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STI Awareness Month – April 2024

STI Awareness Month is a special interest holiday observed in April. Its goal is to sensitize and educate people on sexually transmitted infections (S.T.I.’s). S.T.I.s are common medical issues, yet many people don’t know they’re infected because they have mild symptoms that are easily overlooked or no symptoms at all. Those who have undiagnosed, untreated S.T.I.s contribute to transmission within the community. They may also lead to further complications in the infected person. STI Awareness Month draws attention to this by encouraging safe sex practices and teaching others about the importance of regular S.T.I. testing.

History of STI Awareness Month

Sexually transmitted infections have been around for centuries. Due to a lack of knowledge and understanding, they became widespread and there was no effective medical treatment for them. The first recorded case of syphilis occurred in 1495 when it struck French troops stationed in Italy. From there, the S.T.I. spread across Europe at an unprecedented rate. Syphilis was heavily stigmatized because it was thought to be a disgraceful disease that only affected the sexually immoral. Citizens in neighboring France quickly named it the ‘French disease,’ while the French blamed the Italians, naming it the ‘Neapolitan disease.’ The Turks took it one step further, naming it the ‘Christian disease.’

It would take many years for the stigma around S.T.I.s to die down, which opened the doors for the scientific approach. During the 18th and 19th centuries, S.T.I.s, or venereal diseases, as they were known back then, were treated with arsenic, mercury, and sulfur. Because there was still a lack of comprehensive understanding of how S.T.I.s worked, these methods of treatment frequently had negative side effects on patients. Many people died as a result of mercury poisoning and other complications.

In 1913, a common method of treatment for gonorrhea was heat therapy, but it became obsolete with the introduction of sulfonamides in the 1940s. The development of antibiotics such as penicillin in the 20th century led to advances in the treatment of bacterial S.T.I.s. As people realized that S.T.I.s were treatable, the stigma began to fade, but this had the unintended consequence of increasing sexual promiscuity. S.T.I.s were no longer regarded as a threat by the general public. By the late 1980s, H.I.V. had become a serious pandemic, forever altering the conversation about S.T.I.s. To address this, global health organizations made significant efforts. STI Awareness Month is one product of these efforts.

STI Awareness Month timeline

1747
The First Hospital For Venereal Diseases

The London Lock Hospital becomes the first of its kind to specialize in treating venereal diseases.

1910
The Introduction of a Syphilis Treatment

Arsphenamine, also known as salvarsan, is introduced as the first effective syphilis treatment.

1944
Penicillin is First Used as a Treatment

Following reports of a dramatic reduction in infection in patients given this antibiotic, doctors begin widespread use of penicillin to treat syphilis.

1981
The First AIDS Patient Gets Admitted

A 35-year-old man becomes the first AIDS patient to be admitted to the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center.

1985
The Definition of AIDS is Revised

The C.D.C. in the United States revises its definition of AIDS to state that the disease is caused by a newly discovered virus, and guidelines for blood screening to test for it are issued.

1990
The C.D.C. Prevention Counseling Model

The C.D.C. implements an HIV prevention counseling model that focuses on the patient rather than the disease.

2010
The Travel and Immigration Ban is Lifted

The H.I.V. travel and immigration ban in the United States is officially lifted.

2019
New Recommendations for Screening and Prevention

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force issues new recommendations for HIV prevention and screening, including screening for adolescents and providing PrEP to people at high risk of HIV.

STI Awareness Month FAQs

When did we start saying ‘S.T.I.’ instead of ‘S.T.D.?’

Healthcare organizations and some doctors stopped using S.T.D. around 2013, switching to S.T.I. instead, because not all diseases begin with infections.

Why is chlamydia called ‘clap?’

The term ‘clap’ is a reference to the outdated clapping method of treatment, which was used to remove discharge from the patient’s penis.

Why is gonorrhea called ‘the drip?’

A common symptom of gonorrhea is a slimy discharge that may ooze or drip from the genitals of infected persons.

How to Observe STI Awareness Month

  1. Get involved in youth sex education

    Half of all new S.T.I.s are discovered in people aged 15 to 24. Educating the youth and encouraging them to engage in safe sex is an excellent way to reduce the spread of sexually transmitted infections in the community. Reach out to teenagers and young adults during STI Awareness Month to have a conversation about reproductive health.

  2. Educate yourself on S.T.I.s

    Learn more about S.T.I.s, how they're transmitted, and how they're treated. Some S.T.I.s have developed resistance to traditional treatment methods. In other cases, scientists are on the verge of developing a cure or a more effective treatment method. It never hurts to keep up with these developments for one month out of the year.

  3. Contribute to an S.T.I. organization

    Some foundations and organizations focus on S.T.I. education, testing, and treatment. Participate in one in your area during STI Awareness Month. Contributions can take the form of cash donations, fundraising assistance, community outreach programs, or volunteering your time to raise S.T.I. awareness.

5 Important Facts About S.T.I.s

  1. Protection sometimes fails

    Not even condoms offer 100% protection from S.T.I.s, all the more reason to get tested regularly and be discerning with your partners.

  2. There are millions of cases every year

    The U.S. gets about 20 million new S.T.I. cases each year, adding up to $16 billion in medical costs.

  3. Intercourse isn’t the only S.T.I. spreader

    Anal sex, oral sex, and mutual masturbation may also spread S.T.I.s, including cancer-causing viruses like H.P.V.

