[Skip to Content]
</ iframe > </noscript> <!-- End Google Tag Manager (noscript) --><div id="header"> <div id="CClogo"><a href="https://www.cookchildrens.org"><span class="srText">Cook Children's</span></a></div> <div id="CCsearch"> <form id="searchform" name="searchform" method="GET" onsubmit="return (this.q.value == '') ? false : true;" action="/CookChildrens/en/parents/"> <input type="hidden" name="search" value="y"/> <input type="hidden" name="getfields" value="description"/> <input type="search" class="search" name="q" id="q" maxlength="256" autocomplete="off" autocorrect="off" placeholder="Search"/> <input type="hidden" name="datasource" value="cookchildrens"> <input type="hidden" name="start" value="0"> <input type="hidden" name="rows" value="10"> <input type="hidden" name="lang" value="english"> <input type="hidden" name="section" value="parents_teens_kids"> <input type="submit" value="" id="searchButton" class="buttonImage"/> </form> </div> </div> <!-- If we have main navigation separated then it will reside here --> <div id="thelou" tabindex="-1"> </div> <div id="mainContentContainer" class="kh-article-page"> <div id="rsSearchBrowse"> <div id="rsBrowse" role="navigation"> </div> <div id="rsSearch"> <div id="rsSectionLabel">parents</div> </div> </div> <div id="khContentHeading" class="ar licH"> <h1>STDs</h1> </div> <div class="clearBox"> </div> <div id="khcontent"> <div id="xp1"> </div><br clear="all" style="width: 0; height: 0; line-height: 0; font-size: 0;"><div id="khcontent_article" lang="en-us"> <div id="NavigatePage1"> <div id="whichRead_1"><span class="ISI_MESSAGE"><!-- The following article is brought to you by CookChildrens. --></span><div class="rs_skip rs_skip_en rsbtn_kidshealth rs_preserve" id="readspeaker_button1"><script> var theRSURL = (escape(document.location.href)); var rsAudioTitle = document.title.replace(/ |\'|\?/g,"_"); var whichReadPage = 1; var doesItGotFlash = ''; makeTheRSLinkEN(); var readSpeakerDownloadLink = "//app-na.readspeaker.com/cgi-bin/rsent?customerid=5202&lang=en_us&voice=Kate&speed=100&readid=khcontent_article&url="+theRSURL+"&audiofilename=KidsHealth_"+rsAudioTitle+""; </script></div> <!--googleoff:all--> <div id="languagePairLink" class="rs_skip"><a href="/CookChildrens/es/parents/talk-child-stds.html?WT.ac=pairedLink"><span class="pairedURLHead" lang="es">en español<img src="/images/n00/icons/langPairArrow.svg" alt=""></span><span class="pairedURLBody" lang="es">Enfermedades de trasmisión sexual</span></a></div> <!--googleon:all--><div class="rte-image"><!--<sly data-sly-test.buttonBorder="khb-noborder"></sly> --><p>Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are infections spread from person to person during sex (vaginal, oral, or anal) or close sexual contact. STDs are also called sexually transmitted infections, or STIs. It's important to <a href="/CookChildrens/en/parents/stds-talk.html">talk to your kids</a> about STDs so they can protect themselves.</p><p>The only way to completely avoid STDs is to not have sex or close sexual contact. To help lower their risk of getting an STD, people who do have sex can:</p><ul class="kh_longline_list"><li>Use a latex <a href="/CookChildrens/en/parents/condoms.html">condom</a> every time they have sex (vaginal, oral, or anal).</li><li>Get tested with any new partners before having sex.</li><li>Have sex with one partner only (who also doesn’t have sex with other people).</li></ul><p>Learn about the signs and symptoms of the most common STDs, how they spread, and how they're diagnosed and treated:</p><ul><li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/parents/chlamydia.html">Chlamydia</a></li><li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/parents/herpes.html">Genital Herpes</a></li><li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/parents/genital-warts.html">Genital Warts (HPV)</a></li><li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/parents/gonococcal.html">Gonorrhea</a></li><li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/parents/hiv.html">HIV and AIDS</a></li><li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/parents/pelvic-inflammatory-disease.html">Pelvic Inflammatory Disease</a></li><li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/parents/pubic-lice.html">Pubic Lice</a></li><li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/parents/syphilis.html">Syphilis</a></li><li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/parents/trichomoniasis.html">Trichomoniasis</a></li></ul></div> <div id="reviewerBox"> <div id="reviewedBy">Reviewed by: Amy W. Anzilotti, MD</div> <div id="reviewedDate">Date reviewed: February 2022</div> </div><span class="ISI_MESSAGE"><!--Thank you for listening to this KidsHealth audio cast. The information you heard, is for educational purposes only. If you need medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment, consult your doctor. This audio cast is Copyrighted by KidsHealth. All rights are reserved.--></span></div> </div> </div> </div> <!