Sexually Transmitted Infections Awareness Month 2013

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. - April 4, 2013 - PRLog -- Rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are at epidemic levels in the U.S., and the American Sexual Health Association (ASHA) recognizes April as STI Awareness Month 2013 with a call for greater access to testing and treatment.

Each year in the U.S. there are 20 million new cases of STIs, about half of which occur in young people ages 15-24. ASHA President and CEO Lynn B. Barclay says this is unacceptable and frustrating: “We have effective means of STI prevention but we need to do a better job of using them.” As an example she points to the fact that fewer than half of young women are tested for chlamydia, despite published guidelines calling for annual chlamydia tests for all sexually active females age 25 and under.

Barclay points out that STIs are often overlooked by both patients and healthcare providers for reasons that include misperceptions about who is at risk and discomfort discussing STIs “Bottom line – we should all be aware of sexual health and how to take care of ourselves. STI education and testing should be a routine part of healthcare, especially with young people.”

This is an especially important time in the field of sexual health and STIs, Barclay says, due in no small part to changes in the political landscape. “The coming months and years will see key provisions of the Affordable Care Act (http://www.healthcare.gov/news/factsheets/2010/07/prevent...) (ACA) kick in that cover preventive health services, including testing and counseling for sexually transmitted infections.”

She adds that common, curable STIs like chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis are often “silent” in women, so testing is crucial: “ASHA is updating and expanding the resources we offer for education and support around STIs, with an eye to greater awareness of these infections among patients and professionals alike. A huge focus for us is increasing appropriate use of STI vaccines and testing.”

Visit the STI Resource (http://www.ashastd.org/std-sti/sti-overview.html) Center to see what ASHA offers during STI Awareness Month and throughout the year:  

-Detailed information (http://www.ashastd.org/std-sti/reduce-your-risk.html) on transmission, treatment, testing, prevention, and partners

-ASHA’s blog (http://www.ashastd.org/home/blog.html)

-Just for parents: guide (http://www.ashastd.org/parents/how-to-talk-to-your-kids.html) on talking to your kids about STIs and sexual health

-Health Professionals (http://www.ashastd.org/healthcare-providers/educational-resources.html): Herpes and HPV Toolkits, patient counseling guides, and more

The American Sexual Health Association (ASHA) is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1914 to improve the health of individuals, families, and communities, with a focus on educating about sexual health and preventing sexually transmitted infections.  ASHA’s educational web sites include: www.ashasexualhealth.org, www.iwannaknow.org (teen site), and www.quierosaber.org (Spanish language site).