Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)

A sexually transmitted disease is a disease that is contracted through sexual exposure. It is possible that if you have been sexually active at all, you could be at risk of having an STD. Below is more information about these diseases.

How long have STDs been around?

Before 1980 only the STDs called syphilis and gonorrhea were common. Since 1980 there are at least 25 new STDs that have been identified, including HIV/AIDS. 1

Is there really that big of a risk for me to get an STD?

STDs accounted for 87 percent of all cases among the top ten most frequently reported infections in the U.S. during 1997. Five of the top 10 reportable infectious disease in 1997 were either exclusively or largely transmitted during sex, including the top four (chlamydia, gonorrhea, AIDS and syphilis). 2

How many people are infected with an STD?

The WHO (World Health Organisation) estimates that 340 million new cases of syphilis, gonorrhoea, chlamydia and trichomoniasis occurred throughout the world in 1999 in men and women ages 15-49 years. In general, however, the prevalence of STDs tends to be higher in urban residents, in unmarried individuals, and in yourng adults.

Are teens more at risk for STDs?

Teen girls have a higher rate of chlamydia, a disease that is a common cause of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which can lead to infertility than older women.
At least 10 percent of all sexually active teens are infected with this disease.
Among women, gonorrhea rates are highest among teen girls ages 15-19.
The risk of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is as much as 10 times greater for 15-year-old females than for 24-year-old females. PID can cause sterility (inability to get pregnant). 3

What is HPV?

Human papilloma virus (HPV) is an STD that causes genital warts.
HPV also causes more than 90 percent of all cervical cancer. Cervical cancer takes the lives of about 5,000 American women yearly, and condoms provide almost no protection against HPV.
It is estimated 5.5 million new infections occur each year with at least 20 million people currently infected. 4

What age group is at greatest risk for acquiring an STD?

Adolescents and young adults (15-24) are the age groups at the greatest risk for acquiring an STD. Approximately 2/3rds of all people who get an STDs are under 25. The Centers for Disease Control states that adolescents and young adults are at greater risk for many reasons, including:

They may have less immunity (ability to fight a disease) than adults
They may be more likely to have more than one sex partners
They may be more likely to engage in unprotected intercourse
They may select partners at higher risk
Age at start of sexual activity has decreased while age at first marriage has increased, resulting in more nonmarital sexual experience 5

What about HIV /AIDS? Am I at risk?

An estimated 25% of new HIV infections are found in people under age 22.
An estimated 50% of all new HIV infections occur among people under 25, with the majority being infected by sexual contact with an person carrying the disease. 6
HIV has already spread among Russian prisoners, prostitutes and injection drug users. Now, many teenage girls and young women are among the estimated 1.5 million Russians whith HIV, which results in more children being born with the virus. Until 1997, according to the Federal AIDSf center, only 60 newborns had HIV. In 2003, 6,000 babies tested positive. 7

Which STDs are stopped by using condomns?

Condoms provide the best (though not complete) protection against HIV and gonorrhea.
They are less effective protecting against herpes type 2, trichomonas and chlamydia.
Condoms provide little protection against bacterial vaginosis and HPV (the most common STD). 8

Can STDs be cured?

While medical science has made great advances, the growth of STD infections continue to spread. Chlamydia and gonorrhea can be "cured" with antibiotics, but can leave scars, which often require future treatment and may cause infertility. And certain strains of gonorrhea are becoming increasingly resistant to antibiotics. Viral STDs pose a major problem, because no medical cure has been found for any virus - not even the common cold! This means if a person becomes infected with a viral STD (such as herpes, HPV or HIV) there is no cure. A vaccine for herpes has been rumored for years, but has not yet been produced. Antiviral drugs reduce the number of outbreaks a person with herpes experiences, but they cannot eliminate the outbreaks entirely. A cure, or vaccine, for the HIV virus is probably years away. We do know, however, that even if vaccines or cures for these infections were available today-the STD problem would not be solved. 9

Conclusion

Sexually transmitted diseases are a major global cause of acute illness, infertility, long term disability and death, with severe medical and psychological consequences for millions of men, women and children. The WHO states that "in developing countries, STDs and their complications are amongst the top five disease categories for which adults seek health care. In women of childbearing age, STDs (excluding HIV) are second only to maternal factors as causes of disease, death and healthy life lost." The presence of an untreated STD can also "increase the risk of both acquisition and transmission of HIV by a factor of up to 10." 10

For more information on STDs visit this site: Abstinence.net

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1. Source: Eng TR, Butler WT, eds. The Hidden Epidemic - Confronting Sexually Transmitted Disease. Institute of Medicine. Washington, DC: National Academy Press; 1997.

2. Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Summary of Notifiable Disease, US 1998. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 1999;47(53):1-93.

3. Source: Division of STD Prevention. Sexually Transmitted Disease Surveillance 1999. Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta: Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), September 2000.

4. Source: Westrom L. Incidence, Prevalence, and Trends of Acute Pelvic Inflammatory Disease and Its Consequences in Industrialized Countries. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 1980: 138, 880-92.

5. Source: National Institutes of Health. (April 1-3, 1996). Cervical Cancer: NIH Consensus Development Statement, Online, 43(1), 1-30. Source: American Social Health Association. (1998, December) Sexually Transmitted Disease in America: How Many Cases and at What Cost? Menlo Park, Calif.: Kaiser Family Foundation.

6. Source: Division of STD Prevention. Sexually Transmitted Disease Surveillance 1999. Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta: Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), September 2000.

7. Source: Eng TR, Butler WT, eds. The Institute of Medicine. Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 1997.

8. Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. HIV Prevention Strategic Plan Through 2005. September 2000.

9. Source: New Generation of Russians Ravaged by HIV Epidemic, June 21, 2004. Source: Cates, W. Jr. & Stone, K.M. (1992, March/April). Family Planning, Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Contraceptive Choice: A Literature Update-Part I. Family Planning Perspectives, 24(2), 75-84

10. Source: Medical Institute of Sexual Health, "Frequently Asked Questions"