Sex Infections Found in Quarter of Teenage Girls

The first national study of four common sexually transmitted diseases among girls and young women has found that one in four are infected with at least one of the diseases, federal health officials reported Tuesday.
Nearly half the African-Americans in the study of teenagers ages 14 to 19 were infected with at least one of the diseases monitored in the study — human papillomavirus (HPV), chlamydia, genital herpes and trichomoniasis, a common parasite.
The 50 percent figure compared with 20 percent of white teenagers, health officials and researchers said at a news conference at a scientific meeting in Chicago.

CDC: Blacks, gays at high risk for HIV infections

Young black gay men, black women and white gay men in their 30s and 40s are much more likely to be newly infected with HIV than other groups in the United States, according to a new analysis from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The analysis -- based on figures showing that the HIV infection rate for 2006 is much worse than previously thought -- looks at the number of new HIV infections and who gets them. The study appears in this week's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
It shows 53 percent of the estimated 56,000 cases of new HIV infection in 2006 were among gay and bisexual men, and 46 percent of the infections occurred among blacks. Within the gay and bisexual group, young black men (13 to 29 years old ) were roughly twice as likely to get infected as young white and young Hispanic men. And among women, black women were almost 15 times more likely to get HIV than white women and almost four times more likely than Hispanic women.

Got unhappy STD news? Break it with an e-card

Breaking up over e-mail is a social no-no.
But sending an e-card telling someone to get tested for STDs may be a public health courtesy.
Since 2004, a free Web site, inSpot.org has allowed users to anonymously notify their partners to get tested for STDs such as HIV, gonorrhea, chlamydia and syphilis.
It may not be the most personal way of delivering the news, but researchers say it beats not saying anything at all.
"When you weigh the importance of getting people notified, that's ultimately what needs to be done," said Jeffrey D. Klausner, director of STD Prevention and Control Services in San Francisco, California's Department of Public Health. "By notifying them -- even if it's done anonymously, even distantly, even with an e-card -- the benefits of getting someone diagnosed and treated outweigh the concerns of insensitivity."

When STDs lead to infertility

Doctors don't have to tell 18-year-old "Rose" (who doesn't want to reveal her real name) the importance of using a condom every time she has sex.
"There really is a limit to how much you can trust somebody," the young woman said.
At 14, Rose contracted two sexually transmitted diseases: gonorrhea and chlamydia. She said she got the STDs from her first boyfriend.
"We used condoms at first. Then, me being naïve, we stopped," Rose recalled. "I thought he was only having sex with me."
The STDs went untreated and eventually developed into pelvic inflammatory disease, or PID, a condition that can lead to infertility.
Dr. John Douglas, director of the Centers for Disease Control's Division of STD Prevention, called infertility a "down-the-road concern" for many teens.

No Drop in Incidence of Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Educational campaigns have failed to reduce the incidence of sexually transmitted diseases(STDs). Some 14,000 cases of chlamydia are reported annually. This is in addition to between 100 to 200 new cases of gonorrhoea, syphilis and HIV every year.
The incidence of syphilis is higher than three years ago. Eija Järviö, Director of the Prevention and Education Sector of the Finnish AIDS Support Centre is concerned about the problem.

With STD's on the rise, the advice is: get tested

The U.S. has the highest rate of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) in the industrialized world, with more than 65 million people infected. 19 million new cases of STDs are diagnosed every year. 1 in 4 teens contracts an STD each year.n 1 in 2 sexually active persons will contract an STD by age 25. More than $15.3 billion is spent each year to diagnose and treat STDs, excluding HIV. Nearly 1.2 million people are estimated to have HIV, and 25 percent are unaware of their infection. 50 percent of the population will likely have an STD at some point in their lifetime. STDs and HIV are preventable. To read the complete story see Saturday's Republican-American or our electronic edition at http://republicanamerican.ct.newsmemory.com.

STDs still on the rise, report says

ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- In spite of prevention efforts, new cases of some of the most common sexually transmitted diseases are going up, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The report, "Sexually Transmitted Disease Surveillance 2007," also said that women and minorities in particular are more likely to have sexually transmitted diseases, or STDs.

That fact isn't surprising, experts say, as studies on STDs in the past have also shown that women and minorities bear the greatest burden of STDs. The age of those affected hasn't changed much either -- nearly 19 million new sexually transmitted infections occur each year, and almost half of those affect 15- to 24-year-olds.

Chlamydia: A Silent Epidemic

(CBS) A new study has uncovered alarming information about the most common sexually transmitted disease in the United States that doctors are calling "the silent epidemic."There are 4 million new cases of chlamydia each year. Researchers reported in a recent issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association that, out of 300 sexually active girls between ages 12 to 19, more than one fourth tested positive for the disease.

