Sexual Health Lesson Plan

Sexual Health

How to understand and communicate about your sexual health.

Summary

This lesson covers the basics of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and how to prevent them. You'll learn what STIs are, how they're transmitted, common symptoms, and the importance of regular testing. We'll also discuss prevention methods like safer sex practices and vaccines, helping you make informed decisions to protect your sexual health.

01

What are STIs?

What is an STI?

Formally referred to as an STD, an STI stands for:

Sexually

transmitted

infection

Hover on a term to learn more.

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Let's get into the specifics!

What's an STI you want to know more about?

Click on any of the below icons to learn more about it!

Chlamydia

Syphilis

HPV

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It has a WOW effect. Very WOW.

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Hepatitis A & B

Mono

Herpes

It is organized, hierarchical and structured

Make your audience remember the message.

Activate and amaze your audience

Chlamydia

Click on an icon to learn more.

How do you get it?

What is it?

What are symptoms?

How can you treat it?

Syphilis

Click on an icon to learn more.

How do you get it?

What is it?

What are symptoms?

How can you treat it?

HPV

Click on an icon to learn more.

How do you get it?

What is it?

What are symptoms?

How can you treat it?

Herpes

Click on an icon to learn more.

How do you get it?

What is it?

What are symptoms?

How can you treat it?

Mono

Click on an icon to learn more.

How do you get it?

What is it?

What are symptoms?

How can you treat it?

Hepatitis

Click on an icon to learn more.

How do you get it?

What is it?

What are symptoms?

How can you treat it?

Let's test what you learned!

02

How do we prevent STIs?

Vaccines

There are two primary vaccines available to you:

• HPV vaccine
• Hepatitis A & B vaccines

Preventing STIs

The only 100% effective way to prevent STIs is to abstain from sexual contact, but using multiple prevention strategies greatly reduces your risk.

Safe Sex

• Use condoms correctly every time
• Limit sexual partners
• Get tested regularly with new partners
• Talk openly with partners about STI history
• Talk to your doctor if PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis), a daily medication that helps prevent HIV, is right for you

+ info

De-risk

• Don't share needles or drug equipment
• Don't share personal items (razors, toothbrushes)
• Avoid sexual contact during active outbreaks

Let's Dive Deeper

PreP (HIV)

Gardasil (HPV)

Urethra Swab

Pap Smear

• Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis
• Daily medication that helps prevent HIV
• Reduces HIV risk by about 99% from sex

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Protects against 90% of cervical cancers

• 90% of genital warts
• Most anal, vaginal, vulvar, and throat cancers caused by HPV
• Recommended for all teens ages 11-12
• Can be given starting at age 9
• Catch-up vaccines available through age 26

Click on a term to learn more.

03

How do we get tested for STIs?

Best Practices to getting tested

Synthesis and organization, the two pillars for presenting

OR

Before / After any unprotected sexual encounter

Get tested every 6 months

What are the tests?

Urethra Swab

Urine tests

Pap Smear

Blood test

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Where can you go to get tested?

Planned Parenthood

Primary Care Doctors

Urgent Care

OBGYNS

We need to interact with each other. We learn collaboratively.

We are capable of understanding images from millions of years ago, even from other cultures.

We avoid becoming part of the content saturation in the digital world.

We tell thousands and thousands of stories. ⅔ of our conversations are stories.

04

How to talk about STIs

Symptoms

Most people with chlamydia don't notice any signs at all, but some may have symptoms a few weeks after getting the infection. Key Points:

• Pain or burning when peeing
• Unusual discharge from penis or vagina
• Lower belly pain
• Bleeding between periods
• Pain during sex
• Burning or itching around genitals
• Eye infection (if bacteria gets in eyes)

These same symptoms can be caused by other things too - only a doctor's test can tell for sure if it's chlamydia.

