Question:
"Currently, it is estimated that between 70 and 100 million Americans have been infected with a STD, with 15.3 million new cases of STDs among Americans every year, including 3 million new cases of STDs
annually among American teenagers. In 1993, a review of actual causes of death in the United States estimated that 30,000 deaths occurred as a result of unprotected intercourse, leading to the finding that “unprotected intercourse now represents one of the most rapidly increasing causes of death in the country. While the public may believe that AIDS is the most dangerous STD, this is not the reality at all if the numbers of persons afflicted is considered. HIV/AIDS is not the only STD that is life-threatening; left untreated, diseases such as gonorrhea, syphilis, genital herpes, and the human papilloma virus, can cause serious health consequences, can lead to various forms of cancer, and can kill."

"Half of all new STD infections are viral and incurable. Viral STDs, such as genital herpes (aka HSV-2 or Herpes Simplex II), HPV (human papilloma virus), hepatitis B, and AIDS, are incurable, and may be transmitted throughout the life of the carrier. Genital herpes and HPV are sharply on the rise. Genital herpes and HPV accounted for 65 of the approximately 68 million infections among Americans in 1998; recent estimates are that at least 100 million Americans are affected by these two viruses today, or approximately one in four Americans. These two viruses are rapidly infecting Americans and can lead to tragic consequences, including cancer and death. Genital herpes is the most common viral STD among Americans. The number of Americans who are infected with herpes grew by 30% between the late 70’s and late 90’s, such that 20%-25% of persons over age 12 in the U.S. have
genital herpes as of 1998, or 45 million Americans. Some researchers believe that the number of symptomatic cases of herpes in the U.S. grew eleven fold during the 1970s and 1980s. Complications associated with genital herpes include meningitis, cervical cancer, miscarriage, premature delivery, and high mortality rate of babies born to mothers with herpes."

"Although core group members often transmit diseases to other core group members, they also connect with non-core group members, passing sexual diseases to the general public. Due to the nature of infectious antigens’ need for new bodies to stay in circulation, if the 3% of Americans who represent the core group were to stop transmitting diseases, all sexually transmitted diseases would die out when all infected persons died; thus, some epidemiologists believe that 3% of Americans may be responsible for 100% of sexual disease perpetration. Even if these figures are not exact, there is no question that a small, core group of Americans is responsible for the vast majority of new STD cases. Effective policies to slow the spread of sexual disease must focus on how to educate and deter this core group."

bepress Legal Series, 2006
D A. Pollard
Texas Southern University

Answer:
"Complications associated with genital herpes include meningitis, cervical cancer, miscarriage, premature delivery, and high mortality rate of babies born to mothers with herpes."

I can't say i remember hearing about this anywhere. I know it can lead to mortality in babies if they're born with infections, but premature deliver? Cervical cancer? Meningitis? I know we're supposed to be more susceptible to HIV because HSV is a tax on our immune system, but i've never heard these other things.

"Although core group members often transmit diseases to other core group members, they also connect with non-core group members, passing sexual diseases to the general public. Due to the nature of infectious antigens’ need for new bodies to stay in circulation, if the 3% of Americans who represent the core group were to stop transmitting diseases, all sexually transmitted diseases would die out when all infected persons died; thus, some epidemiologists believe that 3% of Americans may be responsible for 100% of sexual disease perpetration. Even if these figures are not exact, there is no question that a small, core group of Americans is responsible for the vast majority of new STD cases. Effective policies to slow the spread of sexual disease must focus on how to educate and deter this core group."

I'm not sure i understand what a core group is. Do we consist of the "core group"? Does that mean that only 3% of americans are having sex with multiple partners throughout their lifetime? I beg to differ on that one!!! I don't understand how they figure???

Answer:
According to this report

"A 'core' group of promiscuous people are responsible for the vast majority of new sexual disease cases; the vast majority of Americans never transmit a sexual disease to another person, even if they have one."

bepress Legal Series, 2006
D A. Pollard
Texas Southern University



I know! I thought, shit, is this saying I am promisuous??? B/c I slept with someone and they gave me HSV? In my situation, my ex is promiscuous. But, there are many people who have slept with only one person, or a couple, or 4 in their lifetime, and they get this.... I interpret the 'core' as the people who are knowingly infectiong...just my interpretation.

Answer:
Ok, so what they're really saying (without wording it properly) is that 3% of americans are transmitting this knowingly? That would make a bit more sense. I'm also not sure i agree with the thing about people who have a disease but are not promiscuous don't pass it. I know we represent only a small portion of the HSV positive population, and an even smaller percentage of the whole STD positive population, but from the stories i've read here i just can't believe that.

Answer:
The risky or core individuals would perhaps be those who know how sexually transmitted infections are transmitted yet they consistently engage in sexual practices that are not considered safe and do not seek medical attention or sti testing on any regular basis.

They would also perhaps know that they have "something" and still continue to be irresponsible.

I had a family member die from syphilis. He had it his entire life and passed it to his dear wife. (this is treatable)