Many young people come to the Annex to be tested for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and to learn about how to reduce their risk of becoming infected with one. Young people have disproportionately high rates of STIs and there is a tremendous need for education about them.
While STI and STD are often used interchangeably, we primarily use STI as our preferred language. STD may be more broadly understood, and yet STI communicates some important information. “Infection” vs “disease” conveys that there is treatment for many infections, which can encourage a patient’s seeking of treatment and communicating with sexual partners about a need to be tested. For many people, “infection” is less stigmatizing than “disease”. With patients, explaining language choice can be part of having an authentic relationship with them. It can also be helpful to mirror the language of patients to ensure understanding.