ArabicChineseEnglishFrenchRussianSpanish
WHO home
All WHO This site only
  WHO > Health topics > Sexually transmitted infections

Sexually transmitted infections

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are infections that are spread primarily through person-to-person sexual contact. There are more than 30 different sexually transmissible bacteria, viruses and parasites.

The most common conditions they cause are gonorrhoea, chlamydial infection, syphilis, trichomoniasis, chancroid, genital herpes, genital warts, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and hepatitis B infection.

Several, in particular HIV and syphilis, can also be transmitted from mother to child during pregnancy and childbirth, and through blood products and tissue transfer.


GENERAL INFORMATION

Fact sheets
Sexually transmitted infections

Effectiveness of male latex condoms

MULTIMEDIA

10 facts on sexually transmitted infections

RELATED TOPICS

- Sexually Transmitted Diseases Diagnostics Initiative (SDI)
- Vaccine research: sexually transmitted infections
- HIV/AIDS: WHO-UNAIDS HIV Vaccine Initiative
- Adolescents
- Cervical cancer: information centre
- Reproductive Health Library

TECHNICAL INFORMATION

Global strategy for the prevention and control of sexually transmitted infections

Guidelines on care

- More about sexually transmitted infections

PUBLICATIONS

Training modules for the syndromic management of sexually transmitted infections

Human papillomavirus and HPV vaccines: technical information for policy-makers and health professionals

- More publications on sexually transmitted diseases


WHO PROGRAMMES AND ACTIVITIES

Department of Reproductive Health and Research
SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS IN WHO REGIONS

African Region
Region of the Americas
South-East Asia Region
European Region
Eastern Mediterranean Region
Western Pacific Region


KEY WHO INFORMATION

Director-General
Director-General and senior management

Governance of WHO
WHO Constitution, Executive Board and World Health Assembly

Media centre
News, events, fact sheets, multimedia and contacts

International travel and health
Publication on travel risks, precautions and vaccination requirements

World Health Report
Annual report on global public health and key statistics