STI Awareness Week is April 14–20
From Poz online….
STI Awareness Week, observed April 14–20 this year, raises awareness about how sexually transmitted infections (STIs) impact people’s lives. It also highlights the importance of reducing the stigma, fear, and discrimination associated with STIs and ensuring people have the appropriate tools and knowledge regarding the prevention, testing, and treatment of STIs.
The latest CDC data show that more than 2.5 million cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis were reported in the United States in 2022. Data about the syphilis epidemic is especially concerning because syphilis cases have reached the highest numbers since the 1950s. According to the CDC, 207,255 total syphilis cases were reported in the United States in 2022, representing an 80% increase since 2018, and more than 3,700 cases of congenital syphilis among newborns were documented by the CDC in 2022. If syphilis is not treated, it can seriously damage the heart and brain and can cause blindness, deafness, and paralysis. While the syphilis epidemic grew worse, reported chlamydia cases were level, and the number of gonorrhea cases fell for the first time in at least a decade. Although gonorrhea declined, this finding may suggest the need for an even closer look at public health efforts and greater prevention strategies, including those that improve access to STI testing and treatment.
To find local STI testing locations (most are free), you can search by zip code at https://gettested.cdc.gov/. You can also go to our Testing and Prevention page for more resources.