What to Know About STD Awareness Week

STD Awareness Week, which is observed April 10-16 this year, provides us with a unique opportunity to raise awareness about sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), also known as sexually transmitted infections (STIs). At Seattle Pride, we know that STDs and STIs can greatly impact peoples’ lives. The goal of STD Awareness Week is to educate the general public on STDs and STIs to reduce stigma, fear and discrimination surrounding them. Luckily, there are many campaigns dedicated to providing people with the knowledge, tools and resources necessary to navigate STDs in avoiding them or promptly treating them.

CDC Campaign Toolkit – The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has an expansive toolkit with a variety of campaigns to select based on what works best for you. These campaigns are full of resources to keep your sexual health in check.

GYT: Get Yourself Tested – A campaign that encourages young people to get tested and subsequently treated for STDs and HIV, GYT focuses on protecting the health of people and their partners. STDs particularly take a toll on young people, and GYT highlights the ease with which one can get tested for and prevent STDs.

Prepare Before You’re There – This is a new campaign to make sexual health intentional. Because research shows people may not believe they are at risk of STDs and STIs even if they’re engaging in risky behavior, people don’t take steps to keep themselves and their partners sexually healthy. This program even includes a quick quiz to see how at risk you are for an STD or STI.

Talk. Test. Treat. – This campaign encourages an open line of communication between individuals and their healthcare providers. Talking openly about STDs and their risks opens the door for testing and treatment. Talk. Test. Treat. also emphasizes that all STDs are preventable and treatable, and that most are curable.

STI National Strategic Plan – Led by the Office of Infectious Disease and HIV/AIDS Policy, this strategic plan provides a roadmap toward a nation where STIs are prevented, and every person has high-quality STI prevention, care and treatment while living free from stigma and discrimination.

Seattle Pride encourages everyone to help increase awareness about STDs in hopes that all together, we can break down the stigma surrounding these commonly occurring diseases. In honor of STD Awareness Week, be sure to do your part by educating yourself and others on STDs this week and year-round.