There are few acronyms more scary and stigmatized among our populations than STD. Sexually transmitted diseases, unlike most illnesses, carry with them a measure of shame or guilt -- people who contract them feel dirty, careless or violated by the person who got them sick. The facts about Americans living with STDs are sobering. More than 110 million Americans are living with an STD, and more than 20 million new cases are diagnosed every year. Some STDs, like HPV, are so prevalent that the CDC reports that most sexually active men and women will get at least one type of HPV at some point in their lives.

The CDC has published screening recommendations for sexually active adults to test for STDs:

●     Everyone should get at least one HIV test.

●     All sexually active women younger than the age of 25 and older women who have risk factors like new or multiple sex partners should be screened annually for chlamydia.

●     At-risk sexually active women should be screened annually for gonorrhea.

●     Pregnant women should be screened for syphilis, HIV, chlamydia and hepatitis B, and at-risk pregnant women should be screened for gonorrhea during their first prenatal visit.

●     All HIV-infected women should be screened annually for trichomoniasis.

●     All sexually active gay and bisexual men should be screened at least annually for syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea and HIV.

●     Those who have had multiple or anonymous partners should be screened more frequently for STDs (preferably in three- or six-month intervals).

●     Those who use illegal drugs, particularly methamphetamine, and those whose partners use drugs should be screened more frequently.