1. Get with the lingo

Chances are you’ve heard the terms STD and STI, but have you ever wondered what the difference is (and whether there even is one)? Clearing up the confusion, Jill Michelson, operations manager at Marie Stopes International (www.mariestopes.com.au) says, “Infection simply means that your body has a germ – such as a parasite, virus or bacteria – that can cause sickness.

An infected body does not necessarily have to have any symptoms or signs of the germ being present. A disease, however, means the infection is actually causing you to feel sick or to notice something is wrong.” Michelson also points out that the term STD refers only to infections that cause symptoms or problems – damage caused by an STI that has progressed. “Although all STDs are preceded by STIs, not all STIs result in the development of STDs.”

Put simply, STI is a much broader term than STD – where possible, it’s also the preferred term (nobody wants to have a disease – a stigmatising word – but an infection isn’t so bad). As Michelson warns, they’re equally important and neither should be viewed as being less or more dangerous; both need to be treated immediately. So, why should you care about sexual health lingo? Knowledge is power – and your body (and sex life!) will love you for it. Besides, knowing more about the “what ifs” of unsafe sex may just help to prevent them.

2. They’re going up… STI rates, that is

It’s estimated that one in eight people has an STI. Stats are collected and reported separately for each infection but they do have something in common – rates of infection are on the up. Kathy McNamee, chief medical officer from Sexual Health and Family Planning in Victoria says the most common way they’re passed on is through unprotected sex. “The important thing to remember is that the only way either can be prevented is by using condoms,” she adds.

Comparing past Chlamydia figures confirms this alarming trend. In 2007 there were almost 50,000 notifications of Chlamydia nationwide, while in 2000 there were less than 17,000 notifications. That’s right – the rate of diagnosis has almost tripled! That led us to ponder – why? “People could be becoming more careless when it comes to practicing safer sex, as well as more experimental, which may have resulted in the increase,” Michelson explains. “Advances in testing and increased testing have also led to an increase in notifications.”

The upshot? While many STIs, like Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea, are easily treated if diagnosed in the early stages, some can cause irregular or heavy periods, pelvic pain and even infertility if not addressed. So see your doctor if you think you could be at risk.

3. Some men lie about their sexual history

Sure, it’s disheartening, but it’s a fact that some men – and women – do hide things from their partners (confess, how many times have you hidden a new pair of shoes?). Now, the last thing you’re going to want is to be questioning your partner’s honesty but, as well as grilling him for details, taking precautionary measures can only be a good thing. “Some people do lie about it, so it’s important that you practice safe sex at all times and both have regular STI check-ups,” Michelson says. McNamee agrees: “Put yourself in a position to greatly decrease your risk of catching an STI.”

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