Fertility Health and Sexual Transmitted Infections
Protect Yourself and Others from STIs
Regular testing and early detection are the best ways to safeguard against sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Why take unnecessary risks?
Background
STIs significantly impact sexual and reproductive health globally, with over one million new infections acquired daily. In 2020, an estimated 374 million new infections occurred with curable bacterial or parasitic STIs, such as syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis. Viral STIs like HPV and herpes affect hundreds of millions worldwide. With the burden being especially great in low-and middle-income countries.
Untreated STIs can lead to serious health problems in both men and women, such as reproductive health issues, pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy, preterm birth, infertility, and other fertility health problems. Many individuals with chlamydia, gonorrhea, or trichomoniasis do not exhibit symptoms. Rapid diagnosis and screening can enhance treatment, reduce complications, and most of all decrease the transmission of STIs, particularly if it is pre-symptomatic.
Easily accessible and rapid diagnosis, addressing core issues of anxiety, accuracy, and privacy with social stigmatism, is needed to improve STI prevention, control, and management.
HPV
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by various strains of the HPV virus. It is the leading cause of cervical cancer and can also cause other types of cancer and genital warts. In the United States, nearly all sexually active individuals will contract HPV at some point in their lives. While there is no cure for HPV, vaccines can prevent the most dangerous strains, and treatments are available for the health problems caused by the virus.
Chlamydia
Chlamydia, caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis, is the most commonly reported bacterial sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the United States. According to the CDC, there were approximately 4 million cases of chlamydia in the U.S. in 2018. Many individuals with chlamydia are asymptomatic.
Gonorrhea
Gonorrhea, caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae, is the second most commonly reported bacterial sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the United States. According to the CDC, there were approximately 1.6 million new cases of gonorrhea in the U.S. in 2018. Many individuals with gonorrhea are asymptomatic.
Genital Herpes
Herpes, caused by Herpes simplex virus type 1 and Herpes simplex virus type 2, is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI) and the leading cause of genital ulcer disease. In the United States, more than 12% of individuals aged 14-49 are infected with genital herpes. Genital herpes is a chronic, lifelong viral infection. While there is no cure for genital herpes, medication can help reduce symptoms and lower the risk of transmission to others.