STI Awareness Week - April 9–15
Having a sexually transmitted illness (STI) is extremely common. In fact, more than half of Americans will experience a STI in their lifetime. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that, at any given time, one in five adults in the United States has an STI. However, despite their ubiquity, there is still a stigma surrounding STIs and the critical discussions about sexual health that can lead to a reduction in STIs. Public health communicators have an imperative to communicate critical sexual health information, and everyone in the general public stands to benefit from knowing more about STIs and their impact.
In honor of STI Awareness week, which is April 9–15, 2023, here’s what you need to know about STIs and how to get checked.
Who’s Most Likely to Be Impacted by an STI?
Anyone who is sexually active can get an STI. However, you’re more likely to contract an STI if you’re between the ages of 15 and 24 years old. In fact, the CDC estimates that more than half of new infections in a recent year occurred within this age group. However, anyone of any age, gender, or sexual orientation can get an STI.
The Impact of STIs Can Extend Beyond a Current Infection
Having a sexually transmitted infection can cause uncomfortable symptoms, such as itching, burning with urination, discharge, foul-smelling odors, or rashes. Many STIs can be fully cured, and these symptoms will go away with treatment. However, even after an STI has been treated, it can cause residual problems, such as making it harder to get pregnant in the future. Some STIs can even increase your risk of developing cancer.
You May Not Realize That You Have an STI
It’s hard to miss the signs of an STI when they are uncomfortable or visible. However, many STIs have no symptoms at all. For example, human papillomavirus (HPV), the most common STI, often has no symptoms in women or men. The only way to know if you have some STIs is to get tested. Identifying an asymptomatic infection, and getting treated, can help minimize any long-term health consequences from the infection.
How to Get Checked for an STI
Getting tested for an STI is an important way to safeguard your health and the health of your sexual partners. You have many options available for STI testing. You may be able to get tested over the phone, through a walk-in visit, at a pharmacy, or even from home.
What STI Tests Are Recommended?
If you’re having symptoms of an STI, you should be seen and evaluated by a medical professional who can determine which tests you need based on your present symptoms.
Beyond testing during an acute STI flare, the CDC recommends that everyone ages 13 to 64 get tested at least once for HIV via a blood test. It also recommends that all women younger than 25 who are sexually active get tested for gonorrhea and chlamydia yearly. The same applies to women who are older than 25 years and have new or multiple sex partners.
If you’re pregnant, you should get checked for STIs, as some of these infections can threaten your pregnancy or the health of your unborn child. If you are gay, bisexual, or a man who has sex with men, and you are sexually active, the CDC recommends yearly testing for syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and HIV.
How to Prevent an STI
You are not predestined to contract an STI if you are a sexually active person. Using condoms the right way every time can greatly lower your chances of getting an STI. You can also lower your chances by limiting your number of partners, getting the HPV vaccine, and having a good line of communication and frequent testing with your sexual partners. To learn more about how to prevent sexually transmitted diseases, check out this site from the CDC.
How to Learn More About STI Awareness Week
Promoting STI Awareness week can help spread the word about the importance of routine STI testing for everyone. The CDC has produced a number of campaigns to help get the word out about STIs and reduce stigmas surrounding STI prevention, detection, and treatment. You can check out these campaign materials and more here.
Research and materials for this article were compiled, written, and distributed on behalf of the National Public Health Information Coalition. The views and opinions expressed in this blog are those of the various authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the National Public Health Information Coalition or its members.
Sources
[1] Public Knowledge and Attitudes About Sexually Transmitted Infections: KFF Polling and Policy Insights. https://www.kff.org/womens-health-policy/issue-brief/public-knowledge-and-attitudes-about-sexually-transmitted-infections/
[2] CDC estimates 1 in 5 people in the U.S. have a sexually transmitted infection. https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2021/p0125-sexualy-transmitted-infection.html
[3] Know the facts. https://www.cdc.gov/std/saw/gyt/knowthefacts.htm
[4] Human papillomavirus (HPV). https://health.mo.gov/living/healthcondiseases/communicable/stds/hpv.php#:~:text=What%20is%20HPV%3F,many%20different%20types%20of%20HPV.
[5] How to get yourself tested. https://www.cdc.gov/std/saw/gyt/howtoGYT.htm
[6] The lowdown on how to prevent sexually transmitted diseases. https://www.cdc.gov/std/prevention/lowdown/index.html