1. The Silent Epidemic
Any pathogen that spreads from one person to another during sexual contact is called a sexually transmitted infection, or STI.
More than 13 million new cases of STIs are reported each year in the United States and over 3 million occur in people under age 20.
some STIs are fatal

2. Harmful Effects of STIs
short term, STIs may cause pain, discomfort, and embarrassment
long-term consequences of STIs
increased risk of certain cancers
and an increased risk of infertility in both men and women
Many STIs can be treated with medicines, but some are incurable.

3. STI Epidemic

4. Avoiding STIs
- transmitted mainly through sexual contact, but a few are also transmitted through contact with the blood of an infected person.
- Healthy behaviors to prevent getting
> practicing abstinence
> avoiding drugs/cloud judgement
> choosing responsible friends

5. Kinds of STIs The Most Common STIs Hepatitis Gonorrhea Trichomoniasis
Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)
Herpes simplex
Chlamydia
Hepatitis
Gonorrhea
Genital Herpes
Syphilis

7. HIV Infection
Human immunodeficiency virus can lead to AIDS, which is an often fatal disease of the immune system.
- immune system becomes severely disabled, the infected person has AIDS.
- HIV infects helper T cells, and reproduces and kills the cell before attacking other Helper cells
HIV is not transmitted by casual contact.
- Small amounts of HIV occur in saliva, tears, and perspiration. (unlikely)

9. Stages of HIV Infection
Opportunistic infections
attack a person with a weakened immune system

10. Transmission of HIV and Risky Behaviors
- People infectious whether or not they have any symptoms of disease.
- Individuals infected can pass the virus on to someone else through the exchange of blood, semen, vaginal secretions, breast milk, open sores
Sexual Contact HIV
Shared Needles HIV
Contact With Blood HIV
Mother to Baby HIV

11. A Global Problem
With approximately 40 million people infected around the world, HIV and AIDS represent a global health problem.
Africa Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for more than half of all global infections.

12. High-Risk Groups and Prevention
higher infection rates in women are often due to a lack of information about how to protect themselves or, in some cases, a lack of power to protect themselves.
The World Health Organization and the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS monitor the situation and recommend steps for stemming the epidemic in different countries.