Take this myth-busting True/False quiz to help you distinguish between fact & common misconception!

You can find misinformation (inaccurate info) about STIs in a lot of places (including on the internet!).
Below we've included common statements about STIs. Think about whether each statement is true or false. Then tap to flip the card and check your answers, and read the facts!

You can always tell if you have an STI.

False

STIs often show no symptoms, so if you’re sexually active, getting tested is the best way to make sure you don’t have any infections. In cases when people do have symptoms, some common things people notice include change in vaginal odor or discharge, bumps or sores in the genital region, pain during sex, or pain during urination.

You can’t get an STI from oral sex.

False

Some STIs can be passed through giving oral sex. Chlamydia and gonorrhea can cause an infection in the throat that will only be detected by a throat swab. When you go to get tested, be honest with your healthcare provider about the types of sex you engage in so they can recommend the best tests.

You can only get an STI from someone who has an active infection.

True

Someone has to already have an STI to pass it on to a partner. They don’t just appear out of nowhere!

Condoms (and other latex barriers) can protect you from STIs.

True (ish)

Condoms create a protective barrier between skin and fluids so that most STIs can’t be transmitted or passed on to a partner. Some STIs (herpes, HPV, syphilis) can still be passed on even when a condom is used, but even for those STIs, using barriers does reduce the likelihood of passing on the infection.

Not all STIs have a cure.

True

While many STIs can be cured with antibiotics such as gonorrhea and chlamydia, STIs caused by viruses, such as herpes, HIV, and HPV, are not curable by medication. However, HIV and herpes can be treated with medication to decrease symptoms and the likelihood of transmitting them to a partner. Getting vaccinated against HPV and getting recommended pap tests starting at age 21 can help prevent HPV infection.

The birth control pill can protect you from STIs.

False

The birth control pill or any other forms of birth control that do not create a physical barrier between you and your partner, cannot protect against STIs. Only methods that create a physical barrier, such as internal or external condoms or dental dams, can protect you from STIs.

Only people who have sex with a lot of different people get STIs.

False

STIs are normal and lots of different people get them. You can get an STI by having sex with someone who has an active infection – how many people you have sex with doesn’t determine whether you have an STI. Using barriers during sex and getting tested for STIs regularly are the best way to stay on top of your sexual health.

Herpes always leads to painful outbreaks of sores that you have to deal with for the rest of your life.

False

Herpes is very common and up to 80% of people who have been exposed to a herpes virus never experience any symptoms. Some people who do experience an outbreak only experience it once or twice. For many people who continue to get outbreaks, the outbreaks get less frequent and less severe over time.

STIs

They’re a normal part of being a sexually active human.

Test your STI knowledge

Take this myth-busting True/False quiz to help you distinguish between fact & common misconception!

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