Introduction
Welcome to our website about STDs. These pages were created as a collaborative effort by science teachers taking part in the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's OMST program. On this site you will find information about sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), also known as sexually transmitted infections (STIs). "Disease" makes people think of obvious, visible problems, but these particular conditions often have no visible signs or symptoms, so "infection" is probably a better term. These infections, caused by a variety of bacteria and viruses, spread through various forms of sexual contact. STD/STIs can spread very easily and young people are typically hit very hard by them, so it's important to know the facts!
Thanks for visiting our site to learn more!
T.J., Molly, Shelly, Isaac, Daniel, Sarah, and Jan
Thanks for visiting our site to learn more!
T.J., Molly, Shelly, Isaac, Daniel, Sarah, and Jan
Key Points About Sexually Transmitted Diseases
- An increase in STDs is the result of cuts in financial support for public health clinics. In 2012, 20 health departments closed their doors. There has been not increase in federal funding for STD programs since 2003. (7)
- 15-24 year-olds account for 50% of all new cases of STDs (5)
- An estimated 20% of travelers say that they have had casual sex while in a foreign country.(6)
- For women ages 15 to 44 years, the morbidity and mortality associated with STDs, excluding HIV, is second only to maternal causes. (2)
- STDs disproportionately affect low and middle-income countries. (1)
- More than 1 million STDs are acquired every day worldwide. (8)
- Each year, there are an estimated 357 million new infections world wide, with 1 of 4 STDs: chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and trichomoniasis. (8)
- More than 500 million people are estimated to have genital infection with herpes simplex virus (HSV). (8)
- More than 290 million women have a human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. (8)
- The majority of STDs have no symptoms or only mild symptoms. (8)
- Over 900,000 pregnant women were infected with syphilis resulting in approximately 350,000 adverse birth outcomes including stillbirth in 2012. (8)
- In some cases, STDs can have serious reproductive health consequences beyond the immediate impact of the infection itself (e.g., infertility or mother-to-child transmission) (8)
- Drug resistance, especially for gonorrhea, is a major threat to reducing the impact of STIs worldwide. (8)
- In 2008 there were 20 million new cases, 110 million total cases at a cost of $16 billion in the US. (3)
Video Resources
STD's in the U.S. (Chicago Tribune) New cases of sexually transmitted diseases in the United States reached an all-time high in 2016, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Here are some facts about STD rates. America faces uncontrollable STD epidemic (USA Today) New cases of sexually transmitted diseases in the United States reached an all-time high in 2016. According to UPI, 1.6 million cases of chlamydia, 470,000 cases of gonorrhea and 28,000 of syphilis were reported that year. |
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References
1. Thelancet.com. (2018). Sexually transmitted infections: challenges ahead. [online] Available at: http://www.thelancet.com/commissions/sexually-transmitted-infections [Accessed 20 Feb. 2018].
2. Medscape.org. (2018). Medscape Log In. [online] Available at: https://www.medscape.org/viewarticle/566494 [Accessed 20 Feb. 2018].
3. Npin.cdc.gov. (2018). Incidence, Prevalence, and Cost of Sexually Transmitted Infections in the United States | National Prevention Information Network. [online] Available at: https://npin.cdc.gov/publication/incidence-prevalence-and-cost-sexually-transmitted-infections-united-states [Accessed 20 Feb. 2018].
4. NPR.org. (2018). STD Infections Rise To New Highs After States Close Health Clinics. [online] Available at: https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2016/10/20/498719092/std-infections-rise-to-new-highs-after-states-close-health-clinics [Accessed 20 Feb. 2018].
5. “Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs).” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 16 Jan. 2018, www.cdc.gov/std/.
6.“Travelers' Health.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 26 Apr. 2013, wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/std.
7. USA TODAY. (2018). CDC: 'Alarming' increase in STDs. [online] Available at: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2015/11/18/cdc-alarming-increase-stds/75978596/ [Accessed 20 Feb. 2018].
8. World Health Organization. (2018). Sexually transmitted infections (STIs). [online] Available at: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs110/en/ [Accessed 20 Feb. 2018].
2. Medscape.org. (2018). Medscape Log In. [online] Available at: https://www.medscape.org/viewarticle/566494 [Accessed 20 Feb. 2018].
3. Npin.cdc.gov. (2018). Incidence, Prevalence, and Cost of Sexually Transmitted Infections in the United States | National Prevention Information Network. [online] Available at: https://npin.cdc.gov/publication/incidence-prevalence-and-cost-sexually-transmitted-infections-united-states [Accessed 20 Feb. 2018].
4. NPR.org. (2018). STD Infections Rise To New Highs After States Close Health Clinics. [online] Available at: https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2016/10/20/498719092/std-infections-rise-to-new-highs-after-states-close-health-clinics [Accessed 20 Feb. 2018].
5. “Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs).” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 16 Jan. 2018, www.cdc.gov/std/.
6.“Travelers' Health.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 26 Apr. 2013, wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/std.
7. USA TODAY. (2018). CDC: 'Alarming' increase in STDs. [online] Available at: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2015/11/18/cdc-alarming-increase-stds/75978596/ [Accessed 20 Feb. 2018].
8. World Health Organization. (2018). Sexually transmitted infections (STIs). [online] Available at: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs110/en/ [Accessed 20 Feb. 2018].