April is STD Awareness Month, an annual observance to raise public awareness about the impact of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) on the lives of Americans and the importance of preventing, testing for, and treating STDs.

There is a strong connection between STDs and HIV, as the behaviors and circumstances that put people at risk for STDs also put them at risk for HIV. Further, having an untreated STD can make a person more susceptible for HIV infection. In fact, being infected with genital herpes makes you 3 times more likely to get infected with HIV, if exposed.

In recognition of STD Awareness Month, we’d like to call our readers’ attention to several excellent resources available on HIV.gov:

• Dr. Gail Bolan’s blog post, STD Prevention is Part of HIV Prevention, about the close link between STD and HIV prevention, and how STD and HIV testing play a strong role in preventing the spread of disease.
• Dr. Ron Valdiserri’s blog post, STD Prevention, Screening, and Treatment Helps Prevent HIV Transmission and Ensure the Health of People Living with HIV about how STDs increase the risk of HIV acquisition and the challenges in preventing and screening for STDs among individuals living with HIV.

To learn more, see our HIV Basics page on Sexual Health for People Living with HIV or visit the CDC’s page on Sexually Transmitted Diseases.