April is Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Awareness Month. Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) joins the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in bringing attention to this important public health issue.
Nearly 20 million new sexually transmitted infections occur in the United States every year; CDC estimates half of all new STDs in the country occur among young men and women aged 15 to 24 years.
Preliminary 2015 data for Iowa indicate there were more than 12,000 reported cases of chlamydia and 2,200 of gonorrhea. Adolescents and young adults accounted for 65 and 48 percent of those cases, respectively.
The high incidence of STDs in the general population suggests many Iowans are at risk of exposure to STDs, underscoring the need for prevention. Reducing the number of sexual partners and consistent and correct condom use are effective prevention strategies.
Safe, effective vaccines are also available to prevent hepatitis B and some types of the human papillomavirus (HPV).
Regular testing is important because these infections often occur without early symptoms. Early detection and treatment of STDs are essential to protect the health of those infected, and the health of others.
For more information about IDPH's STD program, including statistics and resources, visit http://idph.iowa.gov/hivstdhep/std/resources. Testing locations can be found at https://gettested.cdc.gov/.