What Is The Prevalence Rate Of Common STDs?

Are you curious about the prevalence of STDs (sexually transmitted diseases) in the world today? You're not alone! 

The prevalence rate of several STDs is increasing at an alarming rate, according to the CDC.¹ Yet, the majority of young adults are only aware of HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) and have little knowledge about testing and treatment of other common STDs.²

In this blog, we're going to take a closer look at the increase in cases of some of the most common STDs out there, including chlamydia, gonorrhoea, and HPV. But first, let’s understand what STDs are clearly.

What Are STDs?

Sexually transmitted diseases or STDs are infections that are passed from one affected person to another via oral, anal, or vaginal sex.³ The sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are considered to be STDs only when they start exhibiting symptoms. In addition, some diseases like herpes and Human papillomavirus (HPV) can also spread through intimate skin-to-skin contact.^4,5 Most common STDs are caused by microorganisms like bacteria, viruses, and parasites.⁶

Many common STDs do not show noticeable symptoms for a long time, making prevention and testing necessary to curb their spread among sexually active individuals.⁷ Not just that, if these asymptomatic STDs go untreated, they can often result in severe reproductive complications like endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) or even infertility in the long run.⁸

How Common Are STDs?

Over a million STIs are acquired every single day all around the world!⁹ Let’s have a look at some of the data that highlights how common STDs are across the globe:^{4, 9, 10}

In addition to these numbers, there are several STD cases that go unreported due to stigmatisation of such topics. These statistics clearly indicate the need for awareness and an open discussion on these conditions' prevention, testing, and treatment.

How Can You Prevent STDs?

While such a high prevalence of common STDs is quite concerning, it is possible to control the transmission if you take the necessary precautions.

You can try to steer clear of such infections by following these preventative practices religiously:

1. Always Use A Condom

These infections are usually transferred when you come in contact with the bodily fluids secreted by an affected individual. Therefore, experts recommend using protective barriers to prevent the exchange of fluids, thereby avoiding STDs.

You should use a male latex condom consistently and correctly every time you have anal, vaginal, or oral sex.¹¹ In addition, dental dams (a square, thin piece of stretchy latex) are also recommended for women during oral sex to further diminish the risk of spreading STDs.¹²

2. Maintain A Mutually Monogamous Relationship

Abstinence is the only way that guarantees that you do not encounter any STDs. However, you can also try to maintain a mutually monogamous relationship with an unaffected partner. You need to have an open and honest conversation with your partner and get an STD test to be certain that neither of you is infected.¹³

3. Do Not Ignore Any Symptoms

Most STIs do not cause any symptoms or may only result in some mild symptoms. However, if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms there are chances that you have acquired a STD and it is best to get tested and consult a doctor as soon as possible.

Common symptoms of STDs include:⁶

• Warts in the genital region
• Abnormal discharge from the vagina or penis
• Itching, soreness, or redness in the genital areas
• Painful urination
• Abdominal pain and fever
• Unusual vaginal odour

4. Get Vaccinated

Currently, you can avail preventative vaccines for two viral STDs - HPV and Hepatitis B. You can discuss these options with your doctor and seek these vaccinations at the earliest. That’s because viral STDs like HPV can have some serious complications like cervical cancer down the line.⁹

Scientists are also working on vaccines for other viral STDs like genital herpes and HIV and there are several candidates in early clinical development. You should keep an eye out for vaccines against such common STDs to prevent any severe consequences in the long run.⁹

5. Take A STD Test

The final but most important preventative measure for sexually active individuals is to get tested for all the common STDs every once in a while. A majority of these infections are asymptomatic or have very non-specific symptoms and can often go undetected.⁹ Early detection and prompt treatment can help you avoid complications like infertility, cervical cancer, endometriosis or PID. 

In A Nutshell

STDs have been a rising concern for the healthcare industry for quite some time now. Approximately, 6% of the adult Indian population are affected with sexually transmitted infections.¹⁴ However, the social stigma around STDs often becomes the barrier between seeking the proper test and treatment for the same. This adds fuel to the fire and the infections keep spreading around.

Making sure that you and your partner get tested for common STDs can be the first step in the right direction. This will help you take charge of your reproductive health and get rid of the STDs at the early stages with the right treatment.