Spring is here and April is just around the corner. This marks the beginning of an important national observance STD Awareness Month.
The Center for Disease Control created the observance to promote education and push people that are active to get tested. It’s recommended that people get std testing yearly.
Rates in the U.S. are unfortunately high, at an estimated 19 million newly infected people every year. Within these people almost half of them are between the ages of 15 and 24. Staggering statistics when you think about it.
Some STDs are treatable, but can be quite harmful if not treated properly and within a certain time frame. Chlamydia is one of the most common infections in the U.S. with 1,412,791 reported in 2011, but CDC estimates put the actual number at almost 3 million source. The reason the estimate number is much higher than the reported number is because many people that are infected are unaware. Syphilis is another infection that isn’t quite as common anymore, but has serious side effects if not found and treated in a timely manner including death.
Other STDs often do show symptoms, but aren’t routinely tested for when getting screened. Which I know is absurd, but true. These include HPV and HSV-2. If you notice something out of the ordinary or feel pain you should seek medical attention immediately to lower your chance of long-term problems.
With these reasons in mind, the CDC recommends that people get tested yearly, use protection and get educated about common symptoms associated with infections.
You can find places to get tested in your area for free here.
