Std06

A new study released by the Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention articulates that HIV positive rates have been increasing among the young black gay men; HIV has been rising at a rate of 12 percent each year since 2001. The annual increase rate, at 15 percent, was even higher among the African-American gay men aged between 13 to 24.

"Its clear from the report that half of the American AIDS epedemic is occuring among a few percent of the adult population," says Dr. Ronald Stall, an epidemiologist and professor of public health at the University of Pittsburgh.

Phil Wilson, the head of the Black AIDS Institute in Los Angeles, says, "The figures clearly indicate that it's and epidemic out of control and no concrete steps have been taken to prevent the spread of the infection."

According to the C.D.C. report, Sex among men accounted for more than 97,000 new diagnosis over the six years, while on the other hand the diagnosis attributed to high-risk heterosexual contact and injection-drug use, declined annually by 4.4 percent and 9.5 percent, respectively.

The increase in the infection rates are also attributed to the lack of access to information. Because of the strong new treatments, some men believe that it's a less severe disease than it was once. "If you talk to some of these young men, they say, 'If I do get the infection, I will simply take the blue pill or the pink pill, like my friend," Ron Simmons says.

The number of young "men who have sex with men," or MSM, diagnosed with HIV infection is rising by 12 percent a year in the United States – says the study report recently released by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The CDC study articulates that male-to-male sex was the largest HIV transmission category in the United States between 2001 and 2006. The CDC health experts use the term "men who have sex with men," or MSM instead of homosexuals because many of these men are not strictly homosexual or even bisexual.

According to CDC, the increase is highest among boys and men between the ages of 13 and 24 years who had sex with other males, particularly among ethnic minorities. The double-digit rise in young gay men is about 10 times higher than in the homosexual community overall, where the number of new infections is going up about 1.5 percent a year.

The report describes trends in diagnoses of HIV/AIDS in 33 states including New York, Florida, New Jersey and Texas, all of which have large numbers of HIV-infected people. Of 214,379 diagnoses during the study period, 46 percent were among MSM.

Richard Wolitski, acting director of HIV-AIDS prevention at CDC, says, “These men represent a new generation that has not been personally affected by AIDS in the same way that their older peers were.”

In Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, publication of the CDC, the health officials write, "To reduce transmission of HIV among MSM of all races/ethnicities, prevention strategies should be strengthened, improved, and implemented more broadly.” They add that testing is important because "after persons become aware that they are HIV positive, most reduce their high-risk sexual behavior.

STD means Sexually Transmitted Disease or Venereal disease which is caused due to the sexual contact including vaginal intercourse, oral sex and anal sex among humans and animals. Adolescents and young adults are at higher risk for getting Sexually transmitted disease. There are many grievous forms of STDs, such as AIDS/HIV, Herpes Virus, Syphilis, Trichomoniasis, Pubic Lice and granuloma inquinale and Chancroid.

HIV/AIDS: Human Immunodeficiency virus or Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome is one of very harmful and fatal forms of STD. It occurs mainly through unprotected vaginal or anal sex, through breast milk, and sharing drug needles with an infected person. More than 40 million people worldwide are infected with the HIV virus; 50% women out of those infected. HIV virus doesn’t show symptoms for the first few years. Therefore HIV testing is the only way to know if you are infected. The symptoms which can be seen in a person who is suffering from HIV virus are high flu, swollen lymph glands, headaches, muscle aches, fatigue and fever. So to prevent HIV, you must have monogamous relationship with someone who is free of the HIV virus, always use condom for doing sex and avoid using sharing needles.

Herpes Virus: Herpes is another non curable STD. It occurs through direct skin to skin contact. The symptoms of Herpes Virus are red, sensitive skin that develops sores or blisters, swollen lymph glands in the groin, Headaches, Muscle aches, Fever and Lower back pain. There is no herpes cure. There are certain herpes medications which can shorten the length of the herpes outbreak and ease the discomfort of your symptom.