Since the Institute of Medicine produced it’s summary report on STDs while meeting in Washington D.C. in 1997, STDs have often been called “hidden epidemics of enormous health and economic consequences”. As the study indicated, there is a steady reluctance to talk about them openly, just as there is with any type of sexual health issue. As one can imagine, the disastrous results of any issue with enormous consequences can only be magnified when there are so many people who refuse to even acknowledge it as an issue. If efforts to quell the rising tide of STD infections are going to succeed, then a many-sided approach will be necessary, starting with a prefatory understanding of the many issues in play.

Who do STD infections affect? – One reason why STD prevention is not a popular topic is due to the fact that most people think of it as an personal issue. They firmly believe that only those people engaging in risky behaviors or those already infected have a vested interest. What they don’t realize is that there is also an indirect affect upon us as a community, regardless of whether or not we or someone we know is infected. Long-term medical consequences, complications with pregnancies, and medical care for the uninsured are just a few of the ways that all of us are affected by this epidemic.

Why is this considered a “hidden” issue? – As discussed in the opening paragraph, our society, for one reason or another, continues to resist the need to discuss any topics that touch upon sexual health and openness. It can be an uneasy topic to touch upon as a social issue, and it may also be that our biological makeup creates a natural inhibition. However, another reason for its hidden nature is the behavior of STDs themselves.It is common for most STD infections that no symptoms or signs are apparent at all. Chlamydia, for example, can be completely symptom free in half of infected men, and for women that figure can go up to a staggering seventy-five percent. HIV, the virus that can cause AIDS, can lie undetected for years depending upon the strength of one’s immune system, and genital herpes may show up only sporadically for those infected. When there are signs of an STD, far too often those symptoms are the same as many common medical conditions, such as a flu or common cold. It’s for this reason that Syphilis has been called “the great imitator”. In a society that has become used to performing self diagnosis using the internet, it’s easy for those at risk to dissuade themselves from taking any action when they feel that no action is necessary.

What can we do to help? – Successful prevention of STD transmissions will require open dialogue and communication. We need to be open to acknowledging this growing threat to our society, and to not apply any negative stigmas or stereotypes to those seeking help and information. Anyone who is sexually active should make regular STD testing and HIV testing a part of their sexual health plan, and those responsible actions need to be supported by those who may not be active themselves. Instead of frowning upon someone seeking out an STD testing center, we should applaud and support them for helping quell the growth of what surely affects us all. Whether we like it or not, we are all affected by other people’s actions, and in this case, inactions as well.Want to read more from Andrew M. Gibson? You can find him on facebook, or check out his blog at www.stdtestingservices.com. There you can also learn more about std testing and how to find std testing centers.