Opening Statement:
STI Awareness Month is a special interest day and with the main goal to inform and educate people on sexually transmitted infections (S.T.I.’s). Although S.T.I.s are common medical issues, there are many people that don’t know they’re infected because of mild symptoms that are easily overlooked or no symptoms at all. Those who have undiagnosed, untreated S.T.I.s contribute to transmission within the community. They may also lead to further complications in the infected person. STI Awareness Month focuses attention to these important issues by encouraging safe sex practices and teaching others about the importance of regular S.T.I. testing.
History Of STI Awareness Month
· Sexually transmitted infections have been around for centuries. Due to a lack of knowledge and understanding, they became widespread and there was no effective medical treatment for them. The first recorded case of syphilis occurred in 1495 when it struck French troops stationed in Italy. From there, the S.T.I. spread across Europe at an extraordinary rate. Syphilis was heavily stigmatized because it was thought to be a disgraceful disease that only affected the sexually immoral. Citizens in neighboring France quickly named it the ‘French disease,’ while the French blamed the Italians, naming it the ‘Neapolitan disease.’ The Turks took it one step further, naming it the ‘Christian disease.’
· It would take many years for the stigma around S.T.I.s to die down, which opened the doors for the scientific approach. During the 18th and 19th centuries, S.T.I.s, or venereal diseases, as they were known back then, were treated with arsenic, mercury, and sulfur. Because there was still a lack of comprehensive understanding of how S.T.I.s worked, these methods of treatment frequently had negative side effects on patients. Many people died because of mercury poisoning and other complications.
· In 1913, a common method of treatment for gonorrhea was heat therapy, but it became obsolete with the introduction of sulfonamides in the 1940s. The development of antibiotics such as penicillin in the 20th century led to advances in the treatment of bacterial S.T.I.s. As people realized that S.T.I.s were treatable, the stigma began to fade, but this had the unintended consequence of increasing sexual promiscuity. S.T.I.s were no longer regarded as a threat by the general public. By the late 1980s, H.I.V. had become a serious pandemic, forever altering the conversation about S.T.I.s. To address this, global health organizations made significant efforts. STI Awareness Month is one product of these efforts.
STI Awareness Month Timeline
· 1747 - The First Hospital for Venereal Diseases
The London Lock Hospital becomes the first of its kind to specialize in treating venereal diseases.
· 1910 - The Introduction of a Syphilis Treatment
Arsphenamine, also known as salvarsan, is introduced as the first effective syphilis treatment.
· 1944 - Penicillin is First Used as a Treatment
Following reports of a dramatic reduction in infection in patients given this antibiotic, doctors begin widespread use of penicillin to treat syphilis.
· 1981 - The First AIDS Patient Gets Admitted
A 35-year-old man becomes the first AIDS patient to be admitted to the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center.
· 1985 - The Definition of AIDS is Revised
The C.D.C. in the United States revises its definition of AIDS to state that the disease is caused by a newly discovered virus, and guidelines for blood screening to test for it are issued.
· 1990 - The C.D.C. Prevention Counseling Model
The C.D.C. implements an HIV prevention counseling model that focuses on the patient rather than the disease.
· 2010 - The Travel and Immigration Ban is Lifted
The H.I.V. travel and immigration ban in the United States is officially lifted.
· 2019 - New Recommendations for Screening and Prevention
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force issues new recommendations for HIV prevention and screening, including screening for adolescents and providing PrEP to people at high risk of HIV.
How To Observe STI Awareness Month
· Get Involved in Youth Sex Education
Half of all new S.T.I.s are discovered in people aged 15 to 24. Educating the youth and encouraging them to engage in safe sex is an excellent way to reduce the spread of sexually transmitted infections in the community. Reach out to teenagers and young adults during STI Awareness Month to have a conversation about reproductive health.
· Educate Yourself on S.T.I.’S
Learn more about S.T.I.s, how they're transmitted, and how they are treated. Some S.T.I.s have developed resistance to traditional treatment methods. In other cases, scientists are on the verge of developing a cure or a more effective treatment method. It never hurts to keep up with these developments for one month out of the year.
· Contribute To an S.T.I. Organization
Some foundations and organizations focus on S.T.I. education, testing, and treatment. Participate in one in your area during STI Awareness Month. Contributions can take the form of cash donations, fundraising assistance, community outreach programs, or volunteering your time to raise S.T.I. awareness.
Why STI Awareness Month Is Important
· It Teaches Others to Be More Responsible
STI Awareness Month teaches others how to prevent the spread of infections. This way, more people learn to be responsible for their sexual health. They practice safe sex by using protection.
· It Encourages Regular S.T.I. Testing
One of the messages delivered during STI Awareness Month is the importance of getting tested regularly. When people get tested for S.T.I.s, they have more options in terms of treatment and management of the infection.
· It Corrects the Stigma and Misinformation
Even today, many people remain ignorant or misinformed about S.T.I.s. Others may have outdated notions or a biased way of thinking when it comes to S.T.I.s. During STI Awareness Month people have access to accurate reproductive health information from credible sources.
Closing Statement:
Since middle school I’ve read numerous printed publications, online articles, and discussed protection with my OBGYN, and the one thing everyone should totally understand is… that protection can often fail. Not even condoms offer 100% protection from S.T.I.s. This gives even more reason to get tested regularly and be cautious with the selection of your partners. There are millions of cases every year. In the United States, we get approximately 20 million new S.T.I. cases each year, adding up to $16 billion in medical costs. Intercourse isn’t the only S.T.I. spreader. Everyone should be educated that anal sex, oral sex, and mutual masturbation can also spread S.T.I.s, including cancer-causing viruses like H.P.V. There are also some S.T.I.s that will affect fertility, if left untreated. S.T.I.s such as chlamydia and gonorrhea can cause infertility or pelvic inflammation. It is just not our younger population that can get an S.T.I.’s, it is also becoming common in adults that are past their childbearing years, as many no longer practice safe sex. There have been reports that S.T.I.’s often are spread in 55+ Adult Communities. Caregivers and Direct Support Professionals should be knowledgeable on safe sex to educate people with disabilities, because individuals with disabilities can and often date as well as can become infected with a S.T.I.’s.
Source of Information: Various Google Searches and Printed Publications
Until Next Week, Stay Safe and Well!