Many of them are incurable and, in the worst cases, some infections ultimately can be deadly. The latest STD statistics are a mixed bag of results. Some show promising signs. A recent HealthScout story reports, for example, that syphilis has reached a historic low in the United States. The rate of gonorrhea, however, has been climbing steadily for years.
Many cases are now resistant to antibiotics.
Another report warns that complacency over AIDS may be putting more people at risk for HIV infection. Teens and young adults are most at risk for STDs. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that some of the most common infections, such as Chlamydia , human papillomavirus and herpes spread silently. Women in particular should be aware that about 18 percent of them carry strains of human papillomavirus that could lead to cervical cancer. A second feature from the Journal Sentinel warns that many women infected with the virus have no symptoms , which makes routine Pap screening an important step in preventing cervical cancer.