Is There a Difference Between STDs and STIs?

Great question. There’s a bit of confusion about these terms and what exactly they mean. We’re here to clear things up (pun intended).

What is a STD?

STD stands for Sexually Transmitted Disease. This term is probably familiar to most people and is the most common term used. It refers to a set of infections that are transmitted through sexual contact (vaginal, oral, or anal) from one person to another. One of the issues with this term is that many people who have been infected don’t develop the symptoms, so in one sense they are infected but it doesn’t develop into a “disease”. This is dangerous, because they can pass the infection on to others without even knowing they are positive. This situation of being infected without symptoms has led to the use of the term STI.

What is a STI?

STI stands for Sexually Transmitted Infection. This term might not be as familiar and is often used in the medical community to try to clarify that all sexually transmitted infections turn into disease. This term is also used because there can be a stigma associated with STDs, and using STI instead may encourage people to get tested and treated.

So…

STD and STI are basically the same thing and the terms that are terms that can be used interchangeably. With both you have a sexually transmitted infection. You just may not be having symptoms if it’s labeled as a STI. At Collage we chose to use the term STD because it’s the most recognized and widely used way to refer to the collection of infections passed through sexual contact.

If you think you or a partner might have a STD, we offer testing and treatment for both Chlamydia and Gonorrhea at no charge. We’d love to schedule an appointment for you at either our Kearney or Grand Island location. Feel free to give us a call.

For more info on STDs and some of the myths people falsely believe, you might find this blog post helpful.

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Will My Insurance Pay for My Girlfriend's Abortion Pill?

August 11, 2026

If your girlfriend is facing an unexpected pregnancy and considering the abortion pill, you're probably wondering about costs and whether insurance will cover it. Before considering the abortion pill, it’s vital that your girlfriend receives an ultrasound. We offer these at no cost with no insurance necessary. She can schedule a free, confidential appointment online at Collage. Can Your Insurance Cover Her? Health insurance covers the policyholder and enrolled dependents. A girlfriend typically isn't a covered dependent on your plan, which means your insurance generally won't pay for her medical care. The exception is if she's been added to your plan as a domestic partner and your employer allows that. Additionally, you may be able to extend insurance coverage to her after marriage if your policy allows this as a qualifying event. However, the chances of insurance covering an elective abortion are unlikely. What About Her Own Insurance in Nebraska? Under Nebraska law , standard health insurance plans in the state cannot cover elective abortion unless the insured purchases a separate abortion rider. Medicaid in Nebraska covers abortion only in limited circumstances. In most cases, the abortion pill in Nebraska will be an out-of-pocket cost. What She Should Know About the Drug The abortion pill uses two drugs. The first, mifepristone , blocks progesterone, a hormone required to sustain the pregnancy. The second, misoprostol , taken a day or two later, causes the uterus to contract and expel the pregnancy tissue. The FDA approves this drug regimen through 10 weeks of gestation. Nebraska law also requires that the abortion pill be prescribed and administered in person by a physician. Complications can include heavy bleeding, infection , incomplete abortion, and digestive system discomfort. If the drug does not fully end the pregnancy, a follow-up procedure might be required. Getting the Facts First A free ultrasound at Collage confirms your girlfriend’s gestational age, whether the pregnancy is in the uterus, and whether the pregnancy is progressing. An ectopic pregnancy (when the pregnancy implants outside the uterus) requires different medical treatment than abortion, and could be life-threatening if left untreated. An ultrasound can rule out this complication. Schedule a free, confidential appointment at Collage today. Call: 308.234.9880 in Kearney or 308.675.2217 in Grand Island. *All abortion information sourced in this blog is based on accurate information at the time of writing. **Collage does not provide or refer for abortions; however, we do offer pre-abortion screening through our no-cost services.

Young woman thoughtfully learning about the abortion pill before making a pregnancy decision.

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