The diagram and the following are statistics compiled by the American Sexual Health Organization
- More than half of all people will have an STD/STI (sexually transmitted disease/infection) at some point in their lifetime
- There are 19.7 million new STIs every year in the US
- Each year, one in four teens contracts an STD/STI in the US
- It is estimated that as many as one in five Americans have genital herpes, a lifelong (but manageable) infection
- With more than 50 million adults in the US with genital herpes and up to 776,000 new infections each year, some estimates suggest that by 2025 up to 40% of all men and half of all women could be infected
- HPV infection is the cause of cervical cancer in vast majority of cervical cancer cases
These are sobering statistics.
STDs are hidden and they can lead to life-long suffering, infertility, cancer and death.
We can see that in addition to spiritual implications there are severe physical consequences of sexual immorality. The Word of God defines sexual immorality as any sexual behavior outside of marriage, physical AND non-physical. Not only does God want us to have eternal life by being obedient to this Word, but He is looking out for our well-being in this earthly life as well.
Consider the following stern warning by apostle Paul:
1 Corinthians 6:18 “Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body.”
Delight in Truth 
What is non-physical sexual immorality? Lust, etc.?
Yes. And I even think it refers to Sexual Fantasy
“But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart”
And our loving Saviour and LORD will forgive all that come to him in grief over their sins, seeking forgiveness and reconciliation. Let us never forget that – we oft tend to focus on the sin and forget their is forgiveness for the sinner.
Absolutely, the message of the Gospel must always be central in our ministry.
Thank you for your comments, Ali!
staggering numbers…
Why is this information not heard of in the Media frequently? It boggles my mind how so many have their heads stuck in the sand while our kids experiment with sex at very young ages.
I am familiar with these numbers, Delight. As you know, I work in a Christian Pregnancy and Parenting Center. We have handouts that give the statistics you have shared here.
The numbers don’t surprise me. It is my understanding that 70% of all internet pornography is “manufactured” in the U.S. Our kids know so much more about computers than we older folks, and a great percentage have seen things that I haven’t.
Parents need to be more vigilant about monitoring what their kids watch. This is one of the things we stress in one of our parenting classes.
Thank you for getting the word out. It is a sad, but necessary, truth that must be publicized.
God’s blessings…
By the way, a few of those HIV cases are 2 miles down the road at one of the public schools near my home.
Wow… I am speechless.