Sexually transmitted diseases: An overview

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), the most common infectious diseases in the United States, are of magnitude proportions with an estimated 20 million new cases each year. Reported disease rates likely underestimate the true burden of infection because of underreporting and the fact that the majority of STDs are asymptomatic. Conservative estimates of health care costs are 16 billion dollars annually. While all sexually active persons are at risk, STDs disproportionately affect young populations, racial and ethnic minorities and men that have sex with men (MSM).

Source: Disease a Month - April 21, 2016 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Catherine F. Decker Source Type: research