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.
