Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and infections (STIs) are a significant health concern in the United States of America. Although there is a lot of information about safe sex practices, STDs and STIs and their symptoms available to people of all ages, their incidence rate is still substantial due to the subject being stigmatized. Therefore, it is essential to encourage conversation about STDs and STIs in order to prevent further spread. This essay will discuss the vital effects of persuading people to talk more about diseases and infections transmitted via sexual intercourse. Specifically, it will consider the impact of open conversation on stigma and its educational and protective values. Epidemiology of STDs and STIs Before discussing the benefits of normalizing the dialogue about STDs and STIs, it is crucial to examine their impact on the health of the infected persons and current incidence and distribution in the United States. According to Shannon and Klausner (2019), approximately 20 million new STIs occur in the country every year. Half of these infections are attributed to sexually active adolescents aged 15-24 (Shannon & Klausner, 2019). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2019) statistics indicate that reported cases of such STDs as chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis increased significantly among adolescents. Specifically, the highest rate of reported cases of chlamydia is found among adolescent females, while the highest percentage of gonorrhea diagnoses is found among their male counterparts (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2019). It is unclear how many cases per year are not reported. Nevertheless, the incidence and unfair distribution of STDs among persons aged 15-24 demonstrates a need for an open conversation on the matter that will help remove the stigma and encourage learning. Normalizing Open Conversation Removing Stigma The social stigma of being diagnosed with an STD or an STI can result in an increased incident rate as individuals refuse to have an open conversation about the stigmatized subject. Prejudiced attitudes towards people with the diagnosis can discourage others from discussing the sexual history and the necessity to undergo STD testing before engaging in sexual intercourse with a new partner. Stigma can be defined as “an individual’s fear that he or she will be subject to negative societal attitudes and treatment based on a specific trait” (Lee & Cody, 2020, p. 295). According to Lee and Cody (2020), it is a barrier to preventing and treating various STDs. The fear of being stigmatized can hinder conversation about each other’s sexual history and health in a relationship. Furthermore, if such a discussion is initiated, one of the persons engaged in it may feel prejudiced against merely by having the talk, believing their partner does not trust them. Thus, the STD prevents an open dialogue on the subject and leads to the further spread of the infections. It is essential to promote discussion of STDs and encourage other sexual health-seeking behaviors in order to combat the prevailing prejudices and biases. According to Talley (2020, p. 126), the stigma exists both in clinical and private settings because of the cultural conditioning that “sexual behavior should remain private.” Many young girls also state that such a conversation is not something they consider necessary due to the