National Naval Medical Center Promotes STD Prevention, Education

By Sarah Fortney, National Naval Medical Center Public Affairs

April 17, 2010 - BETHESDA, Md. (NNS) -- In light of staggering statistics dealing with the spread of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), April is STD Awareness Month and health care providers are raising awareness about the consequences of unprotected sex and the impact STDs have on overall health.

An estimated 19 million new cases of STDs are reported in the U.S. every year, almost half of which are among people under age 25, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

At the National Naval Medical Center, health care practitioners educate service members and patients about STDs not just during the month of April, but throughout the year. In the Infectious Diseases clinic, providers help patients identify modes of treatment and offer referrals for treatment, said Lynn Johnson, a counselor in the Infectious Diseases clinic.

Johnson, who gives weekly lectures in the OB/GYN clinic, said the Infectious Diseases Clinic also provides counseling for patients who have contracted an STD, noting it is more common today for people who have contracted an STD to have more than one at a time.

Those who seek treatment for an STD are often, but not always, found to be engaging in risky lifestyles and, therefore, might need counseling for an underlying mental health issue. Johnson added that alcohol and drug use are also common factors in the equation, as they alter a person's sense of security and impair judgment. He encourages individuals to recognize these factors and to practice safe sex.

"Get to know your partner, and don't let emotions get in the way," Johnson said. "You are responsible for your actions."

At NNMC, he said, health practitioners see patients with various types of STDs, but there are a few that seem to be more prevalent.

"Chlamydia is the most common STD we see, then gonorrhea, then syphilis," he said.

Unlike gonorrhea and syphilis, which are associated with symptoms that are painful and discomforting, symptoms of chlamydia are usually mild or absent, he said. Thus, many individuals who have the disease may not know they have it and are likely to continue spreading it.

According to the CDC, chlamydia is one of the most common STDs in the country, especially among young women. It can potentially cause damage to their reproductive organs, infertility and pregnancy complications.

Johnson added that people who have contracted an STD are at an increased risk of becoming HIV positive. Those who are sexually active in the D.C. area should be especially cautious, as the area has the highest number of people infected with HIV in the country, he said.

In the military, he said, there is a common misconception that service members are "safe" against STDs when, in fact, they are just as at risk and should be just as careful.

In the Navy, Sailors are required to be tested for HIV every two years, but are not limited to that requirement – they can be tested more often if they so choose.