Picture: Patrons dancing in a club. (Image: Med Mhamdi / Unsplash)

Sexually Transmitted Infections and Diseases:

Note: World Health Organization facts and statistics below, should disturb every individual for its proportion and severity of such self-harm. For example, unwanted pregnancies and abortion, infertility, cancers, pregnancy complications, lifelong drug dependency, premature aging and death due to indiscriminate and reckless indulgence.

Although self acclaimed as the most intelligent species, humans continue to fail in hygiene and health as ADONAI instructed in the TORAH (Leviticus 18:24-30). These vile, shameful and detestable habits are addictive, insatiable and destroy the individual, relationships, families, finances and our species.

Evolution is to optimize health, vitality, proliferation, abundance and endurance; just the way the animal and plant kingdoms live. How intelligent are these that nurture and sustain all living things and the environment?

Key facts

  • More than 1 million curable sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are acquired every day worldwide in people 15–49 years old, the majority of which are asymptomatic.
  • In 2020 there were an estimated 374 million new infections in people 15–49 years with 1 of 4 curable STIs: chlamydia, gonorrhea , syphilis, and trichomoniasis.
  • An estimated 8 million adults between 15 and 49 years old were infected with syphilis in 2022.
  • More than 500 million people aged 15–49 years are estimated to have a genital infection with herpes simplex virus (HSV or herpes) (1).
  • Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is associated with over 311,000 cervical cancer deaths each year (2).
  • 1.1 million pregnant women were estimated to be infected with syphilis in 2022, resulting in over 390,000 adverse birth outcomes.
  • STIs have a direct impact on sexual and reproductive health through stigmatization, infertility, cancers, and pregnancy complications and can increase the risk of HIV.
  • Drug resistance is a major threat to reducing the burden of STIs worldwide.

Overview

More than 30 different bacteria, viruses and parasites are known to be transmitted through sexual contact, including vaginal, anal and oral sex. Some STIs can also be transmitted from mother-to-child during pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding. Eight pathogens are linked to the greatest incidence of STIs. Of these, 4 are currently curable: syphilis, gonorrhoea, chlamydia and trichomoniasis. The other 4 are viral infections: hepatitis B, herpes simplex virus (HSV), HIV and human papillomavirus (HPV).

In addition, emerging outbreaks of new infections that can be acquired by sexual contact such as mpox, Shigella sonnei, Neisseria meningitidis, Ebola and Zika, as well as re-emergence of neglected STIs such as lymphogranuloma venereum. These herald increasing challenges in the provision of adequate services for STIs prevention and control.

World Health Organization: WHO. (2024, May 21). Sexually transmitted infections (STIs). https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/sexually-transmitted-infections-(stis)

 

Leviticus 18:24–30 (CJB)

24 “ ‘Do not make yourselves unclean by any of these things, because all the nations which I am expelling ahead of you are defiled with them. 25 The land has become unclean, and this is why I am punishing it—the land itself will vomit out its inhabitants. 26 But you are to keep my laws and rulings and not engage in any of these disgusting practices, neither the citizen nor the foreigner living with you; (LY: Maftir) 27 for the people of the land have committed all these abominations, and the land is now defiled. 28 If you make the land unclean, it will vomit you out too, just as it is vomiting out the nation that was there before you. 29 For those who engage in any of these disgusting practices, whoever they may be, will be cut off from their people. 30 So keep my charge not to follow any of these abominable customs that others before you have followed and thus defile yourselves by doing them. I am Adonai your God.’ ”

Matthew 15:19 (CJB)

19 For out of the heart come forth wicked thoughts, murder, adultery and other kinds of sexual immorality, theft, lies, slanders.…

Stern, H. (2016). The Complete Jewish Study Bible (1st ed.). Hendrickson Publishers Marketing, LLC.