Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
- Information about syphilis during pregnancy (congenital syphilis)
- Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection or STI caused by bacteria. It spread through skin-to-skin contact with a syphilis sore, typically during sex. It can be transmitted from a pregnant person to their baby during pregnancy or at birth. This is called congenital syphilis. For more information, please see:
- Information about Mpox
- Monkeypox, now recognized by the World Health Organization, as Mpox, is known to be transmitted through close contact which includes intimate sexual contact. For more information on Mpox in NYS, please see the Mpox site. For more information on where to seek routine sexual health services, please see the Provider Directory.
- Health Advisories and Alerts
- Office of Sexual Health and Epidemiology Newsletter Sexual Health Review (PDF, Issue 6, Summer 2024)
Why STI not STD?
This site will now use the term sexually transmitted infection (STI) in place of sexually transmitted disease (STD). The word "disease" suggests noticeable medical problems, while many of the most common sexually transmitted infections have no signs or symptoms, or they are very mild. Even with no signs or symptoms, STIs can cause serious health problems, so it is still necessary to get tested and treated for STIs.
What are STIs?
There are more than 30 infections that are spread through vaginal, anal, and oral sex. Some STIs can also be spread through blood, particularly among intravenous (IV) drug users who may be sharing drug equipment (needles, syringes, or "works"). In addition, pregnant people with STIs may pass the infection to infants in the uterus (womb), during birth, or through breast-feeding. Without treatment these infections can cause major health problems such as not being able to get pregnant (infertility), permanent brain damage, heart disease, cancer, and even death. If you think you have been exposed to a sexually transmitted infection, you and your sex partner(s) should visit a health clinic, hospital, or doctor for testing and treatment.
Where to get Tested?
To find an STI provider, please visit the Provider Directory.