Transmission

Syphilis spreads through direct contact with a syphilis sore during intimate contact with someone who has the infection. Key Points:

• Spreads through vaginal, anal, or oral sex
• Can pass from mother to baby during pregnancy
• Condoms help prevent spreading but may not cover all sores
• Cannot spread through casual contact like toilet seats or pools

Human Papillomavirus

pah-PILL-oh-mah-vie-rus

HPV (Human Papillomavirus) is the most common sexually transmitted infection. It's actually a group of viruses that can affect different parts of the body. Key Points:

• Most common STI worldwide
• Many types exist - some harmless, some can cause problems
• Usually goes away on its own in 2 years
• Can be prevented with a vaccine

Structure

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Transmission

Herpes spreads through direct contact with someone who has the virus, usually during an active outbreak when sores are present. Key Points:

• Spreads through skin-to-skin contact
• Can spread through oral, genital, or anal contact
• Can spread even with no visible sores
• Can pass from mother to baby during birth
• Cannot spread through toilet seats or swimming pools

Plan

Did you know that... We retain 42% more information when the content is interactive? It is perhaps the most effective resource to capture the attention of your audience.

Symptoms

Most people with HPV never show any signs and the virus often clears on its own. Key Points:

• Usually no symptoms at all
• Some types can cause genital warts
• Warts look like small bumps or clusters
• Some types can lead to cancer if not caught early
• Can take years for any health problems to show up

Herpes

HER-peez

Herpes is a common viral infection that stays in your body for life. There are two main types: HSV-1 and HSV-2, and both can affect the genital area. Key Points:

• Chronic (lifelong) viral infection
• Can cause outbreaks that come and go
• Most people have no symptoms
• Different from HIV and HPV
• Can affect mouth or genital area

Symptoms

Mono can make you feel sick for several weeks with various symptoms. Key Points:

• Extreme tiredness (fatigue)
• Sore throat
• Fever
• Swollen glands in neck
• Body aches and headaches
• Sometimes swollen spleen
• Rash may appear

Treatment

While there's no cure for herpes, medications can help manage the infection and reduce outbreaks. Key Points:

• Antiviral medicines help manage symptoms
• Medicine can shorten or prevent outbreaks
• Daily medicine can lower risk of spreading
• Treatment helps sores heal faster
• Cannot eliminate virus from body completely

Syphilis

SIF-ih-lis

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection that develops in stages. Without treatment, it can get more serious over time and cause health problems throughout the body. Key Points:

• Develops in four stages: primary, secondary, latent, and tertiary

• Each stage has different signs and symptoms

• Can affect multiple parts of the body

• Can pass from mother to baby during pregnancy

Treatment

Both types have different treatments but similar prevention strategies: Key Points:

• Both have vaccines available
• Hep A usually clears on its own
• Hep B may need long-term treatment
• Practice good hygiene
• Use protection during sex
• Don't share personal items
• Get vaccinated if at risk

Infectious Mononucleosis

MAH-no

Mono, or Infectious Mononucleosis, is a common viral infection that mostly affects teens and young adults. It's often called the "kissing disease" because it spreads through saliva. Key Points:

• Caused by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)
• Most common in teenagers and college students
• Takes 4-6 weeks to show symptoms
• Usually gets better in 2-4 weeks
• Can make you very tired for several weeks

Treatment

While there's no cure for the virus itself, there are ways to treat the problems it can cause. Key Points:

• No medicine to cure the virus
• Warts can be treated if they appear
• Regular screenings can catch problems early
• Vaccine prevents most harmful types
• Most infections clear up on their own

Chlamydia

kluh-MID-ee-uh

Chlamydia is a common infection that can spread during sexual contact. It's caused by bacteria that's too small to see. Key Points:

• Most common STI in teens and young adults

• Can't see it or know you have it without a test

• Easy to cure with antibiotics if caught early

• Anyone who is sexually active can get it

Impressive

Tip: Emotional connection or engagement with your content increases when you get your audience to identify with the message you want to convey.

