thrive in many different types of environments.1 They are found in every habitat on Earth including soil, rock, water, artic snow, and even the human body.2 In fact, there are approximately ten times as many bacterial cells as human cells in the human body.3 Most types of bacteria are harmless…
Anal Warts
Anal warts (condyloma acuminata) are caused by human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted infection. The warts thrive inside and around the anus, and can also be found inside of the genitals.1 Transmission and Symptoms A person can contract HPV through oral, penile-vaginal (coital), and anal sex with an infected partner. HPV is highly contagious, and…