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Lesson 1.4 of 4

Consent & Communication

What does real consent look like, and how do I talk about what I want and don't want?

Lesson slides

9 slides Download PDF (1.3 MB)

  1. Slide 1: STIS && SEXUAL STIS SEXUAL SAFETY SAFETY
  2. Slide 2: MYTH BUSTING MYTH BUSTING MYTH: "You'd know if you had an STI." FACT: Most STIs have NO symptoms. The only way to know is to get tested.
  3. Slide 3: WHY THIS WHY THIS MATTERS MATTERS 1 in 5 people in the U.S. has an STI. Half of all new STI cases occur in people aged 15–24. Most are curable — and the ones that aren't are ver…
  4. Slide 4: BACTERIAL STIS BACTERIAL STIS (CURABLE) (CURABLE) Chlamydia: Most reported STI in the U.S.; often zero symptoms Treated easily with antibiotics Untreated → can cause infertility…
  5. Slide 5: VIRAL STIS VIRAL STIS (MANAGEABLE) (MANAGEABLE) Herpes (HSV-1/2): Extremely common; spread by skin contact (not just intercourse) Many people never have noticeable outbreaks Man…
  6. Slide 6: TESTING TESTING Who should get tested? Anyone who is sexually active — regardless of how many partners you've had. How often? Once a year at minimum Every 3–6 months if you have…
  7. Slide 7: PROTECTION PROTECTION Best protection strategies: External or internal condoms (only method protecting against most STIs) Dental dams for oral-vaginal or oral-anal contact PrEP …
  8. Slide 8: STIGMA STIGMA STI stigma causes real harm: It stops people from getting Getting an STI doesn't say tested anything about your It stops people from worth, your choices, or disclo…
  9. Slide 9: KEY TAKEAWAYS KEY TAKEAWAYS Most STIs have no symptoms — testing is the only way to know. Bacterial STIs (chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis) are curable. Viral STIs (herpes, HPV, H…
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  1. Slide 1. STIS && SEXUAL STIS SEXUAL SAFETY SAFETY
  2. Slide 2. MYTH BUSTING MYTH BUSTING MYTH: "You'd know if you had an STI." FACT: Most STIs have NO symptoms. The only way to know is to get tested.
  3. Slide 3. WHY THIS WHY THIS MATTERS MATTERS 1 in 5 people in the U.S. has an STI. Half of all new STI cases occur in people aged 15–24. Most are curable — and the ones that aren't are very manageable with treatment. Stigma is the biggest barrier to testing and treatment.
  4. Slide 4. BACTERIAL STIS BACTERIAL STIS (CURABLE) (CURABLE) Chlamydia: Most reported STI in the U.S.; often zero symptoms Treated easily with antibiotics Untreated → can cause infertility Gonorrhea: Increasingly antibiotic-resistant — early treatment matters Can infect genitals, throat, and rectum Syphilis: Stages: sore→ rash → no symptoms → serious organ damage Curable with penicillin; untreated for years→ severe complications
  5. Slide 5. VIRAL STIS VIRAL STIS (MANAGEABLE) (MANAGEABLE) Herpes (HSV-1/2): Extremely common; spread by skin contact (not just intercourse) Many people never have noticeable outbreaks Managed with antiviral medication HPV: Most sexually active people will get HPV at some point Most cases clear on their own; some strains → genital warts or cervical cancer Vaccine is highly effective — recommended through age 26 HIV: Attacks the immune system; transmitted through blood, semen, vaginal fluid, breast milk With treatment (ART), people with HIV live full, healthy lives PrEP: daily pill that is ~99% effective at preventing HIV
  6. Slide 6. TESTING TESTING Who should get tested? Anyone who is sexually active — regardless of how many partners you've had. How often? Once a year at minimum Every 3–6 months if you have multiple partners or don't consistently use condoms What does testing involve? Urine sample, blood draw, or swab — usually quick and painless Home testing kits available (NURX, Let'sGetChecked)
  7. Slide 7. PROTECTION PROTECTION Best protection strategies: External or internal condoms (only method protecting against most STIs) Dental dams for oral-vaginal or oral-anal contact PrEP for HIV prevention Vaccination: HPV vaccine, Hepatitis B vaccine Regular testing for you and partners
  8. Slide 8. STIGMA STIGMA STI stigma causes real harm: It stops people from getting Getting an STI doesn't say tested anything about your It stops people from worth, your choices, or disclosing to partners your character. It means It causes shame that has you're a human who had nothing to do with the actual sex. health reality
  9. Slide 9. KEY TAKEAWAYS KEY TAKEAWAYS Most STIs have no symptoms — testing is the only way to know. Bacterial STIs (chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis) are curable. Viral STIs (herpes, HPV, HIV) are manageable — stigma is worse than the reality. Get tested once a year minimum if you're sexually active. Condoms + vaccination + testing = best protection strategy.

These slides were made by the TeenWell team for classroom use. Unlike the linked resources below, they are our own material.

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Lesson 4 of 4 in Reproductive & Sexual Health. TeenWell doesn't write health information. Every link above goes to the organization that does.