National STD Awareness Month
To the Georgia Section of the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Recently, Ralph Hale MD, the executive vice president of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists sent out a report regarding National STD Awareness Month. Throughout April, MTV and the Kaiser Foundation, working with the CDC and other supporting organizations are supporting the GYT (“Get Yourself Tested”) campaign. This campaign is an attempt to inform young people about STDs and to normalize testing.
This brings us an opportunity to enlist the support of the ob/gyns of this state to address the continued high burden of Chlamydia infections, especially among young women under 25. The college is encouraging providers to increase Chlamydia screening rates. Routine annual screening for sexually active females 25 years of age or younger is now recommended by the college, as well as the American Academy of Family Physicians, American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Preventive Medicine, the AMA and the CDC.
Please try to enlist this screening into your routine exam for the age groups mentioned above. Go to the college web site for additional information.