Epidemiology of the sexually transmitted diseases

We stand on the threshold of a new era for the STDs. The traditional STDs remain serious public health problems, particularly in the developing world, but they pale by comparison with AIDS. We can expect that the number of most STDs will decrease as the "baby boom" generation ages. We may also witness a change in sexual behavior caused in part by the fear of contracting AIDS, genital herpes, and perhaps other STDs. The challenge for the future is to improve control of chlamydial and gonococcal infections to prevent late sequellae such as infertility and ectopic pregnancy; to give greater attention to behavior modification to prevent transmission of AIDS, HSV, and HPV; to improve control of STDs in developing countries; to develop vaccines for the viral STDs, which are most difficult to cure; and to develop a better understanding of the mechanisms by which STD agents interact with each other and their host to cause cancer.