D. Healthy Living · Healthy Living

Protecting Sexual Health: STBBIs and Preventing Pregnancy

D1.4 D1.5 A1.2 A1.6About 45 minutes

Learning goals

I can identify common sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBIs) and describe their symptoms.
I can explain why many STBBIs have no symptoms and why testing matters.
I can identify ways of preventing STBBIs, including HIV, and unplanned pregnancy, such as delaying sexual activity and using condoms and other protection consistently.

Words to know

STBBI
Sexually transmitted and blood-borne infection: an infection passed through sexual contact and/or through blood.

bacteria
Tiny living things; bacterial STBBIs (like chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis) can be cured with antibiotics.

virus
A tiny germ that lives inside cells; viral STBBIs (like HIV, herpes and hepatitis B) can be treated, and some prevented with vaccines, but most can't be cured.

asymptomatic
Having no symptoms. Many people with an STBBI feel fine and don't know they have it.

condom
A thin covering (external condoms are worn on the penis; internal condoms are placed inside the vagina or anus) that acts as a barrier to prevent pregnancy and lower the risk of many STBBIs.

contraception
Methods used to prevent pregnancy, such as condoms, the birth control pill, the patch, the ring, the shot and the IUD.

vaccine
A medicine that teaches the body to protect itself from an infection. HPV and hepatitis B vaccines are offered to Grade 7 students in Ontario.

A note before you start

This lesson is part of Ontario's human development and sexual health learning for Grade 7. Some families choose to teach these topics at home in their own way. Read it with your grown-up, and remember: any question you have is a good question to ask a trusted adult.

Germs you can't see

You already know that colds and flu spread from person to person. Some infections spread in a different way: through sexual contact or through blood. They're called sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections, or STBBIs.

The Grade 7 curriculum asks you to identify STBBIs and describe their symptoms, and to identify ways of preventing STBBIs and unplanned pregnancy. Knowing this now means you'll have accurate information long before you need it.

How STBBIs spread

STBBIs can spread through:

sexual contact: vaginal, anal or oral sex, and some through skin-to-skin genital contact;
blood: sharing needles or other drug equipment, or tattoos and piercings done with equipment that isn't sterile; sharing razors or toothbrushes can spread some infections like hepatitis B and C;
from a pregnant parent to a baby, during pregnancy, birth or breastfeeding (for some infections).

They don't spread through hugging, shaking hands, toilet seats or swimming pools, and HIV doesn't spread through sharing cups or water bottles.

How STBBIs do and don't spread. Everyday contact like hugs, handshakes and pools does not spread them.

STBBI	Caused by	Possible symptoms	Treatment
Chlamydia	Bacteria	Often none. Sometimes unusual discharge, burning when peeing, pain in the lower belly	Curable with antibiotics
Gonorrhea	Bacteria	Often none. Sometimes unusual discharge, burning when peeing	Curable with antibiotics
Syphilis	Bacteria	A painless sore at first, later a rash; may seem to go away while the infection stays	Curable with antibiotics; without treatment it can damage organs
HPV (human papillomavirus)	Virus	Usually none; some types cause genital warts; some types can lead to certain cancers years later	Often clears on its own; warts and early cell changes can be treated; vaccine protects against the types that cause most HPV cancers and genital warts
Genital herpes	Virus	Painful blisters or sores that can come back; sometimes none	No cure; medicine helps
HIV (human immunodeficiency virus)	Virus	May cause flu-like illness at first, then often none for years; attacks the immune system	No cure; daily medicine lets people live long, healthy lives
Hepatitis B	Virus	Often none; may cause tiredness, yellow skin or eyes; affects the liver	Treatable; vaccine prevents it
Hepatitis C	Virus	Often none for years; affects the liver	Can be cured with medicine; no vaccine

Common STBBIs. Many have no symptoms. Only testing tells for sure.

The big lesson: many STBBIs have no symptoms

A person can look and feel completely healthy and still have an STBBI, and pass it on. That's why the only way to know is to get tested by a health care provider. Untreated STBBIs can lead to serious problems later, such as long-term pain, trouble getting pregnant, or damage to organs. The good news: they can be prevented, many can be cured, and all can be treated.

Way of preventing	Protects against STBBIs?	Protects against pregnancy?
Delaying or abstaining from sexual activity (no genital contact, no vaginal, anal or oral sex)	Yes: the only 100% sure way from sexual contact	Yes: the only 100% sure way
Condoms (external or internal), used correctly every time	Yes, greatly lowers the risk of many STBBIs	Yes, lowers the risk
Hormonal methods (the pill, patch, ring, shot) and IUDs	No	Yes, very effective when used correctly
Vaccines (HPV, hepatitis B)	Yes, for those infections	No
Regular testing if sexually active, and treatment	Helps stop the spread	No
Not sharing needles, razors or toothbrushes; sterile tattoo and piercing equipment	Yes, for blood-borne infections like HIV and hepatitis B and C	No

Ways of preventing STBBIs and unplanned pregnancy.

Sorting the prevention table. Only the middle protects against both: abstinence (100%) and condoms (lower the risk). Hormonal methods prevent pregnancy but not STBBIs.

Key facts to remember

Abstinence (not having sexual activity) is the only 100% sure way to prevent STBBIs and pregnancy from sexual activity. Delaying until you're older is a healthy choice.
Among birth control methods, only condoms lower the risk of both pregnancy and many STBBIs. People who are sexually active often use a condom plus another method.
Protection works only if it's used consistently (every time) and correctly.
In Ontario, HPV and hepatitis B vaccines are offered free to Grade 7 students through school clinics run by public health units.
Emergency contraception can lower the chance of pregnancy after unprotected sex; the most common type is sold at pharmacies without a prescription.
Sexual health clinics run by public health units offer confidential testing, treatment and advice.

