Prevention and regular testing is promoted by the Iowa Department of Public Health to lower the number of sexually transmitted diseases. April is Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Awareness Month. Cases of infectious syphilis have increased exponentially in Iowa in the past two years, growing from 31 cases in 2011 to 170 in 2013. Across the nation nearly 20 million new sexually transmitted infections occur.

IDPH is promoting vaccines to prevent hepatitis B and some types of the human papillomavirus, as well as reducing the number of sexual partners and proper condom use.

For more information on STD Awareness Month, please visit CDC’s web page.

For more information on Iowa’s Bureau of HIV, STD and Hepatitis, click here.

For testing locations in the area click here.