--googleoff:all--> <div id="relatedBoxParents" class="t1 "> <div id="navTabs"> <ul id="navTabsPKT" role="tablist" aria-labelledby="moreOnThisTopicHeader"> <li role="presentation" class="wascurrent" id="PKTtabTeens"><button class="PKTJSTButton" role="tab" id="teens_tab" aria-controls="relatedArticlesListTeens" aria-selected="false" tabindex="-1"><span>for Teens</span></button></li> <li role="presentation" class="current" id="PKTtabParents"><button class="PKTJSTButton" role="tab" id="parents_tab" aria-controls="relatedArticlesListParents" aria-selected="true" tabindex="0"><span>for Parents</span></button></li> </ul> </div> <div id="mainBar"> </div> <div id="mrLinks"> <h2 id="moreOnThisTopicHeader">MORE ON THIS TOPIC</h2> <ul id="relatedArticlesListParents" role="tabpanel" aria-labelledby="parents_tab"> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/parents/questions-sex.html?WT.ac=p-ra">Answering Questions About Sex</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/parents/stds-talk.html?WT.ac=p-ra">Talking to Your Kids About STDs</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/parents/condoms.html?WT.ac=p-ra">About Condoms</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/parents/about-bc.html?WT.ac=p-ra">About Birth Control: What Parents Need to Know</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/parents/genital-warts.html?WT.ac=p-ra">Genital Warts (HPV)</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/parents/hiv.html?WT.ac=p-ra">HIV and AIDS</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/parents/abstinence.html?WT.ac=p-ra">About Abstinence</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/parents/development-foyer.html?WT.ac=p-ra">Sexual Development</a></li> </ul> <ul id="relatedArticlesListTeens" role="tabpanel" aria-labelledby="teens_tab"> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/contraception.html?WT.ac=p-ra">About Birth Control</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/std.html?WT.ac=p-ra">STDs (Sexually Transmitted Diseases)</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/std-herpes.html?WT.ac=p-ra">Genital Herpes</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/std-warts.html?WT.ac=p-ra">Genital Warts (HPV)</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/std-hiv.html?WT.ac=p-ra">HIV and AIDS</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/stds-talk.html?WT.ac=p-ra">Telling Your Partner You Have an STD</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/the-talk.html?WT.ac=p-ra">Talking to Your Partner About STDs</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/talk-about-condoms.html?WT.ac=p-ra">Talking to Your Partner About Condoms</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/hpv-vaccine.html?WT.ac=p-ra">HPV Vaccine</a></li> </ul> </div> <div id="boxBreaker"> </div> <div id="zeroTester"> </div> <div id="relatedButtonsHolder"> <div id="relatedButtonsBoth"> <ul> <li id="relatedPrinterButton"><a href="/CookChildrens/en/parents/talk-child-stds.html?view=ptr&WT.ac=p-ptr" rel="nofollow" onclick="printWindow(this.href); return false;" title="This link will open in a new window.">Print<span class="newWindowIcon_leftSpace"> </span></a></li> <li id="relatedEmailFriendButton"><a rel="nofollow" href="/CookChildrens/en/parents/talk-child-stds.html?view=emailto&WT.ac=s2af-en-parents-talk-child-stds.html" target="_blank" title="This link will open in a new window.">Send to a Friend<span class="newWindowIcon_leftSpace"> </span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div><br clear="all"></div><br clear="all"><script>window.onload=setVars('');PKTChoose(8,0,9,0);</script><div id="kh_lic_footer"> <nav aria-label="Content info"> <ul id="kh_lic_footer_links"> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/parents/editorial-policy-licensee.html">Editorial Policy</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/parents/policy-licensees.html">Privacy Policy & Terms of Use</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/parents/copyright.html">Copyright</a></li> </ul> </nav> <div id="kh_lic_footer_legalease"> <p><img lang="en" alt="A KidsHealth Education Partner" src="/images/n00/logos/eduPartner3.svg"> Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor. </p> <p>© 1995-<script>document.write(KHcopyDate);</script> KidsHealth® All rights reserved.</p> <div class="imageDisclaimer"> <p> Images provided by The Nemours Foundation, iStock, Getty Images, Veer, Shutterstock, and Clipart.com. </p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="footer"> <p><a href="http://www.cookchildrens.org"><span class="srText">Cook Children's</span></a></p> <p>Copyright <script type="text/javascript" language="JavaScript"> document.write(KHcopyDate) </script> by <nobr>Cook Children's Health Care System</nobr>, <nobr>Fort Worth, Texas</nobr></p> </div> <script src="/misc/javascript/n00/nitro-main.js"></script><script src="/misc/javascript/n00/n00_art.js"></script><script src="/misc/javascript/kh_footJS_common.js"> </script><script src="/misc/javascript/kh_footJS_desktop.js"> </script><script> var kidsHealthSearchHandler = "/CookChildrens/en/parents/"; // KidsHealth custom search handler var kidsHealthLicID = "403"; </script><script> function downloadJSAtOnload(deferredScriptPath) { var element = document.createElement('script'); element.src = deferredScriptPath; document.body.appendChild(element); } if (window.addEventListener) { window.addEventListener('load', downloadJSAtOnload('/misc/javascript/kh_deferredJS.js'), false); } else if (window.attachEvent) { window.attachEvent('onload', downloadJSAtOnload('/misc/javascript/kh_deferredJS.js'), false); } else { window.onload = downloadJSAtOnload('/misc/javascript/kh_deferredJS.js'); } </script><script> textSizer('1'); </script><script> // Define variables for ReadSpeaker theRSURL = (escape(document.location.href)); rsAudioTitle = document.title.replace(/ |\'|\?/g,"_"); RSLanguage="en_us";</script><script src="//f1-na.readspeaker.com/script/5202/ReadSpeaker.js?pids=embhl"> </script><div id="ariaAnnouncements" aria-live="polite" tabindex="-1" style="visibility: hidden; width: 1px; height: 1px;"> </div> <!--googleon:all--></body></html>