February 14^th is National Condom Day

The American Social Health Association Urges Americans to Get Passionate About Prevention

For Immediate Release

Research Triangle Park, NC - February 14^th is National Condom Day, and the American Social Health Association (ASHA) urges Americans to Get Passionate About Prevention! "Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) remain one of nation's biggest public health threats, and it is high time that we as a nation we get serious, get passionate about addressing the problem," says James R. Allen, MD, MPH, ASHA's President & CEO.

Here are the facts:

• Every year, there are approximately 15 million new cases of STDs
  
• More than 65 million people in the US are living with a chronic STD such as herpes or HPV.
  
• Two-thirds of all STDs occur in people 25 years of age or younger.
  
• One in four new STD infections occur in teenagers.
  
• At least one in four Americans will contract an STD at some point in their lives.
  
• At least 15 percent of all infertile American women are infertile because of tubal damage resulting from an untreated STD.
  
• Each year it costs more than $8 billion to diagnose and treat STDs and their complications.