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This web page is archived for historical purposes and is no longer being updated.
April is STD Awareness Month
Take three simple actions to protect your health: Talk. Test. Treat.
STD Awareness Month is here, along with the alarming news that sexually-transmitted diseases (STDs) are on the rise. Recent CDC data for three nationally-reported STDs—chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis—show staggering numbers, with cases of all three diseases increasing for the first time since 2006.
Young people ages 15–24, and gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men continue to be at greatest risk for infection. We know that individual risk behaviors aren’t the only cause. Environmental, social, and cultural factors, including high numbers of STD cases in these populations and difficulty accessing quality health care, contribute to the higher STD burden.
The good news? STDs are preventable! There are steps each of us can take to minimize the negative, long-term consequences of these infections. CDC’s STD Awareness Month web pages are filled with resources and guidance for both providers and individuals. If our goal is to prevent STDs, then we need to know how to talk about them, when to test for them, and how to treat them.
STD Awareness Month 2016 Theme: Talk. Test. Treat.
Each week in April, we will focus on a different aspect of the Talk. Test. Treat. theme to show how these actions can become a regular part of your life. Here’s the rundown:
- April 1-9 | An overview of this year’s theme and how preventing STDs can be simple with these three actions: Talk.Test.Treat.
- April 10-16 | TALK: Talk openly to partners, patients, and healthcare providers about sexual health and STDs.
- April 17-23 | TEST: Ensure everyone knows who should be tested and when.
- April 24-30 | TREAT: The important role healthcare providers and patients play in making sure STDs are treated correctly.
We understand that the STD prevention needs of healthcare providers are different from those of individuals, so we’ve tailored the site to those needs. From the top of this page, you can easily navigate to audience-specific information and resources.
Highlights
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STD Awareness Month Blog on AIDS.gov
April 20, 2015 – A special note to the public from Dr. Gail Bolan, Director, Division of STD Prevention, CDC, this STD Awareness Month. -
STD Awareness Month featured in MMWR
April 2017 - MMWR Announcement for STD Awareness Month. -
STD Awareness Month Feature on CDC.gov
April 1, 2017 - Check out the STD Awareness Month feature article on CDC.gov.
More Resources
Find an STD testing site near you.
- Page last reviewed: April 21, 2016 (archived document)
- Content source: