STDs, AIDS, and heterosexuals

The U.S. HIV/AIDS epidemic has evolved recently in ways that suggest that STDs among heterosexuals are becoming increasingly important.⁽¹⁾

Heterosexual HIV transmission is responsible for the most rapidly increasing subset of U.S. AIDS cases.  

	The most striking recent subpopulation increase in AIDS in the United States is among women, particularly young African-American women, among whom the burden of other STDs is disproportionately high.
	An increasing proportion of all AIDS cases are being reported in the southeastern United States, an area where syphilis and gonorrhea are disproportionately high.

Footnote

(1) HIV spreads differently with ulcerative and non-ulcerative STDs.  Ulcerative STDs:  When ulcerative STDs bleed during sex, HIV can come in contact with the partner's vaginal, cervical, oral, urethral, and rectal mucosa.  Non-ulcerative STDs:  The inflamed tissues of non-ulcerative STDs appear to increase the prevalence of HIV in genital secretions. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. 1998. "HIV prevention through early detection and treatment of other sexually transmitted diseases - United States." vol. 47. no. RR-12. 24 pages.  

For information on sexual risk behaviors for people living in selected states, see Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. 2001. "Prevalence of risk behaviors for HIV infection among adults -- United States, 1997." April. pages 262-285.

For a list of other materials used on this website, see References.