STD/STI statistics and need-to-know information to live a healthy life
It is one of the most difficult and uncomfortable topics for most people to discuss – and it is literally ruining millions of lives every day.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 110 million Americans are living with sexually transmitted diseases and infections. For the fifth straight year, STD/STIs have hit a record high – meaning that today, at this very moment, there has never been a higher risk of you or someone you love contracting a sexually transmitted disease or infection. Yet, unlike several other epidemics or outbreaks such as opioids or corona virus, most Americans have no idea of the tremendous impact that sexually transmitted diseases and infections are having on our health, our medical systems, and our average lifespan. Understanding the epidemic, the individuals at risk, and the ways to protect yourself and your loved ones is critical in combating this silent killer.
Elevated Risks
The reality is that sexually active individuals of every age, race, demographic, sexual orientation, or gender-identity is at risk of contracting an STI or STD. The only way to completely eliminate the risk of contracting a sexually transmitted diseases or infections is to practice total abstinence, which is simply not how humans are wired. However, there are a few categories of individuals where the risks are higher or have greater impact. While certain high-risk factors are frequently highlighted in the media (needle users, individuals with several partners, etc.), there are several demographics of high-risk individuals that are frequently overlooked – and the results can be devastating.
Teenagers
CDC reports have shown that teenagers account for 50% of all new STDs – which is only made more concerning when one realizes they only account for a quarter of all sexually active individuals. STDs and STIs are more likely to spread among teenagers for a variety of reasons: Inexperience, lack of access to protective measures such as condoms, and frequently shifting partners. Beyond the basic risks associated with any STI or STD, teenagers who contract sexually transmitted disease have a longer period of sexual activity compared to an individual diagnosed at 45 – thus increasing the likelihood of spreading the infection overtime. Additionally, the longer an infection or disease resides in the body, the more damage it has on the host – leading to devastating long-term impacts and in some cases, shorter lifespan.
Pregnant Women
The risks associated with pregnant women and STDs/STIs are damaging not only to the mother, but the child they are carrying. Since 2014, the number of babies born with Syphilis increased 185%. While there is still new research being conducted to fully understand why there has been a tremendous spike in sexually transmitted disease and infections in pregnant women, one early hypothesis is that women who are with child are less likely to use protection such as condoms. The misconception that condoms and prophylactics are simply methods of birth control leads pregnant women to engage sexually without protection, leaving them vulnerable to disease. Additionally, women who have an STIs prior to pregnancy also present a significant risk to themselves and their child – many of which can be mitigated with proper medical treatment. Unfortunately, the number of women who are unaware of the STD they are infected with prior to becoming pregnant can prevent medical professionals from properly treating mother and child.
Individuals Over 50
Cases of STD/STIs in adults approaching retirement age have been steadily on the increase over the past two decades. With medications that prolong sex drive and performance in the aging population, sexually transmitted diseases and infections have become more prominent. The added danger to being older and contracting an STI or STD can be catastrophic. As aging occurs, humans are more susceptible to disease due to a declining immune system. Additionally, older individuals are less likely to use condoms, drastically increasing the risk of infection.
Steps to Protect Yourself
As the number of infected individuals continues to rise, the need for action is clear. There are several basic steps that you can take to protect yourself and encourage those you care about to do the same.
Get Tested
The first step is knowing whether or not you are currently living with an STD/STI. A shocking number of individuals are unaware they have a sexually transmitted disease, which directly relates to the quiet spread of these infections. Testing can feel overwhelming, but it is simple, inexpensive, and fast. STD/STI tests such as those offered by Test Smartly Labs are convenient to use, involve no long waits, and provide total confidentiality and privacy. An affordable and reliable way to protect yourself, STD tests provided by Test Smartly Labs are recommended yearly for individuals who are sexually active.
Wear Protection
While abstinence is the only 100% fool-proof method of avoiding STD/STIs, using protective products can prevent 98% of all sexually transmitted diseases. Regardless of age, gender, race, or sexual-identity – protecting yourself with items such as condoms or dental dams is an absolute necessity.
Learn to Talk About STIs & STDs
The most dangerous disease is the one that no one acknowledges. It can be uncomfortable and scary to discuss sex and protection with partners, parents, or children. By removing the taboo of sexuality and confronting the crisis at hand, we have a better chance to save lives, improve health, and end the silent epidemic of sexually transmitted diseases and infections.
To learn more about sexually transmitted diseases and infections or to review the shocking statistics associated with STD/STIs, we encourage you to read up on the risks and reality of this epidemic on the CDC website, found here.
For simple, affordable, and confidential STD and STI testing services from Test Smartly Labs, click here.