The following information was provided by the Kaiser Family Foundation, the American Social Health Association, the Institute of Medicine, Charlotte Price of Planned Parenthood, and Dr. Zenilman in an interview. STDs are very common. The U.S. has one of the highest rates of STDs among developed countries. The Centers for Disease Control estimates that between 12-14 million cases of STDs occurred in the U.S. last year. Any sexually active person is at risk for acquiring an STD unless they are in a mutually monogamous relationship and their partner has no pre-existing infections.
Most cases tend to be in adolescents and young adults.
STDs also tend to be higher in groups with a lower socioeconomic status, urban areas, and poor rural areas. There are several risks and potential complications of untreated STDs. Untreated gonorrhea or chlamydia, even if asymptomatic, often develops into Pelvic Inflammatory Disease in women which can lead to infertility. Because STDs cause breaks in skin and other defensive barriers, untreated STDs can lead to increased risk of HIV transmission. There are a number of misconceptions.