April is STD Awareness Month

In honor of STD Awareness Month, sponsored by the American Social Health Association (ASHA) and the National Coalition of STD Directors (NCSD), your favorite women’s health blog is going to talk about some of the most common sexually transmitted diseases and infections over the last few days of April. But first, here’s a little background on this particular health observance from the ASHA:

There are nearly 19 million new cases of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in the U.S. each year, but obvious symptoms often don’t develop and many people who contract an STD are unaware they and there partners are at risk. With this in mind the American Social Health Association (ASHA) and National Coalition of STD Directors (NCSD) recognize April as National STD Awareness Month, and emphasize testing as a key component for sexual health.

…While STDs are common across all groups, young people are hit especially hard: Approximately half of all new STDs occur in youth ages 15-24 and a recent study presented by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that 1 in 4 girls and young women between the ages of14 and 19 have at least one of the more common STDs. “It’s fine to talk about abstinence, but we need to face the reality that most individuals are sexually active prior to marriage, and our current approach of abstinence only education for young people clearly isn’t working. Teens need accurate information, and research clearly shows comprehensive approaches to sex education that include both abstinence and safer sex messages work in promoting responsible, healthy behaviors.” (source)

What would you like to know about STDs? Leave a comment.

Round-up of STD Awareness Month Posts at Lively Women:

• STD Awareness Month: Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
• STD Awareness Month: Chlamydia
• STD Awareness Month: Gonorrhea (aka “The Clap”)
• STD Awareness Month: Genital Herpes
• Wrapping Up STD Awareness Month With Human Papillomavirus (HPV) — Guest Post by Marijke Vroomen-Durning, RN

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