HIV Activism: Treatment, Prevention, Rights, and Community Action
HIV activism promotes prevention, treatment access, research, equality, U=U education, and freedom from stigma while centering people living with HIV in decisions that affect them.
Safe Sex Movement: STI Prevention, HIV Awareness, and Safer Sex
The safe sex movement promotes practical ways to reduce STI, HIV, and unintended pregnancy risks through barriers, testing, contraception, vaccination, education, and informed choices.
STI Literacy: Testing, Prevention, Treatment, and Sexual Health
STI literacy is the ability to understand and use reliable information about sexually transmitted infections, including transmission, testing, prevention, treatment, and communication.
Stealthing: Nonconsensual Condom Removal and Sexual Consent
Stealthing is the intentional removal or interference with a condom during sex without a partner’s knowledge or consent, violating agreed sexual boundaries.
Incubation Period: Time Between Infection and Symptoms
An incubation period is the time between acquiring an infection and developing symptoms, and it differs from the window period used for test detection.
Asymptomatic Infection: STIs Without Noticeable Symptoms
An asymptomatic infection is present without noticeable symptoms and may still be transmissible, making STI testing and screening important.
Test of Cure: Confirming Successful STI Treatment
A test of cure is follow-up testing used to determine whether an infection remains after treatment and differs from later testing for reinfection.
Contact Tracing: Finding and Supporting People Exposed to STIs
Contact tracing identifies people who may have been exposed to an STI so they can receive testing, treatment, and appropriate follow-up.
Viral Suppression: HIV Treatment, Undetectable Viral Load, and U=U
Viral suppression means HIV treatment has reduced the virus to a very low level, protecting health and preventing sexual transmission when viral load stays undetectable.
Undetectable Equals Untransmittable: HIV, U=U, and Sexual Health
Undetectable equals untransmittable, or U=U, means a person with HIV who maintains a sustained undetectable viral load does not sexually transmit HIV.