![Gonorrhea. [img src]](http://rhrealitycheck.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/../../files/teaser-images/2012-06-14-kempner-187x125.jpg)
For years, even those in the public heath community paid little attention to gonorrhea because it was easy to prevent, easy to screen for, and easy to treat—at least it was until now. Gonorrhea is caused by wily bacteria that has become resistant to all-but-one class of antibiotics and we don’t have any others to throw at it. It’s time to take start taking notice.
The CDC’s biennial survey of high school students came out today and once again it found no change in sexual risk behaviors among young people. This means that after a decade of progress (between 1991 and 2001) nothing has changed in over a decade. Clearly, we could be doing better.
The Centers for Disease Control recently established four priorities for STD prevention: Protecting the future health of adolescents and young people; protecting men who have sex with men; raising awareness about multi-drug resistant gonorrhea; and eliminating congenital syphilis.
Sexually transmitted infections cost the U.S. health care system $17 billion every year — and that number doesn’t even take into account the amount STDs cost to individuals in short-term and long-term consequences. We need more funding to prevent and treat these infections.
In this week’s sexual health roundup: scientists use engineered stem-cells to attack HIV; California tests a new pill that prevents HIV infection when taken daily but some question how expensive it is; the CDC releases alarming data on cancers caused by HPV in women; and South Carolina lawmakers take steps to increase HPV vaccination among middle school students.
A study out last week from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that half of teens who experienced an unintended pregnancy were not using birth control even though they did not want to get pregnant.
This week the CDC released a report that suggests that Americans are practicing fewer risky behaviors when it comes to HIV transmission.
A new study using a mathematical model suggests that public health efforts should focus on vaccinating either boys or girls against HPV but not both. The findings seem to counter a recent decision by the CDC which recommends vaccinating boys as well, but experts here say it is not time to start cancelling our son’s pediatrician appointments.
Today, a CDC advisory committee recommended that the HPV vaccine become a routine part of health care for 11-year-old boys as well as girls. Public and political reaction to this could serve as an interesting gauge of our double standard when it comes to adolescents and sex.
A recent study on LGBT healthcare in Wisconsin underscores the importance of passing a proposed law in California to improve the health of its LGBT residents. In doing so, California can teach Wisconsin a thing or two.
