Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are infections that can be caused by bacteria, viruses, or parasites. They are usually spread through sexual contact. Some STIs are spread through blood-to-blood transfer.

Anyone can get an STI. STIs affect people of every age, race, religion, income level, and education level.

While most STIs can be treated and cured, some stay in the body forever, although there are medicines to manage symptoms. Untreated STIs can cause serious health issues affecting fertility (ability to have a baby) and can cause health problems during and after pregnancy for both women and their babies.

Transmission

STIs can be spread in the following ways:

Unprotected vaginal, anal, or oral sex (sex without a condom)
Skin-to-skin contact with infected area
Kissing an infected area
Sharing sex toys
Mother to child during pregnancy, labour, or after delivery through breastfeeding

Some infections, like HIV, can also be spread through blood (e.g., sharing needles and other substance-use equipment, piercing and tattoo equipment). For more information about HIV, click here.

STIs cannot be spread through:

Hugging or holding hands
Sharing food or drinks
Public washrooms
Swimming in public pools
Sweat, saliva, or tears

High-Risk Sexual Activities

Vaginal intercourse without a condom
Anal intercourse without a condom

Low-Risk Sexual Activities

Sex with a condom
Oral sex with a condom or dental dam
Mutual masturbation with a barrier (e.g., condom)

Safe Sexual Activities

Masturbation (alone)

Prevention

STIs often have no symptoms. People who are unaware of their and/or their partner’s STI status can do the following to avoid becoming infected with STIs.

Choose not to have sex.
Use lower-risk and safer options to have sex.
Avoid skin-to-skin contact without a barrier (e.g., condom, dental dam).
If sexually active, use a condom properly from start to finish.

Testing

STIs often have no symptoms. People who are sexually active should get tested every year. People should also be tested if they have unprotected sex and if they have a new sexual partner. Even if no symptoms are present, the infection can still be passed to other people. Even if a person has been treated for an STI in the past, they can still be re-infected. It is important that all partner(s) are tested and treated.

Testing can be performed by a family doctor, at a local medical clinic/public health office, or at a hospital. To find STI testing sites in Saskatchewan, use the KIS-SK app (KIS-SK App).

Treatment

Most STIs can be treated and cured. The symptoms of others can be managed with medication. Testing and treatment are important for preventing long-term harm. See STIs at a Glance for information about which STIs can be cured.

Fertility and Pregnancy

People infected with STIs often do not have symptoms. This means that many people are not being tested. A person may have an infection for several years before being diagnosed. Untreated STIs can cause serious complications.

STIs can negatively affect fertility. Untreated STIs can result in damage to reproductive organs, making it hard for people to have a baby.

In addition to their impact on fertility, STIs can also be harmful during pregnancy. STIs can be spread from a pregnant woman to her baby before, during, or after birth. Problems during pregnancy can include miscarriage or stillbirth (baby dies before delivery). Pregnant women should be tested and treated before giving birth to decrease the risk of problems during pregnancy and delivery, and resulting complications for the baby.

STIs can also be harmful for babies. Newborns who have been exposed to STIs can have low birth weight, eye or lung infections, or more serious infections (e.g., meningitis).

Most of these problems can be avoided if pregnant women receive routine prenatal care, including STI testing prior to or early in the pregnancy and again close to delivery.

STIs at a Glance

Sexually Transmitted Infection	Transmission					Curable	Affects Fertility	Affects Pregnancy	Affects Newborn
Sexually Transmitted Infection	Unprotected Oral Sex	Unprotected Vaginal Sex	Unprotected Anal Sex	Skin-to-Skin Contact With Infected Area Without Barrier	To Baby During Pregnancy and/or Delivery	Curable	Affects Fertility	Affects Pregnancy	Affects Newborn
Chlamydia	✔	✔	✔		✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Genital Herpes	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔			✔	✔
Gonorrhea	✔	✔	✔		✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Hepatitis B	✔	✔	✔		✔		✔ (males)	✔	✔
Hepatitis C (HCV)	✔ (if exchange of blood)	✔ (if exchange of blood)	✔ (if exchange of blood)		✔	✔			✔
Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV)	✔	✔	✔		✔		✔	✔	✔
Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔				✔
Syphilis	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔		✔	✔
Trichomoniasis		✔				✔	✔	✔	✔

For more detailed information about each of the STIs listed in the table above, see resource 7-017 and visit www.sexandu.ca/stis/.

