The Growing Burden of Sexually Transmitted Infections

By Edward C. Geehr, M.D., Lifescript Chief Medical Officer

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently published two analyses that examine the severe human and economic impact of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the U.S. The CDC estimates that there are 20 million new infections each year that burden the health-care system with nearly $16 billion in medical expenses. (STI is the generally accepted terminology for what was once called an STD, or sexually transmitted disease.) 

Young people, ages 15-24, account for half of all new STIs, even though they represent only 25% of the sexually active population. The number of new infections roughly affects men and women equally. 

The CDC analyzed data from 2008 on eight common STIs, including chlamydia, gonorrhea, hepatitis B (HBV), herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), human papillomavirus (HPV), syphilis, and trichomoniasis.

There was both good and bad news.

Am I Ready For Sex?: 7 Things To Think About

By Katie Naymon in SEXUAL HEALTH

Whether you’re a virgin or are contemplating having sex with a new partner, first times can be nerve-wracking. There are many factors to consider, both emotional and physical. We talked to Heather Corinna, founder and executive director of Scarleteen, an independent, grassroots sexuality education and support organization and website. Corinna is a sexuality, contraception and abortion educator and counselor as well as a writer and activist. Read on for her and collegiettes’ advice on how to know when you’re ready for sex.

When is the right time to have sex in a relationship?

Some girls wait until marriage, some wait a few months and some just a few dates. There’s no recommended timeline—the right time to have sex is when you and your partner feel ready. Eva, a collegiette at Colby College, decided to lose her virginity a month into hooking up with the girl she liked. She says you know it’s a good time to have sex “once you stop thinking about it and don't doubt the person and trust they're on the same page,” she says. “I had a first time that was genuinely lovely. We fell hard and fast.” For others, it takes a bit longer to get comfortable. Veronica, a collegiette at Johns Hopkins, has dated her boyfriend for four months but has decided to wait to have sex. “I want to make sure I’m in love. I don’t want to have any doubts about it. You hear about a lot of people who do it and then regret it,” she says.