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Silent Epidemic Rages On
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t's still the " silent epidemic." No
one likes to talk about gonorrhea
and syphilís and the more than 20
other sexually transmitted diseases
(STDs) which are literally out of control
in nations throughout the world today.
Yet the startling fact is that these dis–
eases, as a group, are by lar the num–
ber one communicab l e d i sease
problem in the world!
Many people are " playing around"
with sex without knowing the dangers
involved, and are getting badly hurt.
The statist ics are staggering. Last year
over one million cases of gonorrhea
alone were reported in the United
States, and it is estimated that when
the unreported cases are considered,
the actual number is closer to
tour
mil–
lion . Gonorrhea and syphilis account
for more infections every year than
measles, mumps, scarlet fever, strep
throat , hepatitis, and tuberculosis com–
binedl In the United States, a new in–
fection of gonorrhea or syphilis occurs
every ten seconds!
Venereal disease is clearly our num–
ber one communicable disease prob–
lem. lt's ironic, therefore, that a society
that likes to pride itself on its frankness
and openness about sexual matters
still takes such an embarrassed and
hush-hush attitude about venereal dis–
eases.
For years , many newspapers
wouldn 't even print the words syphilis
or gonorrhea, and in many households
they 're stil l good for a round of blushes
if spoken aloud. Sorne people find that
they don't turn quite so crimson if the
terms are given the more " polite" label
of " social diseases." Others still won't
The
PLAIN TRUTH March 1978
discuss the problem with a ten-foot eu–
phemism.
Many parents feel that if you teach
children about VD, you encourage
them to be sexually promiscuous. Ac–
tually, it's just the opposite. lf young
people were properly informed of the
potential for brain damage , hear t
trouble. paralysis, steril ity, and gro–
tesque, crippling deformlties which
otten
accompany venereal diseases,
they'd certainly think twice before risk–
ing infect ion.
1 know it doesn' t do much good to
say, " Parents, sit down and talk with
your kids about venereal disease, " be–
cause what is real ly needed is for par–
ents to establish over the years an
ongoing dialogue with their children
about all aspects of sex and sexual ity
in a climate of openness and whole–
someness in the home.
But it seems that too many parents
are just too "embarrassed." They sit
back and hope that the schools will do
their job for them. And then, when their
kids come home with VD. they shake
their heads and wonder why, and dis–
claim any personal responsibility.
There are many public myths and
misconceptions about VD. Many wi ll
find it startling to learn that even faithful
marriage partners and virgin men and
women can become infected with
sorne of the two dozen or so sexually
transmittable diseases known today.
Therefore, it is wrong to automatical ly
place sorne sort ol stigma on the vic–
tims of such a disease.
Another misconception is that if an
infection does happen, there is no
need to worry because a shot of this or
that drug can quickly take care ol the
problem. Many do not realize that dam–
age may be irreversible even though
the inlection is treatable with antibiot–
ícs.
Sorne ol the wrong ideas and old
wives' tales about VD are actually con–
tributing to the skyrocketing epidemic
we see today. With proper knowledge,
many ol these dangerous diseases
could be prevented.
Moreover, mi llions ol people today
are unknowíngly inlected with venereal
disease. Women in particular otten lack
early or easíly recognizable symptoms.
Many ol these unknowing victims are,
unlortunately, innocent bystanders,
such as laithlul mates and even chil–
dren, who may lace serious and possi–
bly irreversible health damage despite
eventual medical treatment.
Venereal diseases are great health
destroyers. One cannot afford to take
the attitude, " lt can' t happen to me. "
Only by becoming personally inlormed
of the facts about VD can one effec–
tively deal with the problem.
As a free educational service in the
public interest, we have just published
a new, completely updated and com–
prehensive booklet on VD entitled
The
Sifent Epidemic.
This booklet contains
the vital facts you need to know about
every aspect of the venereal disease
crisis.
In this age ot growing sexual permis–
siveness and plummeting moral stan–
dards, it's a booklet which míllions
desperately need to read. And it's a
booklet every parent needs to study to
be able to better present the subject to
hís or her children.
o
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