We are still here talking about sexually transmitted diseases

We are in 2024. Cars are flying, Artificial Intelligence generates entire movie trailers at the cost of who knows how many natural resources, which are running out anyway, we carry with us every day a device that allows us, with a couple of taps, to access all the world's knowledge in 2 seconds, just learn to distinguish what is true and what is false, scientific information from pseudoscientific information. One would expect - especially from a country that prides itself on keeping up with the times and is undoubtedly in the fortunate part of the world - that sexually transmitted diseases would not say be eradicated, but very rare. Unfortunately, the reality is more complex and challenging, it speaks of neglect and misinformation, of a Government that absolutely does not want to introduce sex education in schools, that is afraid to talk about sex and prevention. And the results (or rather the damage) are measurable.

Sexually Transmitted Diseases: The Situation in Italy

Barbara Suligoi, director of the AIDS Operations Center at the Italian National Institute of Health, stated on the occasion of the XVI edition of ICAR (Italian Conference on AIDS and Antiviral Research) that the 2022 data for Italy show a increase in Sexually Transmitted Infections, especially among young people. "For gonorrhea, about 1,200 cases were reported to the sentinel system, which, compared to 820 in 2021, implies a 50% increase. For syphilis, we went from 580 cases in 2021 to 700, an increase of 20%. This rise in numbers is not just an effect of the greater socialization that occurred after the acute phases of the COVID-19 pandemic. This increase is also observed compared to 2019, when there were 610 cases of gonorrhea (a 100% increase since then), while cases of syphilis were 470, up more than 50%. The same trend is seen with chlamydia: from 800 cases in 2019 to 993 in 2022, a 25% increase," she explains. "The most significant aspect is the involvement of young people, particularly girls under 25: the prevalence of chlamydia among young women in this age group is 7%, while above 40 years, it is just 1%. In 3 out of 4 cases, the infection is asymptomatic, so many girls are unaware of it for a long time," she concludes.

An Information Problem

According to Suligoi, the problem starts with accessing information and the lack of education on prevention: "Young people often do not know where to find information and where to get the necessary check-ups, they do not regularly visit a specialist as adults do with gynecologists and andrologists. Moreover, they often rely on the web, with sources that are approximate if not misleading." "These factors start a cycle of unawareness, which exponentially increases during social moments, where prudence and protective measures are dropped. Additionally, some young people use drugs or engage in chemsex, but because these activities are considered occasional, they mistakenly do not see them as risk situations. Therefore, more information is needed, sexual education in schools, clear paths on the territory for those who need prompt counseling in case of suspected STIs," she concludes, comprehensively yet alarmingly. Also because clear paths on the territory are lacking.

Tips and Useful Resources for Preventing Sexually Transmitted Diseases

If you are adults and aware, a good idea could be to explain prevention and what to do in case of doubts and concerns about your sexual health to the younger and less experienced people in your life, without taboos and without judgment, remaining as neutral and informative as possible. The next step is to advocate for the establishment of sexual and emotional education courses in schools, for the creation of prevention campaigns, for the training of psychologists, sexologists, and gynecologists ready to answer any questions without alienating or intimidating. If you are unsure what to do, before engaging in any sexual behavior (even oral sex!), it's wise to ensure you are healthy, get specific tests done, and ask your partner (especially if they are casual) to do the same. Always seek advice from your doctor, differentiate verified from unverified information, and avoid putting yourself and others at risk.