  4. Some S.T.I.s affect fertility

    If left untreated, S.T.I.s such as chlamydia and gonorrhea can cause infertility or pelvic inflammation.

  5. They’re becoming common in the elderly

    Because they are past their childbearing years and many no longer practice safe sex, more elderly people are contracting S.T.I.s.

Why STI Awareness Month is Important

  1. It teaches others to be more responsible

    STI Awareness Month teaches others how to prevent the spread of infections. This way, more people learn to be responsible for their sexual health. They practice safe sex by using protection.

  2. It encourages regular S.T.I. testing

    One of the messages delivered during STI Awareness Month is the importance of getting tested regularly. When people get tested for S.T.I.s, they have more options in terms of treatment and management of the infection.

  3. It corrects the stigma and misinformation

    Even in this day and age, many people remain ignorant or misinformed about S.T.I.s. Others may have outdated notions or a biased way of thinking when it comes to S.T.I.s. During STI Awareness Month people have access to accurate reproductive health information from credible sources.

STI Awareness Month dates

YearDateDay
2024April 1Monday
2025April 1Tuesday
2026April 1Wednesday
2027April 1Thursday
2028April 1Saturday
Be Kind to Spiders Week
Blue Ribbon Week
Golden Rule Week
International Pooper Scooper Week
Laugh at Work Week
Medication Safety Week
National Bake Week
National Cancer Registrars Week
National Public Health Week
National Window Safety Week
Take Your Poet to School Week
Testicular Cancer Awareness Week
April Fools' Day
Assyrian New Year
Boomer Bonus Days
Community Garden Week
Cyprus National Holiday
Dyngus Day
Easter Monday
Edible Book Day
Fossil Fools Day
International Fun at Work Day
International Tatting Day
Library Snap Shot Day
Lupus Alert Day
Martyrdom of Imam Ali
Mathematics and Statistics Awareness Month
Myles Day
National Connor Day
National Fun Day
National Greeting Card Day
National Loyal Day
National One Cent Day
National Sourdough Bread Day
National Trombone Players Day
Nature Day
Nickelodeon Anniversary Celebration Day
Odisha Day
Reading is Funny Day
St. Stupid Day
Take Down Tobacco National Day of Action
U.S. Air Force Academy Day
U.S. Air Force Academy Day
White House Easter Egg Roll
Adopt a Ferret Month
Adopt a Greyhound Month
Arab American Heritage Month
Autism Acceptance Month
Bowel Cancer Awareness Month
Brussels Sprouts and Cabbage Month
Cancer Control Month
Canine Fitness Month
Celebrate Diversity Month
Cesarean Awareness Month
Child Abuse Awareness Month
Children and Nature Awareness Month
Counseling Awareness Month
Couple Appreciation Month
Cranberries and Gooseberries Month
Deaf History Month
Defeat Diabetes Month
Distracted Driving Awareness Month
Dog Appreciation Month
Earth Month
Emotional Overeating Awareness Month
Fair Housing Month
Filipino Food Month
Financial Capability Month
Financial Literacy Month
Fresh Florida Tomato Month
Genocide Awareness Month
Global Astronomy Month
Global Child Nutrition Month
Grange Month
Heartworm Awareness Month
IBS Month
Informed Women Month
International Amateur Radio Month
International Customer Loyalty Month
International Guitar Month
Jazz Appreciation Month
Keep America Beautiful Month
Month of the Military Child
Move More Month
Multicultural Communications Month
Multiple Birth Awareness Month
National African-American Women's Fitness Month
National Alcohol Awareness Month
National BLT Sandwich Month
National Car Care Month
National Card and Letter Writing Month
National Decorating Month
National Donate Life Month
National Facial Protection Month
National Food Month
National Foot Health Awareness Month
National Fresh Celery Month
National Frog Month
National Garlic Month
National Grilled Cheese Month
National Humor Month
National Internship Awareness Month
National Kite Month
National Knuckles Down Month
National Literature Month
National Minority Health Month
National Month of Hope
National Pecan Month
National Pest Management Month
National Pet First Aid Awareness Month
National Poetry Month
National Rebuilding Month
National Safe Digging Month
National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month
National Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) Education and Awareness Month
National Sjogren's Syndrome Awareness Month
National Social Security Month
National Soft Pretzel Month
National Soy Foods Month
National Volunteer Month
National Welding Month
National Woodworking Month
National Youth Sports Safety Month
Occupational Therapy Month
Panagyaman Rice Festival
Parkinson's Awareness Month
Parkinson's Awareness Month
Parliamentary Law Month
Pharmacists War on Diabetes Month
Physical Wellness Month
Poetic Earth Month
Prevent Lyme Disease in Dogs Month
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month
Primary Immunodeficiency Month
Records and Information Management Month
Records and Information Management Month
Rosacea Awareness Month
Sarcoidosis Awareness Month
School Library Month
Scottish-American Heritage Month
Sexual Assault Awareness Month
Sports Eye Safety Awareness Month
Step up for 30 For Bowel Cancer Month
STI Awareness Month
Straw Hat Month
Stress Awareness Month
Summer Tire Changeover Month
SunSmart Skin Cancer Prevention
Testicular Cancer Awareness Month
Tomatillo and Asian Pear Month
Women's Eye Health and Safety Month
Workplace Conflict Awareness Month
World Autism Month
World Landscape Architecture Month
Worldwide Bereaved Spouses Awareness Month

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