As the numbers of cases of sexually transmitted disease continue to rise in Maine and across the nation, state health officials are emphasizing the importance of prevention, testing and treatment.
“The problem with sexually transmitted diseases is that, for many people, they don’t have any symptoms, so they don’t know they have the infection, but the consequences of having an infection can be quite serious,” says state epidemiologist Siiri Bennett.
Bennett says the rates of syphilis and gonorrhea have increased dramatically in the past five years.
“Both of them are treatable, and the important thing to remember is, if you treat early, it’s easier and you’re better off, and the other thing is that if you have one of the infections and you’re treated, you need to make sure your partner is treated at the same time,” she says.
Tuesday is the final day of National Sexually Transmitted Disease Awareness Month.