Sexually Transmitted Infections can impact service members’ health and readiness to perform their duties. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. STI rates hit record highs every year from 2014 to 2019. In June, the Military Health System seeks to raise awareness of the risk of STIs and their impact on military readiness, and promote methods of STI prevention.
Messages for Communicators:
STI Information
- According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. STI rates hit record highs every year from 2014-2019.
- STIs can happen to you if you aren’t careful. The CDCs estimates that as many as 1-in-5 Americans carry at least one STI.
- These trends hold in service member populations, as a 2021 study found increasing rates of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis (3 of the 5 most common STIs) amongst service members.
- STIs, especially untreated, can cause serious illness that affect service members’ ability to deploy or perform their mission.
- Prevention, testing and early treatment of STIs enhance service members’ readiness.
- STIs can lead to long term effects such as pelvic inflammatory disease, chronic pain, increased risk of HIV, neurological problems, certain types of cancer, organ failure and potentially death.
- Untreated STIs can also cause infertility and be dangerous to a mother and her baby.
- STI symptoms can include pelvic, vaginal, or penile pain, inflammation, discharge or odors. Others may present as rashes, painful or painless sores or warts.
STI Prevention
- Honest communication between sexual partners is essential. Talk to your partner(s) about STIs and safer sex practices.
- Some of the most effective prevention strategies are:
- Use a condom correctly every time when engaging in oral, vaginal or anal sexual activity.
- Reduce the number of sexual partners and the number of high-risk partners, situations and sex acts.
- Be in a mutually monogamous relationship with an uninfected partner.
- Talk to a medical provider about getting tested (every three to six months).
- Get the human papillomavirus and Hepatitis B vaccines.
- Getting the HPV vaccine lowers your risk of contracting HPV, which cause genital warts and certain types of cancer.
- The Hepatitis B vaccine is a three-dose series, usually started at birth. Make sure your child is vaccinated, to prevent serious long-term health issues, like cirrhosis or liver cancer.
- If you are sexually active, getting tested for STIs is one of the most important things you can do to protect your health and your partner's health.
- It is possible to carry and pass on an STI without ever knowing you have one.
- If your partner gets a new partner, they should both get tested for STIs.
Graphics and Social Media Content
Suggested Social Media Message: “STIs pose a serious risk to service members’ health, and their readiness. Using the right prevention methods and regular testing lowers your risk. Learn more with this article from the U.S. Army Public Health Center. https://www.army.mil/article/250563/protect_yourself_in_the_war_against_sexually_transmitted_infections #PreventSTIs #TalkTestTreat #TalkTestTreatReady“
Suggested Social Media Message: “Did you know that condoms are an important and effective way of preventing the spread of STI? Depending on the disease, and with proper use, condoms prevent up to 96% of STI transmission. https://www.cdc.gov/condomeffectiveness #PreventSTIs #TalkTestTreat #TalkTestTreatReady“
Suggested Social Media Message: “Don’t fall into the “it won’t happen to me” trap. It’s shocking but true… 1 in 5 Americans has an STI. Read more at:
https://health.mil/News/Articles/2021/07/06/Sexually-transmitted-infections-you-may-have-one-and-not-know-it #PreventSTIs #TalkTestTreat #TalkTestTreatReady“
Suggested Social Media Message: “Honest communication between sexual partners is essential. Talk to your partner(s) about STIs and safer sex practices, especially if you or they have multiple partners. Regular testing, especially when you have a new partner, lowers your risk of getting or passing on an STI. https://www.cdc.gov/std/treatment #PreventSTIs #TalkTestTreat #TalkTestTreatReady“
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Last Updated: November 28, 2022