The STI Adventures

The STI Adventures e-learning project to be viewed on computers or tablets has been created to provide an interactive opportunity to learn about sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and their effect on fertility, pregnancy, and newborn babies. The project is recommended for middle and high school students.

Go to E-learning

Resources

Brochure

Sexually Transmitted Infections: Are You Positive You’re Negative?

November 3, 2021

Booklets

Are You Positive You’re Negative? Sexually Transmitted Infections: What you Need to Know

May 31, 2021

Information Card

KIS-SK (Keep It Safe Saskatchewan) Smart Phone App

May 28, 2014

Posters

Are You Positive You’re Negative?

February 17, 2022

Are You Positive You’re Negative? Protect Yourself and Others. Get Tested.

November 4, 2015

Protect Your Fertility

April 30, 2014

Videos

Youth-Created Videos on STIs and Unplanned Pregnancy

The Saskatchewan Prevention Institute works in areas of reproductive health that are of particular importance to the health of Saskatchewan’s population. Rates of adolescent pregnancy and STIs in Saskatchewan are among the highest in Canada. Adolescent pregnancy is associated with poorer outcomes for the mom and the baby. If STIs aren’t treated, they can cause serious health issues for males, females, and unborn babies.

The Prevention Institute believes that young people should be included in primary prevention efforts. Youth in Saskatchewan were asked to participate in a video contest focused on helping other young people make healthy choices to reduce their risk of STIs and unplanned pregnancies.

Two of the awards went to the Tisdale Middle & Secondary School students. Jeremy Ernst developed his own video, STI Awareness, while Kanna Jorde, Kristen Wallington, and Trisha Wallington worked together to develop the STI Video. The third award was received by Alia Hogan from Saskatoon’s Evan Hardy Collegiate for her video Wrapped.
Following are the links to the three winning videos:

External Links

Public Health Agency of Canada
Information is provided for clinical professionals dealing with prevention, treatment, and management of STIs, along with a link to the Canadian Guidelines on Sexually Transmitted Infections.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Provides information regarding the impact of STIs on fertility.
SexandU.ca/STIs/
SexandU.ca provides accurate, credible, and up-to-date information and education on STIs.

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are infections that can be caused by bacteria, viruses, or parasites. They are usually spread through sexual contact. Some STIs are spread through blood-to-blood transfer.

Anyone can get an STI. STIs affect people of every age, race, religion, income level, and education level.

While most STIs can be treated and cured, some stay in the body forever, although there are medicines to manage symptoms. Untreated STIs can cause serious health issues affecting fertility (ability to have a baby) and can cause health problems during and after pregnancy for both women and their babies.

Transmission

STIs can be spread in the following ways:

Unprotected vaginal, anal, or oral sex (sex without a condom)
Skin-to-skin contact with infected area
Kissing an infected area
Sharing sex toys
Mother to child during pregnancy, labour, or after delivery through breastfeeding

Some infections, like HIV, can also be spread through blood (e.g., sharing needles and other substance-use equipment, piercing and tattoo equipment). For more information about HIV, click here.

STIs cannot be spread through:

Hugging or holding hands
Sharing food or drinks
Public washrooms
Swimming in public pools
Sweat, saliva, or tears

High-Risk Sexual Activities

Vaginal intercourse without a condom
Anal intercourse without a condom

Low-Risk Sexual Activities

Sex with a condom
Oral sex with a condom or dental dam
Mutual masturbation with a barrier (e.g., condom)

Safe Sexual Activities

Masturbation (alone)

Prevention

STIs often have no symptoms. People who are unaware of their and/or their partner’s STI status can do the following to avoid becoming infected with STIs.

Choose not to have sex.
Use lower-risk and safer options to have sex.
Avoid skin-to-skin contact without a barrier (e.g., condom, dental dam).
If sexually active, use a condom properly from start to finish.

Testing

STIs often have no symptoms. People who are sexually active should get tested every year. People should also be tested if they have unprotected sex and if they have a new sexual partner. Even if no symptoms are present, the infection can still be passed to other people. Even if a person has been treated for an STI in the past, they can still be re-infected. It is important that all partner(s) are tested and treated.

