Over the last 50 years, rates of sexually transmitted diseases have risen globally, in part due to increased sexual activity and mutations in diseases like HIV. Los Angeles has struggled with outbreaks of STDs like syphilis and gonorrhea due to its large population. While education and free testing programs have helped reduce infection rates, Los Angeles continues to see average yearly increases in STDs. Residents are encouraged to get tested regularly and use condoms to further reduce transmission rates.

1. Los
Angeles
STD
Testing
Over
the
last
50
years
there
has
been
a
steady
global
rise
in
the
number
of
sexually
transmitted
disease
infection
cases.
Some
scientists
say
that
this
steady
rise
has
been
in
part
due
to
the
sexual
revolution
of
the
60’s;
others
posit
that
perhaps
there
have
been
aggressive
mutations
in
the
genetic
structure
of
the
most
common
diseases
such
as
syphilis,
herpes,
gonorrhea,
hiv,
chlamydia,
and
HPV.
Although
its
possible
that
both
of
these
explanations
may
be
true,
the
only
thing
we
know
for
certain
is
that
now,
more
than
ever,
we
should
be
increasing
our
awareness
of
STD
testing
and
promoting
sexual
health
as
a
topic
of
great
importance,
instead
of
embarrassment.
When
looking
at
the
data,
we
can
see
that
unsurprisingly
the
greatest
increases
in
sexual
transmission
of
diseases
is
found
in
large
cities
and
metropolitan
areas.
Los
Angeles,
California,
is
one
of
the
largest
metropolitan
areas
in
the
United
States
and
consequently
has
been
dealing
with
major
outbreaks
of
STDs
like
syphilis,
gonorrhea
and
chlamydia.
In
the
80’s
Los
Angeles
was
facing
a
rising
infection
rate
of
HIV
among
its
African
American
population,
although
today
the
infection
rates
have
been
increasing
less
dramatically
thanks
to
an
increased
focus
on
educating
the
residents
on
the
dangers
of
unsafe
sex,
as
well
as
the
consequences
of
HIV.
Universities
in
the
area
like
Loyola
Marymount,
USC,
and
University
of
California,
Los
Angeles,
have
been
integrating
sexual
health
education
into
their
cirriculums
in
an
effort
to
stem
the
spread
of
infections
through
education
their
students.
Although
this
has
helped
bring
the
rapid
rates
of
disease
infection
to
a
less
rapid
rate
of
infection
we
are
still
seeing
an
average
increase
year
over
year.
Government
sponsored
programs
to
reduce
the
rate
of
STD
transmission
have
included
things
like
education
aimed
at
drug
users
who
were
passing
diseases
like
HIV
and
hepatitis
to
each
other
through
shared
use
of
intravenous
needles,
as
well
as
giving
our
free
condoms
at
local
Planned
Parenthood
offices
and
on
college
campuses.
If
condom
use
increased
a
substantial
rate
in
the
Los
Angeles
area
we
would
see
both
a
decrease
in
unwanted
pregnancies
and
in
the
amount
of
sexually
transmitted
disease
infections
in
the
county.
One
of
the
most
important
things
that
the
residents
of
the
city
can
do
to
take
their
sexual
health
seriously
is
by
following
the
CDC’s
advice
on
STD
Testing.
You
should
get
tested
after
every
sexual
encounter
you
have
without
protection;
you
should
get
tested
at
least
4
times
a
year;
and
you
should
get
tested
often
if
you
are
sleeping
with
multiple
partners.

2. More
Info
on
testing
in
Los
Angeles
Found
at
http://www.stdawarelosangeles.com