What are STDs?

STD stands for "Sexually Transmitted Diseases". The technically correct term is STI, which stands for "Sexually Transmitted Infections".

STD means sexually transmitted diseases. STI stands for sexually transmitted infections.

Sexually transmitted diseases, or as we call them, sexually transmitted infections, are bacteria, viruses or parasites that can be transmitted during sexual activity.

We speak of infections because not every infection leads to a disease. Infected people can live without symptoms and at the same time infect other people, who may then develop complaints and symptoms.

The term illness has a stigmatizing effect and is often associated with "bad" and "evil" images.