STI stands for sexually transmitted infection.

STIs are very common. They often have no symptoms, so you can’t tell if someone has an STI by looking at them. Many people don’t know that they have an STI.

Other facts:

• STI, sexually transmitted disease (STD) and venereal disease are different names for the same thing
• STIs are passed through sex acts, sharing needles, and mother-to-baby during pregnancy, delivery and breast-feeding
• During sex acts, you can get some STIs through body fluids and others through body-to-body contact
• Some sex acts expose you to more STIs than others
• Using condoms and dental dams * reduces your chance of getting an STI

*A dental dam is a thin piece of latex that can be placed over the vulva / vagina or the anus / bum during oral sex. If you can’t find a dental dam, you can use a condom by unrolling it, and cutting it lengthwise to create a large, flat piece of latex.