Sexual Semantics: STDs vs. STIs—which is it?
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are, in essence, the same thing. There has been a shift towards using the term STI because there are fewer stigmas attached with having an infection than with having a disease. It may be more accurate as well, since many STIs are infections that can be cleared with treatment and do not lead to long term disease. They are often used interchangeably.
