Anyone who has had sexual contact (oral, vaginal or anal) with an infected individual may be at risk for contracting a STI. STI often have no symptoms, so a person can be infected and not even know. In Manitoba, STI are most common among youth between the ages of 15 and 24.

To control the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STI) and prevent new infections, it’s essential that individuals are aware of behaviours that increase their risk. It’s also important for individuals who think they may have been exposed to an STI to see appropriate testing and treatment.

If you think you might have an STI, it’s important to stop engaging in risky behavious and to use condoms when having sex. It’s important to go to your doctor or health care provider, who can give you a STI test. Urine testing is available for chlamydia and gonorrhea, and a blood test is required for syphilis or a HIV test.

There are several ways to prevent getting an STI. You can choose not to have oral, vaginal or anal sex. If you do choose to have sex, always use latex condoms for oral, vaginal or anal sex. Check the condom package for instructions on how to use them properly. Ensure that you and your partner get tested for STI regularly. If you are pregnant, or planning to become pregnant, STI testing (including a test for HIV) is recommended to help prevent transmission during childbirth.

For more information on STIs, please follow the links below.

• Chlamydia:  A Sexually Transmitted Infection
• Gonorrhea:  A Sexually Transmitted Infection
• Hepatitis B Fact Sheet
• Information for Individuals who May Have Been Exposed to HIV, the AIDS Virus
• Syphilis:  A Sexually Transmitted Infection

• The Winnipeg Injection Drug Use Social Network Study Phase II NEW
   
• The Descriptive Epidemiology of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) and Blood-borne Pathogens in Manitoba 2002-2003
   
• "As Long as the Waters Flow:  An Aboriginal Strategy on HIV/AIDS"
   
• Manitoba's Provincial AIDS Strategy
   
• Provincial Sexually Transmitted Diseases Control Strategy
  August 2001
   
• Sexually Transmitted Diseases Treatment Guidelines
  October 2003
   

• HIV and AIDS in Canada. Surveillance Report to June 30, 2004 (Public Health Agency of Canada)
• It's Your Health - HIV/AIDS (Health Canada)
• Sexual Health and Sexually Transmitted Infections (Health Canada)
• What you need to know about Syphilis and what you can do about it (Health Canada)
• What you need to know about Genital Herpes (Health Canada)
• What you need to know about Human Papillomavirus (HPV) (Health Canada)
• Manitoba Harm Reduction Network
• World AIDS Day

Communicable Disease Control (CDC) Unit  Public Health Branch Manitoba Health 4th Floor - 300 Carlton St. Winnipeg MB  R3B 3M9  CANADA Phone: (204) 788-6737 Fax: (204) 948-2040	Visit our Healthy Living website for more information on many of these topics.