The Center for Communicable Diseases and Prevention (CDC) estimates that there
are nearly 20 million new sexually transmitted infections every year in the U.S.,
with half occurring among young people ages 15 to 24. HPV
(human papillomavirus) and chlamydia are among the most frequently newly diagnosed
STI in the U.S.80 81 82 HSV-2 (herpes simplex virus) is estimated to infect
more than 45 million individuals (15.3%) living in the United States ages 14 to 49
years.83 Both young men and young women are greatly affected by STIs, but young
women face the most severe long-term health consequences. The CDC estimates
that undiagnosed STIs cause 24,000 U.S. women to become infertile each year.84
STIs are estimated to cause nearly $16 billion in U.S. health care costs each year.

2017 Incidence of Sexually Transmitted Infections in the U.S.
Chlamydia 1,708,569
Gonorrhea 555,608
HIV 38,739
Syphilis (primary and secondary) 30,644
Hepatitis B (HBV) 20,900
Hepatitis C (HCV) 41,200
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) 14 million

According to the WHO:

• Worldwide, more than 1 million sexually transmitted infections (STIs) occur
every day.
• Mother-to-child transmission of STIs can cause stillbirth, neonatal death,
low-birth-weight and prematurity, sepsis, pneumonia, neonatal conjunctivitis,
and congenital deformities.
• HPV infection worldwide causes 570,000 cases of cervical cancer and 300,000
cervical cancer deaths each year. Most of these cases occur in developing
countries that do not have adequate availability of Pap smear cervical cancer
screening and care.
• Some STIs can increase the risk of HIV acquisition three-fold or more.
• STIs such as gonorrhea and chlamydia are major causes of pelvic inflammatory
disease, ectopic pregnancies, and other adverse pregnancy outcomes and
infertility.
• Adolescents, young adults, and marginalized, vulnerable populations, such as
sex workers, men who have sex with men, people who inject drugs, prison
inmates, and mobile communities have the highest rates of STIs.

This blog presents opinions and ideas and is intended to provide helpful general information. I am not engaged in rendering advice or services to the individual reader. The ideas, procedures and suggestions in that are presented are not in any way a substitute for the advice and care of the reader’s own physician or other medical professional based on the reader’s own individual conditions, symptoms or concerns. If the reader needs personal medical, health, dietary, exercise or other assistance or advice the reader should consult a physician and/or other qualified health professionals. The author specifically disclaims all responsibility for any injury, damage or loss that the reader may incur as a direct or indirect consequence of following any directions or suggestions given in this blog or participating in any programs described in this blog or in the book, The Building Blocks of Health––How to Optimize Your Health with a Lifestyle Checklist (available in print or downloaded at Amazon, Apple, Barnes and Noble and elsewhere). Copyright 2021 by J. Joseph Speidel.