What's Your STI-Q?

Here’s an OMG fact: People ages 15 to 24 get half of the 20 million new sexually transmitted infections that occur in the US each year—and many don’t even know they have one. Young women’s bodies are especially susceptible (cells near your cervix are highly sensitive), which is why your best protection is not having sex at all. But if you are, condoms are a must, and knowledge is a good defense too. See how well you can match the descriptions on the left to the STIs on the right.

- Kelly Mickle

The Details . . .

1. This STI can lead to cervical cancer.

You can get it through oral, vaginal, and anal sex. There’s a vaccine to prevent it.

TREATMENT: There is none, but the immune system clears up most cases within a year or two.

2. These tiny insects infest pubic hair, suck blood, and lay eggs.

Also called crabs, they itch like crazy, and they’re passed via skin-to-skin contact during sex.

TREATMENT: Over-the-counter creams and lotions will kill the insects and their eggs.

3. They look like cauliflowerish bumps.

They appear on the anus and inside and outside the vagina, and they’re usually itchy but painless. You can get this through sexual intercourse and vulva-to-vulva contact.

TREATMENT: There’s no cure, though the virus usually clears up within a couple of years. But treatments, like freezing and topical creams, can help.

4. This attacks the immune system.

You can get it through vaginal and anal sex.

TREATMENT: There’s no cure, but new meds allow people to live normal lives.

5. It’s on the rise— and young women are particularly at risk.