BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF SEXUAL FREEDOM

Abstract

It is difficult to determine the true incidence of sexually transmitted diseases (STD). Underreporting of STD is widespread. In the United Kingdom the available figures exclude patients treated by general practitioners or patients in the armed forces. The incidence of STDs is rising. In 1979 the figure for the United Kingdom was about 500,000 new cases. The most common STD in England and Wales is non-specific urethritis or non-specific genital infection. The increase in gonorrhea has been less dramatic in England and Wales than it has been in other industrial and urbanized countries. Regardless, between 1960 and 1979 the incidence of the disease doubled to 60,000 new cases a year. Recent research has shown another group of sexually transmissible infectious agents which are now more common than the older venereal infections. Viruses are responsible for reversal of this 2nd generation of STDs. Their manifestations range from local discomfort to chronic disability, infertility, ectopic pregnancy, stillbirth, and neonatal death. There are many medical, social and economic factors which contribute to this increase in the incidence of STD and the recognition of the 2nd generation of sexual infections. Some of these are known, others unknown. The introduction of penicillin and other antibiotics has had a great effect on some STDs, notably syphilis. Pelvic inflammatory disease has been the most important cause of increases in female infertility and ectopic pregnancy. The new generation of STDs has serious and potentially dangerous effects on both expectant mothers and their infants.