Three common STIs—chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis—are surging across the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Young people are especially hard-hit. In fact, because reported cases only account for a fraction of the national burden, CDC estimates 15-24-year olds account for half of all new sexually transmitted infections each year. Idaho is no exception. In 2017 alone, Idaho reported 66% of new Chlamydia cases within this age group.
“The consequences of STIs are especially severe for young people,” said Gail Bolan, M.D., director of CDC’s Division of STI Prevention. “Because chlamydia and gonorrhea often have no symptoms, many infections go undiagnosed and this can lead to lifelong repercussions for a woman’s reproductive health, including pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility.”
Untreated STIs can also increase a person’s risk of getting HIV, or passing it to a partner if they’re living with HIV.
Early detection through testing is key to avoiding these consequences, yet research has shown many adolescents don’t talk with their providers about sexual health issues at all during annual health visits.
This is where GYT comes in. GYT,” get yourself tested”, is a youth-focused campaign that encourages STI testing.
GYT helps young people understand that STI testing is quick, simple, and usually painless. It also underscores the importance of having open and honest conversations with their healthcare provider about their sexual history to ensure they get the right STI tests and other critical information about prevention.
Those who are not comfortable talking with their regular healthcare provider about STIs can access CDC’s online testing locator to find a convenient testing site that is free or low cost.
Getting tested for STIs is one of the most important things a person can do to protect their health, but it’s not the only thing. There are several ways to prevent STI’s. The most reliable way is to not have sex (vaginal, oral, or anal), but there are many other tried-and-true options: talking openly with your partner and medical providers about STIs, using condoms the right way from start to finish, and reducing the number of sexual partners.
Those who test positive for an STI should get treated right away – and be sure their partner is also treated to lower the risk of getting infected again. Visit the GYT: Get Yourself Tested campaign website for more information on STD testing and prevention. Here at the University of Idaho, we’ve adapted the GYT campaign to be GYT3 to include get yourself talking, get yourself tested, get yourself treated. Visit uidaho.edu/sexualhealth for campus resources and events throughout the month promoting STI awareness.