Breaking the Silence: The Urgent Need for STI Awareness and Action”

This article was exclusively written for The European Sting by one of our passionate writers, Ms. Kaksha Parrikh, a medical graduate from MBBS from Govt. medical college, Bhavnagar, Gujarat, India. The opinions expressed within reflect only the writer’s views and not necessarily The European Sting’s position on the issue.

Let’s talk about a topic that is often overlooked or considered taboo in conversation, but whose impact is significant. Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) or sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) remain a significant public health concern worldwide. Many individuals do not seek testing or treatment owing to various barriers such as, lack of awareness, stigma, and limited access to healthcare. These infections tend to have serious consequences if left untreated, including infertility, chronic pain, and not to mention increased risk of HIV transmission. Raising awareness about STI screening, treatment, and prevention is crucial to addressing this ongoing challenge. 

# Incidence of STIs: 

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) 2023 data, every year 376 million new cases develop of the four most common STIs – chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and trichomoniasis. These infections affect young people, with nearly half of all new STI cases occurring among those aged 15-24. [WHO STIs facesheet, 2023]

# Healthcare and Societal Burden

The burden of STIs on the healthcare system and society as a whole is substantial. In the United States, the estimated annual cost of STIs is over $16 billion, with the majority of these costs attributed to the treatment of complications and long-term sequelae. [CDC STIs treatment guideline, 2021]

STIs can also have significant social and economic impacts, including lost productivity, stigma, and disruption of personal relationships. Untreated STIs can lead to severe complications, such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), ectopic pregnancy, and infertility in women. Additionally, the presence of an STI can increase the risk of HIV transmission by up to three-fold. Certain STIs, like syphilis, can also cause congenital abnormalities and stillbirth if contracted during pregnancy.

# Importance of Screening 

Looking at the estimated numbers, as mentioned above, underscores the importance of educating the society regarding risk, early detection, treatment, and preventative strategies. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends regular STI screening for sexually active individuals, particularly those at increased risk. The USPSTF and CDC recommends screening for STIs including chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HSV, HIV, and syphilis especially in individuals with high-risk behavior.  [U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. (2021), CDC STI treatment guideline, 2021]

# Effective prevention of STIs involves a multifaceted approach, including:

• Promoting the use of barrier contraceptives
• Implementing sexual health education to improve knowledge and encourage safer sexual behaviors
• Increasing access to STI testing, point of care testing,  and treatment services, particularly for high-risk populations (via a mobile reproductive health clinic)
• Effective vaccination for human papillomavirus (HPV) and hepatitis B
• Screening, treatment, and counseling of sex partners of persons who are infected with an STI [Workowski et al, 2021]. 
• Using the internet/Online platforms to spread awareness about STIs to reach a large population, providing easily accessible information and resources to educate people about STIs, their prevention, and where to seek help if needed. [Nourimand et al, 2022]

# Conclusion

To conclude, raising awareness about STI screening, treatment, and prevention is crucial to reducing the significant public health burden of these infections. By promoting screening tests, increasing access to care, and implementing effective prevention strategies, we can work towards reducing the incidence of STIs and improving the overall sexual health of individuals and communities. Continued efforts in this area are essential to safeguarding the well-being of populations worldwide.

References: 

[1] World Health Organization. (2023). Sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/sexually-transmitted-infections-(stis)

[2] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Sexually Transmitted Infections Treatment Guidelines, 2021. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/std/treatment-guidelines/screening-recommendations.htm

[3] U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. (2021). Screening for Chlamydia and Gonorrhea: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement. JAMA, 326(10), 949-956.

[4] Workowski KA, Bachmann LH, Chan PA, Johnston CM, Muzny CA, Park I, Reno H, Zenilman JM, Bolan GA. Sexually Transmitted Infections Treatment Guidelines, 2021. MMWR Recomm Rep. 2021 Jul 23;70(4):1-187. doi: 10.15585/mmwr.rr7004a1. PMID: 34292926; PMCID: PMC8344968. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8344968/

[5] Nourimand F, Keramat A, Sayahi M, Bozorgian L, Hashempour Z. A systematic review of eHealth modes in preventing sexually transmitted infections. Indian J Sex Transm Dis AIDS. 2022 Jul-Dec;43(2):117-127. doi: 10.4103/ijstd.ijstd_55_22. Epub 2022 Nov 17. PMID: 36743108; PMCID: PMC9890991. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9890991/