Table of Contents
- Is there a difference between an STI and an STD?
- What You Should Say: STD or STI?
- Infection vs. Disease
- The Difference in Stigma: STIs vs STDs
- How STIs Spread
- What Are the Symptoms of STIs?
- Getting Tested
- How to Prevent STIs/STDs
- The Most Important Thing to Understand about STIs and STDs
- Final Word on STIs vs. STDs
- FAQs
Is there a difference between an STI and an STD?
If you get an STI test, should you also get an STD test?
Let’s clear things up quickly.
STD stands for sexually transmitted disease, and STI stands for sexually transmitted infection.
The CDC doesn’t distinguish between STDs and STIs, and neither does Planned Parenthood. Both are "infections that get passed from one person to another during sex."
So, there is no difference between STDs and STIs when we talk about them. They are two names for the same set of infections.
But many people are unsure about whether to say STD or STI. And others are even more unsure about how to prevent one or what to do if they think they have one.
STDs/STIs can affect anyone, and they can cause serious discomfort (sometimes lasting your entire life).
What You Should Say: STD or STI?
The correct term for an infection that’s passed to you via sex is a sexually transmitted infection (STI).
You can still use STD—everyone knows what it means. But it’s not the official term anymore.
Terms like STD and venereal disease tend to make people feel like they’ve done something horrible. STI is more accurate—and less scary. While STIs are kind of scary, the key to keeping them away is normalizing discussion about them.
Infection vs. Disease
STI and STD are interchangeable in casual convos, but there is a distinct difference between them that some professionals make.
Technically, STDs begin as STIs.
Infection is the initial stage when pathogens enter the body. You are infected, but you don’t yet have a disease because the agent hasn’t caused your body to malfunction. Once you start to feel symptoms of an STI (or it begins to impact your body negatively), it becomes an STD.
Basically, a disease is a later stage of infection, and many infections never develop into diseases. For instance, HIV sometimes doesn't reach its third stage known as AIDS.
And to be clear, you can still pass an infection to someone else even if it hasn’t manifested as a disease. So, always wear protection during sex, even if you don’t have any symptoms.
The Difference in Stigma: STIs vs STDs
While there isn’t a difference between saying STD and STI, there is a difference in stigma.
Here are a couple of reasons why you should say STI instead of STD:
👉 STI carries a less negative connotation than STD or venereal disease. We don’t want people to feel scared, or they will be less likely to get tested. STIs should be seen as medical conditions.
👉 The term STI is less likely to make people feel ashamed. People who feel ashamed don’t get tested and are more likely to live in denial while an infection gets worse and spreads. STIs are medical conditions—not moral ones.
How STIs Spread
STIs are contracted through sexual contact/sexual activities, such as:
👉 Vaginal sex
👉 Oral sex
👉 Anal sex
But they can also spread through non-sexual activities, including:
👉 During pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding
👉 Sharing needles
👉 Blood transfusions
A few STIs, like herpes and HPV (genital warts), can spread via skin-to-skin contact. And wearing condoms can drastically reduce the chances of spreading infection.
What Are the Symptoms of STIs?
STIs can be very elusive because they don’t often manifest symptoms. You can feel totally normal even as your body is being hurt by an infection — and you can pass it on without any clue. This is why it’s so important to get tested.
Symptoms of STIs can include the following (they usually appear on or around the genitals or anus):
👉 Warts, blisters, sores, or lumps
👉 Constant itchiness or a rash
👉 Unusual skin growth or discharge
👉 Pain when peeing
Some less-than-common symptoms include unusual vaginal bleeding, abdominal pain, fever, and warts around the mouth and throat. If you see or feel anything unusual that lasts longer than a day, see a doctor ASAP.
Getting Tested
You might be the most careful person in the world when it comes to safe sex. But you STILL need to get tested regularly.
Many people with STIs show no symptoms. You can have an STI and pass it to someone else without ever having a clue.
If any of the following risk factors apply to you, get tested immediately:
👉 You’ve had unprotected sex
👉 You have been forced to engage in sexual activity
👉 You’ve injected drugs
For everyone else, get tested every 6 months to a year. If you have many sexual partners, every 6 months is best.
How to get tested
Testing normally involves making an appointment with a medical center. Many STI tests are free or very affordable.
Options include your general practitioner or a sexual health clinic where you can often show up without an appointment. Clinic doctors will ask about your sex life, let you know what tests you need, and treat your situation with discretion. You’ll probably even get some free condoms.
If you test positive, don’t worry just yet. Most STIs go away after a round of medication. You’ll also need to let previous partners know to get tested too.
How to Prevent STIs/STDs
👉 CONDOMS: Condoms are the king of STI prevention. They are the best way to stop the spread of most STIs. Learn how to use them correctly here.
👉 Use lube: Lube makes sex safer by reducing the chances of the condom breaking and preventing micro-tears that increase infection risk.
👉 Get vaccines for HPV, hepatitis A, and hepatitis B: Some STIs can be prevented with a simple vaccine. A lifetime of discomfort or a simple injection? No-brainer.
👉 Take appropriate medication for incurable STIs: Some STIs can’t be cured, such as herpes or HIV. But regular medication can help prevent discomfort and reduce the likelihood of spreading the infection.
The Most Important Thing to Understand about STIs and STDs
WEAR CONDOMS. Condoms protect against STI transmission with 98% effectiveness. If you’re sexually active, you should be using condoms every time.
Most likely, if you hate wearing them, you haven’t found the right condom. Here’s a quick guide:
👉 Find a condom in your size: Wearing the right size is key to comfort and safety. Learn how to find your size here.
👉 Try an ultra-thin condom if you can’t feel anything: SKYN Elite or Kimono MicroThin Plus Aqua Lube are great crazy-thin options.
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Kimono Microthin Plus Aqua Lube Condoms
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👉 Try a non-latex condom if condoms cause irritation: Try SKYN or Trojan Raw.
LifeStyles SKYN Original Condoms (Latex-Free)
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Trojan Raw Non-Latex Condoms
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👉 Try a larger size if condoms break: A broken condom is a tell-tale sign you’re not wearing the right size.
Large Size Condom Sampler
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👉 Try a smaller size if condoms slip off: Slippage and bunching means your condom is too big. Go for a snug size condom.
Snugger Fitting Condom Sampler
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The key to finding the right condom is trying a bunch of them. That’s why we offer condom variety packs at Condomania.
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Final Word on STIs vs. STDs
There is no practical difference between STIs and STDs—when speaking with a doctor or partner, they mean the same thing.
So don’t worry about the terminology. Instead, focus on what’s really important—prevention. All you have to do is wear a condom. It really is that easy.
So, stock up on condoms now and enjoy sex without having to worry about getting sick.