February is Sexual Health Awareness Month

Press release

February is traditionally known as the month of love and romance. However, along with roses and chocolate comes the need to make well-informed choices about intimate relationships and sexuality. That is why February has been deemed Sexual Health Awareness Month.

Sexual Health Awareness Month aims to raise awareness about the impact of sexually transmitted diseases, or STDs. It’s a time to stress the importance that people honestly discuss all matters of sexual health with their healthcare providers and if sexually active, their partners.

Regardless of race or gender, data show that sexually active teens and young adults are at an increased risk for STDs when compared to older adults.

• Every year in the United States, there are an estimated 19 million new infections.

• The CDC estimates that even though young people represent only 25 percent of the sexually experienced population, nearly half of all STD cases occur in young people aged 15 to 24.

• More chlamydia cases were diagnosed in Montana among people aged 20–24 years, 41 percent, than any other age group.

• In Montana in 2016, the chlamydia incidence rate for people identified as American Indian was more than four times greater than those who reported as white.

Chlamydia is one of the most common STDs, especially among young women. Hill County Family Planning recommends that all sexually active women younger than age 25 be tested for chlamydia once a year. Women 25 and older who have a new sex partner, more than one sex partner, a sex partner with concurrent partners, or a sex partner who has a sexually transmitted infection should be tested.

The good news is that most STDs are treatable, and many are curable — early detection through testing is key. Yet, stigma, inconsistent or incorrect condom use, access to health care, and a combination of other factors contribute to high rates of STDs among teens and young adults.

You can participate in Sexual Health Awareness Month by talking with the young adults in your life and ensure that they are well-equipped with the knowledge to make positive choices when it comes to their sexual health. Hill County Family Planning is encouraging honest and open communication regarding sexuality. Hill County Family Planning can offer a variety of educational materials, resources, and learning opportunities to discuss healthy sexuality. For more information or opportunities, people can contact Hill County Family Planning, Wanda Meredith RN, 265-5481, ext. 256.