Should you be concerned about sexually transmitted infections (STIs)? Every year in the U.S., new STI cases number 20 million. Half of these new infections occur among people aged 15 to 24 (CDC, 2013). The graph at right shows estimated numbers of people living with selected STIs in the Americas. The bacterial STIs shown here in teal are curable, but can have serious health consequences if left untreated. Viral STIs, shown in red, have no cures. The map below provides estimated numbers for HIV worldwide.
SOURCES: CDC (2013); LOOKER, GARNETT, AND SCHMID (2008); UNAIDS (2012b); WHO (2008c).