STD Awareness Month
STD Awareness Month is here, along with the alarming news that sexually-transmitted diseases (STDs) are on the rise. Recent CDC data for three nationally-reported STDs—chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis—show staggering numbers, with cases of all three diseases increasing for the first time since 2006.
Young people ages 15–24, and gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men continue to be at greatest risk for infection. We know that individual risk behaviors aren’t the only cause. Environmental, social, and cultural factors, including high numbers of STD cases in these populations and difficulty accessing quality health care, contribute to the higher STD burden.
The good news? STDs are preventable! There are steps each of us can take to minimize the negative, long-term consequences of these infections. CDC’s STD Awareness Month web pages are filled with resources and guidance for both providers and individuals. If our goal is to prevent STDs, then we need to know how to talk about them, when to test for them, and how to treat them.
