In 2018, a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated that 1 in 5 people in the US had an STI (sexually transmitted infection), accounting for 68 million infections. Almost half of the STIs were among young people aged between 15-24. An untreated sexually transmitted disease (STD) could lead to potentially serious long-term health complications, particularly in women, including pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, and cancer. Fortunately, most STDs are ... [Read More]
STD
Women’s Health: The Importance of Regular Exams
Health promotion and disease prevention are the cornerstones of a healthy society. Decades of research have changed the focus of medicine and healthcare from treating illness to preventing it in the first place. We also now know that one size does not fit all in healthcare. Different groups of people have different health risks and needs. These groups may be defined by age, gender, social life, ethnicity, genetics, and many other characteristics. Women’s health is a specialized area of ... [Read More]
How Does PrEP Work to Reduce HIV Infections?
Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) medication is a recently developed strategy for the prevention of HIV infection. HIV-negative individuals are prescribed PrEP therapy (in the form of a daily pill) to lower the risk of becoming HIV-positive when exposed to the virus. PrEP is a proven prevention treatment that was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2012. Why It Works If exposure to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) occurs, PrEP can stop the virus from taking residence and ... [Read More]
The Long-Term Effects of STDs
Almost 20 million Americans contract a sexually transmitted disease (STD) each year. That statistic may or may not surprise you, but those who are afflicted with an STD – both men and women – could face dire consequences if they allow the embarrassment and stigma attached to these diseases to prevent them from seeking immediate medical help. The most common STDs include chlamydia, gonorrhea, chancroid, herpes, HIV/AIDS, and hepatitis B and C. Some of these diseases respond quickly and ... [Read More]
Important Information About HIV
HIV is an acronym for human immunodeficiency virus. The virus spreads from an infected person through the exchange of certain bodily fluids and attacks the body’s immune system. This large-scale destruction of the body’s T-cells compromises the body’s natural immune response, rendering it vulnerable to bacterial or viral infections like HIV. Some population groups are more likely to get HIV, due to risky behaviors such as IV drug use and unprotected sex. While there is no cure for HIV, it can ... [Read More]
