Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)—also referred to as sexually transmitted infections (STIs)—remain a persistent public health challenge in the United States, affecting millions of people each year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that at any given time, one in five Americans is living with an STI, contributing to billions of dollars in healthcare costs annually.
STD cases tend to peak during the summer, a trend attributed to increased social activity, travel, and sexual behavior during warmer months. However, the broader patterns that shape the spread of sexually transmitted infections are influenced by a more complex set of factors. These include disparities in access to healthcare, varying levels of sexual health education, differences in testing and screening practices, and persistent social and economic inequities. Together, these elements contribute to sustained transmission rates in certain populations and geographic areas—many of which experience disproportionately high rates of new infections year after year.
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