STIs can be divided into two general categories, those than
can be cured and those that cannot. The curable STIs are mostly
bacterial. If not treated, some can lead to pelvic inflammatory
disease, or PID, in women. Untreated PID can cause chronic pain,
damage the fallopian tubes and result in infertility. Untreated
bacterial STIs also can cause infertility among men. Infertility
can be a problem for young women in cultures where social status
depends heavily upon childbearing.
Even more tragic are viral STIs, especially HIV, which leads
to AIDS and is almost always fatal without expensive drug regimens,
which are largely unavailable in developing countries. Globally,
at least half of those currently infected with HIV are younger
than 25. The incidence of AIDS is increasing rapidly among young
females. Learning that one is infected with an incurable STI
can have serious physical and psychological consequences in
individuals. The rate of HIV infection among young people is
harmful to the larger society as well, weakening the work force
and reducing the number of future leaders in the social fabric
of a country.
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