What kinds of STIs are there?

We distinguish between bacterial, viral and parasitic STIs.

Bacterial STIs are caused by bacteria and can usually be treated with antibiotics. Bacterial STIs include chlamydia, syphilis, and gonorrhoea.

Viral STIs are caused by viruses. They often take a long time to treat, because treatment mostly begins too late due to the lack of symptoms. In most cases, however, these infections are also curable or so well treatable that they hardly reduce life expectancy. They include hepatitis A, B and C, HPV (human papillomavirus)/genital warts, herpes and HIV.

Parasites are tiny creatures that can also be transmitted through skin-on-skin contact. They are usually well treatable. They include trichomoniasis, crabs and scabies.