Talk to your midwife with Sarah Nkansah BOATENG: Knowledge is protection: The STI truth

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are among the most common, yet least, discussed health concerns affecting adolescent girls today.

While HIV has received notable public health attention, many other STIs remain shrouded in silence and misinformation, especially among young women in underserved communities.

As a midwife and reproductive health advocate, I have met adolescent girls across schools and marketplaces who know about HIV, but cannot identify other STIs or their symptoms. Many don’t know that infections like chlamydia, gonorrhoea, trichomoniasis, herpes, HPV and syphilis are also sexually transmitted and can be just as dangerous if left untreated.

What are STIs?

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are infections that are passed from one person to another through sexual contact including vaginal, anal and oral sex. Some STIs can also be transmitted during childbirth, through blood or through shared needles. Common STIs include:

Chlamydia: often asymptomatic, but can cause infertility if untreated.

Gonorrhoea: can cause painful urination and discharge, and lead to complications in pregnancy.

HPV (Human Papillomavirus): some strains can cause genital warts or lead to cervical cancer.

Syphilis: starts with painless sores but can damage internal organs if untreated.

Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV): causes painful sores or blisters.

Trichomoniasis: a parasitic infection causing itching and discharge.

According to the World Health Organization, over 1 million STIs are acquired every day globally, and more than 60 percent of these infections occur in people under the age of 25. In Ghana, recent studies show that many adolescent girls lack knowledge about STI symptoms, transmission modes and treatment options. This puts them at high risk for long-term reproductive health complications.

If left untreated, many STIs can cause: Infertility, Ectopic pregnancies, Chronic pelvic pain, Increased risk of HIV, Cervical cancer (especially from high-risk HPV strains).

In many African countries, especially Ghana, talking about sex – mostly with girls – is still considered taboo. As a result, young women grow up afraid to ask questions, ashamed to seek care and unaware of how to protect themselves. This silence is dangerous. It leads to late diagnoses, untreated infections and avoidable suffering.

What can be done?

Comprehensive sexuality education
We must go beyond abstinence-only messages. Girls must learn how infections happen, how to prevent them (through condoms and vaccines like the HPV vaccine), and where to go for treatment.

Youth-friendly health services
Clinics and health workers must create environments where adolescents can seek care without judgment or fear of exposure.

Parental and community involvement
Parents and guardians must be encouraged to talk openly and age-appropriately with their children. Silence does not protect them — knowledge does.

STIs are preventable, treatable and, in many cases, curable. But only if we talk about them; only if we equip our girls with accurate information and the confidence to protect their health.

Let us replace shame with knowledge; and silence with open, informed dialogue.
Every girl deserves the right to know because what she doesn’t know can harm her future.