Let’s Talk About STIs: What They Are, Why They Matter, and What You Can Do | Ayel L. R. Batac
Let’s Talk About STIs: What They Are, Why They Matter, and What You Can Do
May 10, 2025
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Sexual health is a part of health. Full stop. Yet even in 2025, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) remain heavily stigmatized, misunderstood, and under-discussed. And because we don’t talk about them enough, we allow misinformation, fear, and shame to take the place of facts, care, and prevention.
This blog post is my small way of changing that – by starting with the basics, and by sharing some of my own perspective.
What Are STIs?
STIs – short for sexually transmitted infections – are infections that are primarily spread through sexual contact or exposure to infected blood. They can be passed through vaginal, anal, or oral sex, as well as through needle sharing, blood transfusions (where screening is limited), or from a birthing parent to child during pregnancy or childbirth.
Some of the most common STIs include:
Chlamydia
Gonorrhea
Syphilis
HPV (Human Papillomavirus)
Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV-1 and HSV-2)
HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)
Hepatitis B and C
Each of these infections is different – in symptoms, transmission, and treatment – but they share one thing in common: they are all manageable, preventable, and in many cases, treatable.
How Common Are STIs?
Very common. More common than most people think. According to the World Health Organization, more than 1 million STIs are acquired every day worldwide. Many people living with STIs do not even know they have one, because symptoms are often mild or absent. This is why testing is so important.
The reality is: if you are sexually active, you could be at risk. Regardless of age, gender, relationship status, or sexual orientation.
Why Should We Care?
STIs do not always cause symptoms right away. But left untreated, they can lead to serious health consequences:
Infertility
Chronic pain
Liver disease and cancer (especially from hepatitis B and C)
Neurological complications
Increased risk of acquiring or transmitting HIV
For pregnant women, some STIs can lead to complications like miscarriage, stillbirth, or congenital infections passed on to the baby.
But here is the good news: Most STIs can be easily tested for, and many can be cured or effectively managed with treatment. Early detection truly makes all the difference.
A Personal Perspective: Living Between Two Worlds
As someone who has lived in both a high-income country like Canada and a lower-middle-income country like the Philippines, I have seen firsthand the contrast in how sexual health is treated, taught, and accessed.
In Canada, I was fortunate to receive comprehensive sexual education in high school. We were taught about family planning methods like condoms and birth control pills, how to access them, and even how to use them properly. I still remember the condom demonstration using a model. A moment filled with nervous laughter from students, but also one that left a lasting impression. That education, awkward or not, was useful – and lifesaving.
Canada’s public health system also provides access to free sexual health clinics, where youth, including young girls, can access contraceptives, STI testing, and counselling without stigma or barriers. We were taught how to test, why it matters to know our status, and how to protect ourselves through safer sex or abstinence.
In the Philippines, the contrast is stark. Sexual health remains a deeply taboo topic, especially in schools and within families. Comprehensive sexual education is rare, and public conversations around STIs are even rarer. Access to testing, treatment, and prevention tools like pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) or even condoms can be limited. Not just logistically, but culturally. The silence is loud, and the stigma can be overwhelming.
That contrast continues to fuel my commitment to public health. Because education should not be a luxury. Testing should not be a privilege. And silence should never be the barrier that keeps people from knowing their status and protecting themselves.
What’s Holding Us Back?
The biggest barriers are not scientific. They are social.
Many people delay or avoid testing not because they lack access, but because of fear. Fear of being judged. Fear of what others might think. Fear of being associated with something “dirty” or “irresponsible”.
That stigma can be even more intense in communities where sex is rarely discussed openly. I have seen this play out personally, especially in Southeast Asian and religious contexts. But staying silent only allows the problem to grow.
The truth is, STIs do NOT discriminate. They can affect anyone, regardless of how many partners you have had, how careful you are, or who you are. Risk is not about identity. It’s about biology and behaviour, and more importantly, about access to information and care.
What You Can Do: Take Care, Without Shame
Here is what we can all do to protect ourselves and each other:
Get tested regularly. If you are sexually active, routine testing is part of responsible healthcare – just like going to the dentist or getting a physical.
Use protection. Condoms and dental dams help prevent many STIs. They are not perfect, but they are effective.
Know your options. Vaccines exist for HPV and hepatitis B. HIV prevention tools like PrEP and PEP are life-changing for many.
Talk about it. Honest conversations with partners – and within our communities – can break down stigma and build trust.
Get informed. The more we understand, the less room there is for shame.
A Final Word: Knowledge Is Power, and Silence Is a Risk We Can’t Afford
Talking about STIs should not be controversial. It should be standard practice. These infections are common, treatable, and preventable. Yet every day, people are put at risk not because they lack protection, but because they lack information, access, and support.
I have seen how the silence around sexual health can cause real harm. I have lived in systems that empower people to make informed choices; and systems that shame them into silence. And I can tell you this: When we stay quiet, we do not keep people safe. We leave them behind.
But we can choose something different.
We can choose to create communities where talking about sexual health is a sign of care, not shame. We can choose to push for better education, stronger services, and a healthcare system that leaves no one out. We can choose to get tested, get informed, and speak up. Not just for ourselves, but for those who cannot yet do so safely.
Because knowledge is more than power. It’s protection. It’s freedom. And it’s a form of love.
Thank you for being here. Let’s keep talking.
-Ayel
Disclaimer: Mention of specific medications, drugs, or therapeutic agents in this blog is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute endorsement, recommendation, or promotion by the author. Clinical decisions should be made in consultation with qualified healthcare professionals and based on current evidence and applicable regulatory guidance.
The author declares no financial relationships with manufacturers of any drugs or medications mentioned in this post.