Sexually transmitted diseases are some of the most stigmatized in our society, and a large reason why is that one has to admit to being sexually active. This is largely looked down upon, especially for women who decide to be sexually active. Women are also more likely to be misdiagnosed and ignored for their symptoms compared to men. It is no wonder that so many cases go unreported and STDs are on the rise. As methods for prevention against pregnancy gain more popularity, people begin to disregard the risks of STDs.
The number of STDs have hit a record high in the USA and numbers continue to rise despite public health officials efforts. Particularly gonorrhea and syphilis have reached numbers not seen since 1991 in 2018. The reason why is unclear, as there is better testing and public knowledge and yet numbers continue rising unheeded. I think that part of the reason is that people are afraid to get tested for these because there is such a social stigma against STDs, and one faces the risk of judgement from their loved ones. Another might be the high cost of healthcare, especially because many who fear repercussions from family cannot afford treatment on their own.
Another factor is the double standards in society against women. Women who are sexually active are viewed as lesser and more of the blame is placed on them. They are also more susceptible to STDs due to the anatomy of the vagina. Women also have a tendency to be misdiagnosed in healthcare, and STDs are no exception to this. The symptoms of STDs in women are a lot more nonspecific and can be due to many reasons, not just an STD. I think the only reason to solve this problem is to have better training for women to be able to tell when something is off and to de-stigmatize STDs, so that they will actively seek out help. Another is to make better tests so that it does not take as long to diagnose women when they need help.
Fluffy Cows 