Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are infections that can be transferred from one person to another through sexual contact. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates there are over 15 million cases of sexually transmitted disease cases reported annually in the United States.
Most STDs are treatable. However, gonorrhea has become resistant to many of the older traditional antibiotics. Other STDs, such as herpes, AIDS, and genital warts, all of which are caused by viruses, have no cure. Some of these infections are very uncomfortable, while others can be deadly. Many STDs can lead to related conditions such as pelvic inflammatory disease, cervical cancer, and complications in pregnancy.
STDs in South Dakota
South Dakota’s STD Prevention & Control Program was initiated in the early 1970’s. Disease trends since that time show the success of focused disease investigation and intervention efforts in reducing the number of STDs in South Dakota.
