Sexually Transmitted Infections: Crash Course

By Lillian Bocquin | May 2, 2025

In the classroom, some of the most exciting information for young people are the lessons on sexually transmitted infections, STIs. 

It makes sense, as we are usually in science classes and this part of the curriculum talks about the spread of disease, viral load, medically accurate prevention measures, testing, etc. It’s applicable science and it’s something we talk about in detail because we know parents and other caregivers may not have all of the info. And, we know these young people may not be able to access a doctors office easily in order to ask their questions in a private setting.

It’s incredibly rewarding to see these young people love learning and problem solving through examples of real-life situations where there may be risk. These types of lessons prepare them for potentially risky situations later in life and set them on a path for healthy decision-making. 

Our lessons, which sometimes span over several days, include a bit more engaging material than we can include in a single blog post, but here is a crash course in what we consider the most important information for all people to have when it comes to sexually transmitted infections.

Crash Course Information on STIs

  1. Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are the same thing. We use STI for the reasons listed in this social media post but both terms are generally accepted!
  2. Some STIs are curable, meaning someone could take medicine and completely get rid of the infection. These include Syphilis, Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Trichomoniasis, and Pubic Lice.
  3. Some STIs are treatable but not curable, meaning when someone gets the disease they have it for life. These include HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), HPV (Human Papillomavirus), Herpes and Hepatitis B.
    1. Notice these all start with H, so if you forget which ones are curable vs. treatable, the ones starting with the letter H are treatable but not curable.
  4. Most STIs can be spread through oral sex, anal sex, or vaginal sex. Some can be spread through skin to skin contact, and some from mother to child during birth or breastfeeding.
  5. STIs can be prevented through abstinence – can’t get an STI if someone doesn’t have sex!
  6. STIs can be prevented through proper condom use – meaning consistent and correct use of the condoms!
  7. STIs cannot be prevented through use of contraception or birth control.
  8. If possible, getting tested between new partners can help prevent the spread of STIs and clearly track STI spread if it happens.
  9. STI testing may be offered for free at some clinics like Guiding Right, Teen Clinic, and Oklahoma City County Health Department. Some of these may only offer same-day appointments!
  10. STI testing usually doesn’t take more than 20 minutes in a doctors office to complete, but results may take longer to get back. Anywhere from 2 days to two weeks.
  11. STI tests for gonorrhea, chlamydia, herpes, and HPV in the throat (remember we said in #4 that oral sex can spread STIs) are done through a mouth swab.
  12. STI tests for chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis in the anus are done through rectal swabs.
  13. STI tests for chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis in the vagina are done through vaginal tests.
  14. STI testing can also be done through blood tests. They don’t take much!
  15. Urine tests may also be used to diagnose trichomoniasis, chlamydia, and sometimes gonorrhea.
  16. It’s good practice to wait about 2 weeks after unprotected sex to get tested. Getting tested too early after unprotected sex may not yield accurate results.

Is everything we have mentioned here fully comprehensive? No! Because this is a crash course, the basics, and based on the most common questions we get in the classroom. If anyone has further questions, ask a health educator or doctor. STIs are preventable – it all starts with being educated.