Testing can be performed by a family doctor, at a local medical clinic/public health office, or at a hospital. To find STI testing sites in Saskatchewan, use the KIS-SK app (KIS-SK App).

Treatment

Most STIs can be treated and cured. The symptoms of others can be managed with medication. Testing and treatment are important for preventing long-term harm. See STIs at a Glance for information about which STIs can be cured.

Fertility and Pregnancy

People infected with STIs often do not have symptoms. This means that many people are not being tested. A person may have an infection for several years before being diagnosed. Untreated STIs can cause serious complications.

STIs can negatively affect fertility. Untreated STIs can result in damage to reproductive organs, making it hard for people to have a baby.

In addition to their impact on fertility, STIs can also be harmful during pregnancy. STIs can be spread from a pregnant woman to her baby before, during, or after birth. Problems during pregnancy can include miscarriage or stillbirth (baby dies before delivery). Pregnant women should be tested and treated before giving birth to decrease the risk of problems during pregnancy and delivery, and resulting complications for the baby.

STIs can also be harmful for babies. Newborns who have been exposed to STIs can have low birth weight, eye or lung infections, or more serious infections (e.g., meningitis).

Most of these problems can be avoided if pregnant women receive routine prenatal care, including STI testing prior to or early in the pregnancy and again close to delivery.

STIs at a Glance

For more detailed information about each of the STIs listed in the table above, see resource 7-017 and visit www.sexandu.ca/stis/.

The STI Adventures

The STI Adventures e-learning project to be viewed on computers or tablets has been created to provide an interactive opportunity to learn about sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and their effect on fertility, pregnancy, and newborn babies. The project is recommended for middle and high school students.

Go to E-learning

Resources

Brochure

Sexually Transmitted Infections: Are You Positive You’re Negative?

November 3, 2021

Booklets

Are You Positive You’re Negative? Sexually Transmitted Infections: What you Need to Know

May 31, 2021

Information Card

KIS-SK (Keep It Safe Saskatchewan) Smart Phone App

May 28, 2014

Posters

Are You Positive You’re Negative?

February 17, 2022

Are You Positive You’re Negative? Protect Yourself and Others. Get Tested.

November 4, 2015

Protect Your Fertility

April 30, 2014

Videos

Youth-Created Videos on STIs and Unplanned Pregnancy

The Saskatchewan Prevention Institute works in areas of reproductive health that are of particular importance to the health of Saskatchewan’s population. Rates of adolescent pregnancy and STIs in Saskatchewan are among the highest in Canada. Adolescent pregnancy is associated with poorer outcomes for the mom and the baby. If STIs aren’t treated, they can cause serious health issues for males, females, and unborn babies.

The Prevention Institute believes that young people should be included in primary prevention efforts. Youth in Saskatchewan were asked to participate in a video contest focused on helping other young people make healthy choices to reduce their risk of STIs and unplanned pregnancies.

Two of the awards went to the Tisdale Middle & Secondary School students. Jeremy Ernst developed his own video, STI Awareness, while Kanna Jorde, Kristen Wallington, and Trisha Wallington worked together to develop the STI Video. The third award was received by Alia Hogan from Saskatoon’s Evan Hardy Collegiate for her video Wrapped.
Following are the links to the three winning videos:

External Links

Public Health Agency of Canada
Information is provided for clinical professionals dealing with prevention, treatment, and management of STIs, along with a link to the Canadian Guidelines on Sexually Transmitted Infections.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Provides information regarding the impact of STIs on fertility.
SexandU.ca/STIs/
SexandU.ca provides accurate, credible, and up-to-date information and education on STIs.

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We Provide

Videos

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)

Transmission

Prevention

Testing

Treatment

Fertility and Pregnancy

STIs at a Glance

The STI Adventures

Resources

Youth-Created Videos on STIs and Unplanned Pregnancy

STI Video

sti-awareness-thumbnail

wrapped-thumbnail

External Links

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)

Transmission

Prevention

Testing

Treatment

Fertility and Pregnancy

STIs at a Glance

The STI Adventures

Resources

Youth-Created Videos on STIs and Unplanned Pregnancy

STI Video

sti-awareness-thumbnail

wrapped-thumbnail

External Links