Why Should Prevention of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) Be a Priority?

Some points to make with your elected officials:

• The United States has the highest rate of STIs in the industrialized world.
  • One in four Americans will acquire an STI during his/her lifetime.
  • More than 15 million Americans are infected with an STI each year.

• STIs take a particular toll on women, adolescents and newborns.
  • Because of their anatomy, women are more likely to get an STI and less likely to notice symptoms than men are.
  • Untreated STIs can cause pelvic inflammatory disease, life-threatening ectopic pregnancy, cervical cancer and infertility.
  • Two-thirds of all new STI infections in the United States each year are in people under 25 and one-fourth are in teenagers.
  • Teens are at high risk for STIs in part because of immature immune systems.
  • Infants born to infected mothers are subject to premature delivery, pneumonia, eye infections and even death.

• Persons with a pre-existing STI have a three to five fold increased risk of acquiring HIV/AIDS.
  • AIDS is the number one cause of death among people 25 to 44.
  • Women are the fastest growing group infected with HIV.
  • While there is no vaccine or cure for AIDS, we can prevent and cure many of the STIs that increase the risk of acquiring HIV/AIDS.

• Spending scarce public resources on STI prevention is cost effective.
  • The annual medical cost of treating the consequences of STIs in the United States is over $7 billion.
  • The cost of screening and treatment programs would be far less than the cost of untreated STIs and their long-term consequences. For example, every $1 spent on chlamydia control saves $12 in future healthcare expenditures.

Guide to educating Congress on about STI programs