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Sexually Spread Diseases Up, Better Testing Cited

(AP) Sexually spread diseases _ for years on the decline _ are on the rise, with reported chlamydia cases setting a record, government health officials said Tuesday.The increase in chlamydia, a sometimes symptomless infection that can lead to infertility in women, is likely because of better screening, experts said. In 2007, there were 1.1 million cases, the most ever reported, said officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Thousands of women become infertile each year because of untreated chlamydia and gonorrhea infections, said Dr. John M. Douglas Jr., director of the CDC's Division of STD Prevention.

Nationwide STD testing campaign launching in SC

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — A group in South Carolina is taking part in a nationwide effort to have young people tested and treated for sexually transmitted diseases.
Planned Parenthood plans a news conference in Charleston Tuesday to help kick off the effort, being mounted nationwide with the help of MTV and the Kaiser Family Foundation
The campaign is designed to encourage testing and treatment for STDs in young people under 25.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, South Carolina ranks third nationally in the rate of gonorrhea, 12th for syphilis and 10th for AIDS.

Fewer than half of U.S. women screened for chlamydia

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Fewer than half of vulnerable U.S. women are being screened for chlamydia, a common sexually transmitted disease that often causes few symptoms but can lead to infertility, researchers reported on Thursday.
Screening rates have spiked up from 25 percent in 2000 to nearly 42 percent in 2007, but that is still far too few women being screened, the team at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported.

Spermicide Ineffective Against STDs

The most commonly used spermicide might be an effective barrier against semen, but is no match for sexually transmitted diseases, new research has determined.
A study published in this week's Journal of the American Medical Association finds that nonoxynol-9 is ineffective in preventing the transmission of gonorrhea and chlamydia.

When STDs lead to infertility

ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- Doctors don't have to tell 18-year-old "Rose" (who doesn't want to reveal her real name) the importance of using a condom every time she has sex.
"There really is a limit to how much you can trust somebody," the young woman said.
At 14, Rose contracted two sexually transmitted diseases: gonorrhea and chlamydia. She said she got the STDs from her first boyfriend. "We used condoms at first. Then, me being naïve, we stopped," Rose recalled. "I thought he was only having sex with me."The STDs went untreated and eventually developed into pelvic inflammatory disease, or PID, a condition that can lead to infertility. Dr. John Douglas, director of the Centers for Disease Control's Division of STD Prevention, called infertility a "down-the-road concern" for many teens.

Importance of STD Testing

Chlamydia, Syphilis and Gonorrhea are some of the diseases which have affected a large number of people in recent history. These sexually transmitted diseases chiefly affect people who do not have a safe sex life. A person who has any of the symptoms of these diseases should contact a doctor immediately and go for STD Testing. One can get completely cured if they start treatment of the disease at an early stage. A person should avoid having sex at this time as it can be transmitted to the partner.

The best way to prevent STDs is by having safe sex. You should always try to be monogamous so that they can prevent any kind of sexually transmitted diseases. A person who has a sexually transmitted disease should also have their partner tested immediately. There are several STD Testing Centers throughout the United States that a person can visit. If a person has any doubts with the results of the tests, they can be tested for a second time to confirm the results. You can find several clinics which provide complete testing for all STDs and can get the advice of their counselors to get treatment for these diseases.

In many cases it has been found that people do not go for STD testing because they do not have symptoms of the disease. A person who is engaged in unsafe sex should immediately go for STD tests even if they do not have any symptoms of the disease. You should not hesitate to visit the doctor as it can prove fatal at the later stages of some of the diseases. People generally do not want to reveal having this kind of disease, and so they avoid going for test. You can get the help of services which keep the reports of their patients confidential. This way, you can receive important information about your STD without having to talk with someone in person.

Experts have done a lot of research to find out more about these diseases. The research has found that nearly seventy five percent of the people suffering from any kind of sexually transmitted disease did not show the symptoms of the diseases. They did not know they had an STD until they had visited the STD Testing Clinics and been tested for the diseases. People who have bacterial STDs get cured after proper medication but the people who have viral STDs cannot be cured completely. Researches are in progress to find cure of viral STDs. However, patients who have been found to have a viral STD at an early stage can easily control the disease with proper treatment. Diagnosis of any STD is important at an early stage. It is very important that if you are not having safe sex, you should go for a test immediately.

There are several clinics across the nation where you can go for STD Testing. A person who wants to have a Confidential STD Testing can visit this website of www.safelabcentre.com. They have facilities for the testing of these diseases and can help give people proper information about these diseases.

Knowing about STDs and the ways to fight them

There are a number of people who get afflicted with sexually transmitted diseases or STDs, but feel ashamed or embarrassed to admit the truth. It has often been seen that people afflicted with STDs hide their diseases for long periods to evade feeling humiliated. However, this may lead to the formation of severe diseases later. It is essential for a person to get the disease treated at a STD Testing Center.

