Surprising ways STIs affect the sexes differently
Learn about ways STIs affect the sexes differently, plus get tips on prevention.
Jan, 2026
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Slide 1
When it comes to certain sexually transmitted infections (STIs), people who are assigned female at birth may experience higher rates or more serious long-term consequences, depending on the condition.
Sangeeta Sinha, MD, an OBGYN at StoneSprings Hospital Center in Dulles, Virginia, discusses sex-differences in STIs, and offers essential facts about prevention.
Written byRose Hayes, MA, RN.
Medically reviewed byJoanne Perron, MD.
Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 10 Ways STDs Impact Women Differently from Men. April 2011. + 14
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 10 Ways STDs Impact Women Differently from Men. April 2011.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. HIV: HIV Risk Behaviors. Page last reviewed November 13, 2019.
- WomensHealth.gov. Women and HIV. Page last updated February 18, 2021.
- WomensHealth.gov. HIV and AIDS basics. Page last updated February 18, 2021.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. HIV and Women. Page last reviewed August 18, 2022.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. HIV: Getting Tested. Page last reviewed June 22, 2022.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. HIV: PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis). Page last reviewed June 3, 2022.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Gonorrhea: Basic Fact Sheet. Page last reviewed August 22, 2022.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) – CDC Basic Fact Sheet. Page last reviewed April 18, 2022.
- Tenore JL. Ectopic Pregnancy. Am Fam Physician. 2000;61(4):1080-1088.
- Hasanpoor-Azghdy SB, Simbar M, Vedadhir A. The emotional-psychological consequences of infertility among infertile women seeking treatment: Results of a qualitative study. Iran J Reprod Med. 2014 Feb;12(2):131-8.
- American Psychological Association. Battling the self-blame of infertility. September 2006.
- March of Dimes. Sexually Transmitted Infections. Last reviewed June, 2022.
- MedlinePlus. Birth Weight. Last updated September 20, 2022.
- NIH: Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. What health issues or conditions affect women differently than men? Last reviewed December 1, 2016.
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