Worked example

Let's bust a myth

Kai hears someone say, "You can tell if someone has an STI. They'd look sick." Is this true?

Check the facts: chlamydia, gonorrhea, HPV, HIV and hepatitis C often cause no symptoms, sometimes for years.
Conclusion: you can't tell by looking. People often don't know they have an STBBI themselves.
What follows: the only way to know is testing, and prevention (delaying, condoms, vaccines) matters every time.

False. Many STBBIs have no symptoms. Only testing can tell.

Worked example

Let's match prevention to risk

For each situation, name a way to prevent infection: (A) a teen who wants protection from HPV years before ever being sexually active; (B) a friend who wants a tattoo; (C) two older teens in a relationship who decide to become sexually active.

A: get the HPV vaccine (free in Grade 7 in Ontario). Vaccines work best when given before any exposure.
B: wait until the age a licensed shop requires and use only a licensed, clean shop with sterile, single-use needles. Never do home tattoos or share needles.
C: talk openly first (consent and a shared plan); use condoms correctly every time, plus another birth control method to prevent pregnancy; get tested; visit a sexual health clinic or doctor.

Different risks need different protections. Delaying sexual activity remains the surest choice.

Hands-on activity

Myth or fact card sort

You need: 10 small pieces of paper and a pen. Do this with your grown-up.

Write one statement on each card:

You can tell by looking if someone has an STBBI. (Myth)
Chlamydia can be cured with antibiotics. (Fact)
HIV can spread by sharing a water bottle. (Myth)
The birth control pill protects against STBBIs. (Myth)
Condoms lower the risk of both pregnancy and many STBBIs. (Fact)
There is a vaccine for HPV. (Fact)
Sharing needles can spread HIV and hepatitis C. (Fact)
Abstinence is the only 100% sure way to prevent STBBIs and pregnancy from sexual activity. (Fact)
Herpes can be cured. (Myth: it can be treated, not cured)
Many STBBIs have no symptoms. (Fact)

Shuffle. Take turns sorting each card into Myth or Fact and explaining why.
Check your answers using the lesson tables.

What to look for: correct sorting and a reason for each card. Ask your grown-up to check whether your Grade 7 vaccines are up to date.

Your turn

What does STBBI stand for?

Name three ways STBBIs can spread.

Name three bacterial STBBIs.

What is the most common symptom of chlamydia?

Name two STBBIs that have vaccines.

Which birth control method lowers the risk of both pregnancy and many STBBIs?

What is the only 100% sure way to prevent STBBIs and pregnancy from sexual activity?

More practice: warm-up

True or false: you can get HIV from hugging.

True or false: bacterial STBBIs can be cured with antibiotics.

Does the birth control pill protect against STBBIs?

Which vaccines are offered free to Grade 7 students in Ontario school clinics that protect against STBBIs?

What's the only way to know for sure if you have an STBBI?

More practice: on your own

Why can STBBIs spread even when nobody has symptoms?

Explain the difference between how bacterial and viral STBBIs are treated.

Why is the HPV vaccine given in Grade 7, years before most people are sexually active?

What does "consistently" mean when talking about condoms, and why does it matter?

Name two ways to prevent blood-borne infections that have nothing to do with sex.

Challenge

A couple uses the birth control pill and thinks they are fully protected. Explain what's missing and what they could add.

Explain why delaying first intercourse and other sexual activities lowers health risks, using at least two reasons.

Your friend is worried they have an STBBI symptom but is too embarrassed to see a doctor. Encourage them using facts.

Check your understanding

Quiz

STBBI stands for...

What is the most common symptom of many STBBIs, like chlamydia?

Which STBBI can be cured with antibiotics?

Which method lowers the risk of both pregnancy and many STBBIs?

Which STBBIs have vaccines offered in Ontario Grade 7 school clinics?

How can HIV not be spread?

What is the only 100% sure way to prevent STBBIs and pregnancy from sexual activity?

For parents and teachers

About this content: This lesson is part of Ontario's human development and sexual health expectations for Grade 7 (D1.3, D1.4, D1.5, D2.4 and D3.3). In Ontario, parents may request that their child be exempted (opted out) of human development and sexual health instruction at school; ask your school about its process. If your family has opted out, you may skip this lesson at home too, or teach the topic in your own way and in line with your family's values. The lesson uses correct terms and stays factual; it names types of sexual contact only to explain how infections spread, and does not describe how to do sexual activities.

Big idea: This lesson covers the Grade 7 expectations to identify sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBIs), and describe their symptoms (D1.4), and to identify ways of preventing STBBIs and/or unplanned pregnancy, such as delaying first intercourse and other sexual activities until a person is older and using condoms and other forms of protection consistently if and when a person becomes sexually active (D1.5). It builds coping (A1.2) and critical thinking (A1.6).

How to help at home:

Check that your child's Grade 7 school vaccines (hepatitis B, HPV, meningococcal) are on your public health unit's schedule; in Ontario these are free through school clinics.
Share your family's values about waiting, alongside the facts. Public health agencies support giving young people accurate, age-appropriate information.
Let your child know they can ask you, or their doctor, anything.

Common difficulties: believing you can tell by looking whether someone has an STBBI; thinking the pill protects against infections; confusing "treatable" with "curable".