Sexpert: March 29, 2012

Dear Sexpert,

I said "STD" in a class recently, and people looked at me as if I was an uneducated hick. STD is what I learned in high school, and STI sounds too stilted. What should I say?

Sincerely,

— What’s in a Name

Dear What’s in a Name,

As is often the case with questions like "What should I say?" the answer is: It depends on what you’re trying to say. There are various technical distinctions between STIs (sexually transmitted infections) and STDs (sexually transmitted diseases), but there are also political and social reasons to favor one over the other. This is a tricky subject, so let’s dive right in.

The story of the STD/STI split begins in the 90s when the use of the term “venereal disease” or “VD” began to fall out of fashion. (By the way, if you think STI sounds stilted, how about “venereal”?) VD refers to any disease that is contracted through sexual contact. It was during this time that the term STD rose to prominence in order to emphasize the manner of transmission of AIDS.

The term “infection” means that the body is being colonized by a foreign parasite, whereas the term “disease,” in the case of STDs, means that the infection is causing obvious symptoms. An STI is an infection that is spread through sexual contact, and an STD is a disease caused by an STI. As such, the term "STD" emphasizes the symptoms and the bodily harm that one can contract from such contact. The problem with this term is that it doesn’t include people who have infections but not symptoms, which is where the term "STI" comes in. If people are only worried about infections that cause themselves bodily harm, they are ignoring the health risk that an infection without symptoms poses to their sexual partners, as well as the possibility of the infection causing a disease later down the line. This is why many health professionals currently prefer to use the term STI over STD.

In conclusion, the term STI is often preferred because it refers to a major concern of health professionals: contagious infections that present risks to the people infected with them and to their sexual partners. However, what’s ultimately more important than the nomenclature is knowing your status with regard to these infections and protecting yourself from them. Students can be confidentially tested for STIs at University Health Services by making an appointment at (609) 258-3141. More information about STIs and practicing safer sex can be found at cdc.gov/std/default.htm and plannedparenthood.org/health-topics/stds-hiv-safer-sex/safer-sex-4263.htm

Sincerely,

The Sexpert