Young people (ages 15-24), women (due to biological vulnerability and potential for severe complications like infertility), and individuals in urban areas or facing socioeconomic factors often have higher rates of STDs, with Chlamydia being the most commonly reported. Factors like risky sexual behavior, less access to healthcare, and biological differences (like adolescent female cervical ectopy) increase susceptibility across these groups, though anyone sexually active can contract an STD.
Anyone who has sex can get an STD, but young people are particularly affected. Two-thirds of STDs occur in people under 25, mostly because young people are more likely to be sexually active.
These Are the 10 States With the Highest STD Rates
Scientific data about Australia show that almost 16% of Australians report having a sexually transmitted infection in their lifetime (2).
The human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common STI in the United States. There are more than 40 different strands of HPV and many do not cause any health problems. In 90% of cases, the body's immune system clears the infection naturally within two years.
In general: It is possible to get some STIs in the mouth or throat after giving oral sex to a partner who has a genital or anal/rectal STI. It is possible to get certain STIs on the genitals and genital areas after receiving oral sex from a partner with a mouth or throat infection.
The easiest STD (STI) to get is Human Papillomavirus (HPV), being the most common STI globally, with nearly all sexually active people contracting it at some point, spreading easily through skin-to-skin contact during vaginal, anal, or oral sex, often with no symptoms, and other very common ones include Chlamydia and Gonorrhea, bacterial infections also easily transmitted and sometimes asymptomatic.
STIs are common – 1 in 6 Australians will get an STI in their lifetime. STIs are spread through direct contact and bodily fluids during sexual activity, including vaginal, anal and oral sex. Some STIs can spread: through skin-to-skin contact.
Human papillomavirus, or HPV, is the most common STD in the nation, but most people with the infection have no symptoms, and no national case-reporting system for HPV infections exists.
Self-reported viral STD rates were significantly higher among bisexual women (15.0% to 17.2%) than among lesbians (2.3% to 6.7%). These findings support the need for STD prevention interventions that consider lesbians and bisexual women separately.
Chlamydia: Black females 5 times more than White females; Black males 6.8 times more than White males. Gonorrhea: Black people 7.7 times more than White people; Black males 8.5 times more than White males; Black females 6.9 times more than White females. Syphilis: Black people 4.7 times more than White people.
The only 100% effective way to avoid getting other STIs is to not have vaginal, anal, or oral sex. If you are sexually active, you can do the following things to lower your chances of getting other STIs: Get the vaccines that are recommended to prevent some STIs.
Definitively, there is no way to 100% know if you have an STI unless you get tested. Therefore, if you are experiencing any concerning symptoms or are worried about your sexual health more generally, you should see your doctor as soon as possible.
Are STDs 100% curable? Bacterial STDs are typically curable with proper treatment. Viral STDs such as herpes, hepatitis B and HIV are not curable but can be managed to control symptoms and reduce complications.
Primary and secondary syphilis infections have seen the most dramatic increase, with total national rates at their highest since 1993. From 2014–2016, syphilis rates increased by 24.5% among adolescents aged 15–19 years and 25.4% among adolescents aged 20–24 years.
Symptoms
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are caused by sexually transmitted infections (STIs). They are spread mainly by sexual contact. STIs are caused by bacteria, viruses or parasites. A sexually transmitted infection may pass from person to person in blood, semen, or vaginal and other bodily fluids.
Famous painters Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Paul Gaugin and Edouard Manet are known to have died from syphilis as well as classic authors Oscar Wilde and Guy de Maupassant Charles Baudelaire. Infamous gangster Al Capone eventually succumbed to syphilis as well.
HPV is one of the most common STIs in the world: According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC, 85% of people will have contracted at least one type of HPV in their lifetime. The biggest risk from HPV is cervical cancer. In fact, HPV causes more than 90% of all cervical cancers globally.
An STI diagnosis can feel like the end of the world, but it's not. STIs are far more common than you think, and fortunately, most of them are treatable. Chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and trichomoniasis can all be cured with antibiotics.
Human immunodeficiency virus, which is widely known as HIV, is the virus that causes AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). AIDS is a serious, life-threatening illness with a variety of symptoms (16).
There's a risk of getting or passing on STIs if you're giving or receiving oral sex. The risk increases if either of you has sores or cuts around the mouth, genitals or anus. Avoid brushing your teeth or using dental floss before oral sex because it can cause your gums to bleed.
Don't Panic—But Don't Ignore It
First and foremost, try to stay calm. STDs are common, and many are treatable with the right care. Ignoring symptoms or hoping they will go away on their own can lead to complications, so it's important to address your concerns head-on.