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Molluscum (also known as M. contagiosum) is a skin infection caused by a virus that can be passed to you during sex or, more commonly, through other close skin-to-skin contact. It is also possible for molluscum to be passed by sharing towels and often infects people who work out in gyms. Symptoms include multiple smooth, firm, rounded bumps with central indentations that can occur on the lower stomach, thighs, genitals, buttocks, and the skin covered by pubic hair. The bumps may be tan, yellow, grey or pink.

Molluscum will go away on its own without any treatment or complications, but if you choose, the bumps can be frozen off with liquid nitrogen by a healthcare provider.

Also called non-specific urethritis, NGU is an infection in the male urethra caused by bacteria such as chlamydia, mycoplasma, ureaplasma or trichomoniasis, or by a viral infection. NGU is spread during anal, vaginal and oral sex. Symptoms may include a mild discharge from the head of the penis and pain or burning when urinating.

NGU is treated with antibiotics, and the sex partners of people with NGU should also be treated to prevent reinfection.

Shigella is a bacterial infection that causes serious stomach cramps and diarrhea. It can easily be spread through rimming (oral-anal contact) and from oral contact with contaminated skin, including skin in the groin area, the testicles, and the penis. Shigella can also be spread through food and water contaminated by feces (poop). Other bugs commonly spread through oral-anal sex that can cause stomach pain and diarrhea are parasites, including giardia, amebiasis, and cryptosporidium; other bacteria, including salmonella and campylobacter; and the virus, hepatitis A.

Shigella sometimes goes away on its own and in other cases is treated with antibiotics.  Some strains of shigella are resistant to antibiotics - if you have persistent or severe diarrhea, we recommend you see your PCP or go to an urgent care for evaluation.

You can prevent shigella and other infections by washing your genitals and hands very thoroughly before and after sex, and by using a physical barrier (cut-up condoms, dental dams, or household plastic wrap) for oral-anal sexual activities.

Its also important to abstain from anal, oral, penile and vaginal sex if you or your partner are experiencing diarrhea, and for 2 weeks after the diarrhea ends.

Also known as trich, trichomoniasis is an infection caused by a parasite that is passed between partners during vaginal sex. In women, symptoms include a yellow-green or gray vaginal discharge, an unpleasant vaginal odor and sometimes, vaginal irritation or itching. Men often don’t have symptoms when they are infected with trich, but symptoms can include itching or irritation in the penis and penile discharge.

Trichomoniasis can be cured by a prescription medication called metronidazole. Do not drink alcohol while you are taking this medication because it can cause vomiting. Even if your male partners don’t have symptoms, they should be treated so they don’t give you the infection again.

Urinary tract infections are not considered an STI although they can be associated with sex. Sometimes known as a bladder infection, UTIs can also cause an infection in the tube to your bladder (the urethra) or kidneys. Symptoms usually include pain or burning with urination and feeling like you need to urinate more often or more urgently, and sometimes blood in the urine. If you have symptoms like fever, or pain in your side or back, you might have a kidney infection.

UTIs are treated with antibiotics. You can help prevent UTIs by drinking enough water, wiping from front to back after using the toilet, urinating frequently, urinating after sex, and using lubrication during sex.

Vaginitis is a name for swelling, itching, burning or infection in the vaginal area that can be caused by several different germs. The most common kinds of vaginitis are bacterial vaginosis (B.V.) and yeast, which is a fungus.

B.V. is a very common vaginal infection among women and occurs when a so-called "bad" bacteria outweighs a "good" bacteria in the vagina. The most common symptoms are a gray, yellow or white fishy-smelling discharge from your vagina and itching in your vaginal area. B.V. can be treated with antibiotics. If you often get B.V. again after treatment, you should talk to a healthcare provider about medications that can help prevent recurrences. 

Yeast infections can cause a thick, white discharge from your vagina, itching in your vaginal area, and burning with sex and urination. Yeast infections can be treated with over-the-counter creams or an oral anti-fungal prescription medication. If you are getting chronic yeast infections (they last a long time or don’t go away completely), it is important to see a healthcare provider as they can be a sign of other problems, including HIV infection and diabetes.

To prevent vaginitis, try wearing clean cotton underwear and loose clothing, and avoid douching, vaginal sprays, and scented vaginal products.