Between 1998 and 2015 (the most recent national data available), chlamydia — the most commonly reported STI in Canada — has risen from 39,372 to 116,499 annual cases among all ages and genders, and gonorrhea rates increased from 5,076 to 19,845 in the same time period. Infectious syphilis rates rose dramatically from 501 to 4,551 cases.

The American Sexual Health Association (ASHA) states that one in two sexually active persons will contract an STD by age 25 and more than half of all people will have an STD at some point in their lifetime.

More than two million cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis were reported in the United States in 2016, the highest number ever, according to the annual Sexually Transmitted Disease Surveillance Report released in 2017 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The majority of these new diagnoses (1.6 million) were cases of chlamydia. There were also 470,000 gonorrhea cases and almost 28,000 cases of primary and secondary syphilis – the most infectious stages of the disease. While all three of these STDs can be cured with antibiotics, if left undiagnosed and untreated, they can have serious health consequences, including infertility, life-threatening ectopic pregnancy, stillbirth in infants, and increased risk for HIV transmission.

And these are all infections that CAN be cured with antibiotics….

So what does this all mean?

It means that out of our group of homies, say there 5 of you, at least 1 of you have had an STI in the past or are currently dealing with one in the current…

This means your jokes about someone being “dirty” or a “whore” because they current have or have had an STI, is ridiculous and the very person you are gossiping with about STI’s may in fact have one, if you don’t.

Research released by Statistics Canada in the April 2016 issue of Health Reports, show that the Herpes infection was slightly higher in women than men — 16% versus 11%. The prevalence rose with age, from 6% in people aged 14 to 34 to 19% in people 35 and older.

Thats nearly 1 in 5 of Canadians over the age of 35!

As soon as you become sexually active, you should be getting tested for sexually transmitted infections AND cervical cancer.

Which leads me to my next statement

If you have an incurable infection, YOU MUST tell your current and future partners about it BEFORE you both consent to any sexual activity. It is your DUTY even if you are currently not contagious.

I have never understood those who spread rumours about their exes in regards to STIs , not only is it immature but it deserves congratulations…. for playing yourself.
You’re the one who has spent many intimate moments with this person, why make up stories to satisfy your own self gratification when the person you might be telling these fables to, may be going through treatments for whatever you are condemning as “gross”.

When I first started dating my husband, before we had even kissed, I informed him that one of my exes had HPV, explained that this ex neglected to inform me until a few months into our relationship and although I had never had an outbreak, and although I had the Gardasil Vaccine (I didn’t want it but had it for precautionary reasons) I felt he needed to know, he needed to make his own decision in regards to his own sexual health. This was the first open and honest conversation we had, which made our relationship blossom and started our relationship based on openness and authentic communication.

If you care about someone, you have the truthful conversation, sure at first it may feel a bit embarrassing or flustering but once it’s over and done with, you’ll be able to take comfort in the fact that you have created opportunity for honest authentic dialog. If your partner reacts in a fashion that is less than savoury, that is sign enough that you shouldn’t be with that person.

Allow them to make their own decisions based off of what truths you have to give.

Don’t be a shitty person.