Why We Should Say STI Instead of STD: Understanding the Terminology and Its Importance
I’ve been seeing an increase in well-intended, educational posts using STD as opposed to STI. I am resurfacing this previous post of mine to discuss why it’s important to make the transition from STD to STI. Recently, even the CDC adapted this change in their Treatment Guidelines, moving from STD to STI😃
Due to my own curiosities, I’ve spent significant time over the last few years researching the difference between STI vs. STD and communicating why it matters. At first, I thought it was merely a matter of being politically correct—to which some degree, it is, thanks to public health. Despite this, I found that even some publications by the National Institutes of Health and other government agencies and organizations used the terms almost interchangeably. So I set out to find out why.
To understand the fundamental differences, it’s important to understand a few key terms (as defined by the NIH).
1. Pathogen: a microorganism that can cause disease. There are five major types of pathogens: bacteria, viruses, fungi, Protozoa, & helminths.
2. Infection: takes place when a pathogen establishes itself in a host (ex. a human).
3. Disease: when the body’s ability to perform normal functions is interrupted or changed, usually presenting with certain signs and symptoms.
Per these definitions, infection and disease are not synonymous. Better put.. a pathogen enters the host (human), and the conditions may or may not result in that pathogen’s growth (infection), and if a function is impaired and results in signs/symptoms not caused by personal injury, a disease develops.
This post is not meant to be a perfect description of science. This post will not give you all of the answers that you seek. This post is an introduction to a larger lesson, and one that will help others discern which sex education spaces, educators, therapists, and the like are the most comprehensive.