Treatment

Syphilis is curable with the right antibiotics from a doctor, but it's important to catch it early. Key Points:

• Treated with antibiotics (usually penicillin)
• Both partners need treatment
• Must finish all medicine even if feeling better
• Need follow-up tests to make sure it's cured
• Can get it again after being cured if exposed

Remember: Even after you're cured, you can get syphilis again if exposed to it - treatment doesn't make you immune!

Transmission

These viruses spread in different ways:

Hepatitis A:

• Contaminated food or water
• Close person-to-person contact
• Poor hand washing after bathroom
• Sexual contact

Hepatitis B:

• Blood and body fluids
• Sexual contact
• Sharing needles
• Mother to baby during birth

Transmission

HPV spreads through close skin-to-skin contact during intimate activities. Key Points:

• Spreads through vaginal, anal, or oral sex
• Can spread even when person has no symptoms
• Can spread through close intimate touching
• Can get it even from one sexual partner

Treatment

Chlamydia is 100% curable with antibiotics prescribed by a doctor. Treatment is quick and simple - usually just taking pills for about a week.Key Points:

• One type is a single dose of medicine
• Another type is pills taken for 7 days
• Both you AND your partner need treatment
• Wait 7 days after starting medicine before having sex
• Get tested again in 3 months to make sure it's gone

Remember: Even after you're cured, you can get chlamydia again if exposed to it - treatment doesn't make you immune!

Hepatitis A & B

hep-uh-TIE-tis

Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver. There are different types, but Hepatitis A and B are two common viral infections that affect the liver in different ways. Key Points:

• Both affect the liver but are different viruses
• Hep A is usually short-term
• Hep B can become chronic (lifelong)
• Both are preventable with vaccines
• Different ways of spreading

Transmission

Chlamydia spreads through sexual contact with someone who has the infection. This means any direct intimate contact can pass it from person to person. Key Points:

• Spreads through vaginal, anal, or oral sex
• Can pass from mother to baby during birth
• Condoms help prevent spreading
• You can't get it from toilet seats, hugging, or sharing food

Symptoms

Many people with herpes never have symptoms, but those who do might notice several signs. Key Points:

• Small blisters or sores
• Burning or itching before sores appear
• Flu-like symptoms (fever, body aches)
• Sores heal in 1-4 weeks
• Outbreaks may come back but usually get milder
• Many people have no symptoms at all

Treatment

There's no specific cure for mono, but there are ways to feel better while your body fights the infection. Key Points:

• Get lots of rest
• Drink plenty of fluids
• Take pain relievers for fever and aches
• Avoid sports and heavy activity
• No antibiotics (they don't help)
• Most people recover completely

Transmission

Mono spreads through close contact with infected saliva from someone who has the virus. Key Points:

• Kissing someone who has mono
• Sharing drinks or food
• Sharing personal items like toothbrushes
• Through coughing or sneezing
• Can't get it from casual contact

Symptoms

Syphilis has different symptoms depending on its stage. The early stage starts with a painless sore called a chancre. Key Points:

PRIMARY STAGE:

• Painless sore(s) that may go unnoticed
• Sore lasts 3-6 weeks and heals on its own

SECONDARY STAGE:

• Rashes (especially on palms/feet)
• Fever and swollen glands
• Feeling tired
• Can come and go

LATER STAGES:

• May have no symptoms for years
• Can cause serious health problems if untreated
• Unusual discharge from penis or vagina
• Lower belly pain
• Bleeding between periods
• Pain during sex
• Burning or itching around genitals
• Eye infection (if bacteria gets in eyes)

Symptoms

Both types can have similar symptoms, though Hep A symptoms usually appear faster: Key Points:

• Feeling tired
• Fever
• Upset stomach
• Yellow skin/eyes (jaundice)
• Dark urine
• Light-colored stools
• Not wanting to eat
• Body aches

Did you know About 58% of all chlamydia cases were in young people aged 15-24?