Sexually transmitted diseases are mostly caused by having sex without protection with a carrier of the disease. Those who are polygamous by nature and have unprotected, penetrative sex with their partners are more likely to acquire STD. However it has also been observed in some cases that some STDs can get transmitted by blood transfusion and contact with bodily fluids like semen.

For instance, the HIV virus can be transmitted through blood transfusion along with sexual intercourse. It leads to the development of AIDS, a syndrome that destroys the immune system of the body. While some STDs have well known symptoms, there are others that have less visible signs. One such example is Gonorrhea. This disease often remains unnoticed in both men and women for a long time. However, it can lead to pregnancy related problems and infertility in women.

Getting rid of a STDs is difficult. The first thing a person needs to do is gather important STD information and study ways to avoid them. One needs to keep in mind that STDs can have life threatening consequences. You should not be ashamed in pursuing knowledge on the subject. One can search the web for finding information on various types of STDs and their possible treatments.

There are some sites that offer STD information along with counseling services online. They are ideal for those people who are worried about their privacy. If one is searching for a one stop solution for resources and assistance for STDs online, he can count on the website safelabcentre.com. This site offers the option for Confidential STD Testing. They are a leader in effective and quick STD testing. Its counselors are trained to deal with any situation in a safe, caring and confidential manner.

You can dial the toll free number of the site for setting up an appointment date. If you suspect that you are getting the symptoms of any STD you should stop having sex with anyone for some time and contact the representatives of safelabcentre.com. They offer testing for diseases such as Chlamydia, Syphilis and Gonorrhea.
The centre has veterans in the field of STDs. They care about the need of privacy for the clients. The customers can pay by credit and debit cards. The results are given by means of e-mail and telephone.

Hepatitis C (HCV) Statistics

Did you know a person can have hepatitis C for 10-20 years without having signs of serious complications, but the hepatitis C virus can still cause serious liver damage. Hepatitis C is the number one cause of liver transplants in the U.S. Hepatitis C is four times more common than HIV in the United States. An estimated 2% (about 4.6 million people) have hepatitis C in the United States. Approximately 8,000-12,000 deaths are attributed to hepatitis C each year.
In one study hepatitis C was found in 85-100% of I.V. drug users. In some studies 40% of cases of chronic hepatits C have no identifiable risk. It is estimated that only 25-30% of new hepatitis C infections are tested and identified. 85% of those infected with hepatitis C will be chronic carriers. 15% will overcome the infection. 4% of hepatitis C infections are from men who have sex with men

Syphilis Statistics

Did you know 1/3 of untreated persons will show damage to their organs many years later in the tertiary stage of syphilis. Without treatment 30% of people will die of complications due to syphilis after being infected for 15-20 years. A person who has sexual intercourse with someone who has active syphilis lesions has a 30% chance of becoming infected. Women infected with syphilis have a higher risk of miscarriage. Approximately 50,000 people are diagnosed with syphilis each year. Only 20% of women with syphilis will carry a baby to full term and deliver a healthy baby. About 1 out of 1,000 children born in the United States are born with syphilis. Between 14-36% of people who are HIV positive are infected with syphilis. Primary and secondary stages of syphilis are highest among women 20-29 and men 35-39. Syphilis is called "The Great Mimic" because its symptoms can imitate those of other diseases.

Hepatitis B Statistics

Did you know, In 1990 25% of new hepatitis B cases occur through heterosexual contact. Mothers with chronic hepatitis B have more than an 80% chance of infecting unborn children. 30% of injectable drug users are infected with hepatitis B. About 1% of those with symptoms of acute hepatitis B progress to liver failure. Approximately 10% of the population in the U.S. show evidence of infection with hepatitis B on a blood test. About 15-20% of those infected hepatitis B develop joint aches and a slightly raised rash. About 95% of the population will overcome hepatitis B on their own. About 5% of people infected with hepatitis B go on to become chronic carriers. The fastest growing group of people infected with hepatitis B are heterosexuals. 21% of heterosexuals with more than five sexual partners within the last 4 months had hepatitis B. 10% of those infected with hepatitis B are men who have sex with men.

Herpes Simplex 1 & 2 Statistics

Did you know it's estimated that 20-25% of adults have genital herpes caused by either type 1 or type 2 herpes. 30-40% of primary infections of genital herpes are asymptomatic. Herpes is one of the most commonly transmitted STDs in the United States. 45 million adults over the age of 15 have genital herpes from herpes type 2. There are about 500,000 new herpes infections in the United States each year. 70% of adults have been exposed to herpes 1 by the age of 40. Genital herpes is more common in women then men.