Water warts are caused by a virus called molluscum contagiosum. It’s a common viral infection that affects the skin and causes fluid-filled blisters.
Steph Haase
Genital herpes
Genital herpes is an STD caused by two different types of herpes simplex virus (HSV). It looks like a cold sore or blister.
Genital warts
Genital warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). It’s one of the most common STDs worldwide.
Syphilis
Syphilis is an STD caused by a bacterium called Treponema palliduium. It’s known as the ‘great imitator’ because its symptoms are hard to distinguish from other STDs.
Gonorrhoea
Gonorrhoea is caused by bacteria called Niesseria gonorrhoeae. It’s very contagious. It can infect your throat, urethra, vagina, and anus.
Chlamydia
Chlamydia is an STD caused by bacteria called Chlamydia trachomatis.
Withdrawal: your top questions answered!
When withdrawing, a man pulls his penis out of a woman’s vagina before he ejaculates – so that there’s no semen going into the vagina.
Outercourse: 7 great ideas for pleasure
Outercourse is any sexual activity that does not include sexual penetration. The opposite of outercourse is intercourse (penetrative sex).
Abstinence: not having sex
In general, abstinence means not having sexual intercourse (when a man inserts his penis into a woman’s vagina).
Male condom
A condom is a rubber sheath that fits over the penis and stops sperm from getting into the vagina.
Birth control: how well does it work?
There are two ways to rate how well birth control methods work. You can say how good they are if people use them perfectly. Or you can look at what happens in real life – because people aren’t usually perfect!
How to choose birth control
If you don’t want to get pregnant – or don’t want your partner to get pregnant – you need to use birth control, also called contraception or family planning.