Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are caused by infections that occur during sexual activity. There are over 20 different types if STDs including gonorrhea, genital warts and HIV. One can obtain STDs through vaginal, anal or oral sex and some can even be spread by kissing. The statistics on STDs can be staggering and recently the Cleveland Health Department released some facts about sexual infections.
*Just last year there were 364 new HIV cases reported, bringing the total to 4,591 residents living with HIV in Cuyahoga County.
*In 2011, 41.8 percent of all chlamydia cases in the county were teens aged 15 to 19 years old.
*That same year, blacks made up 67.2 percent of all chlamydia cases and 77.1 percent of all gonococcal infections, which are caused by having gonorrhea.
These numbers further prove that it is better to be safe than sorry! Some STDs are incurable and others, like gonorrhea, are at risk of becoming incurable.
The weather is warming up and so are our hormones, so remember to be safe! Wrap it up and get tested regularly to avoid being a part of these statistics.
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