Who is at risk for STDs?
Anyone who is sexually active is at risk for STDs. If you have sex (vaginal, anal, or oral) with someone who is infected, the STD could be passed to you regardless of age, race, gender, or sexual orientation. How many people have STDs? An estimated 55 million people in the U.S. have an STD; about 12 million acquire an STD each year. Teenagers account for one-fourth of new STD infections in the U.S. each year. What causes STDs? STDs are caused by a variety of organisms including bacteria, protozoa’s, viruses, and parasites (tiny insects). These organisms enter the body during sexual intercourse with an infected person. Are STDs dangerous? STDs are among the most important public health problems in the nation. STDs can cause infertility, premature and still births, infant pneumonia, eye infections leading to blindness, and even death. Some STDs are associated with certain types of cancer. How do you get an STD? In most instances, STDs are passed from an infected person to another person
