Can I get a STI if I am using contraceptives?
Answer: Yes.
“HPV (also
known as Genital warts) is not preventable by any
contraceptive, including condoms.”
–From a Congressional Report by the U.S. Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention
You are at risk for contracting a STI, regardless of
which type of contraceptive you use.
Hormonal Contraceptives (i.e. birth control pills, shot, patch, ring)
- Do not prevent STIs
-
Actually alter the female genital tract, increasing
a woman's risk of contracting
Chlamydia (a bacterial STI) and HIV
Barrier Contraceptives (i.e.condoms, diaphragm, cervical cap)
- Can increase vaginal infection, increasing STI risk
- People who use condoms have "safe" sex more often, increasing their risk of STI exposure
Citation: US Centers For Disease Control and
Prevention.
http://www.cdc.gov/std/hiv/STDFact-STD&HIV.htm
Am I at a higher risk for contracting STIs if I use condoms or hormonal contraceptives?
Answer: Yes!
You are at higher risk for contracting at least three different STIs:
HPV (Human Papillomavirus)
- A primary cause of cervical cancer
- No contraceptives protect against it
Chlamydia
- The most prevalent STI
- Use of hormonal contraceptives increase risk of contracting Chlamydia
HIV/AIDS
- Contraceptive use creates a genital environment that makes contracting HIV easier
Information on this provided by the US Centers For Disease Control and Prevention. www.cdc.gov/std/default.htm
Can I die from having a STI?
Answer: Yes!
Symptoms of viral STIs can be treated,
but they recur and are infectious for
life.
Men and women who have any STI are up to
five times more likely to contract HIV,
the virus that causes AIDS.
Most STIs have silent symptoms and therefore go untreated, sometimes leading to:
-
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) in
women, which may cause infertility
and could cause an
Ectopic Pregnancy (a pregnancy growing outside of the uterus) - Cancer, which an lead to death is undetected
Information on this provided by the US Centers For Disease Control and Prevention. www.cdc.gov/std/default.htm
Can I get pregnant while using a contraceptive?
Answer: Yes!
According to the Guttmacher Institute,
up to 57% of unplanned pregnancies are
conceived
while using a contraceptive. Symptoms of
viral STIs can be treated, but they
recur and are
infectious for life. Men and women who
have any STI are up to five times more
likely to contract HIV,
the virus that causes AIDS.
Most STIs have silent symptoms and therefore go untreated, sometimes leading to:
-
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) in
women, which may cause infertility
and could cause an
Ectopic Pregnancy (a pregnancy growing outside of the uterus) - Cancer, which can lead to death if undetected
Information on this page provided by the US Centers For Disease Control and Prevention, http://www.cdc.gov/std/default.htm http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/series/sr_23/sr23_019.pdf and the Guttmacher Institute http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/journals/3429402.html