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According to Iowa Public Radio, the number of sexually transmitted disease cases has quadrupled in just one year and is continuing to climb.

According to CNN, as a country, there are 20 million new infections reported every year. Adolescents and young adults are disproportionately at a greater risk for an STD than other people in the United States.

According to WebMD, syphilis, hepatitis B, gonorrhea and chlamydia are the more common STDs. A lot of people don’t realize they have an STD until it spreads even further. Some forms of STDs don’t show any noticeable symptoms at all, causing the spread to become even more prominent. According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms usually appear within 10 days after exposure. However, some people will not notice symptoms for months. Gonorrhea and chlamydia will eventually cause pain or a burning sensation when urinating; itching, painful bowel movements; pain during intercourse in women; testicular inflammation in men; lower abdominal pain; and thick, cloudy discharge. If left untreated, symptoms will get worse and could cause infertility.

People need to get checked for STDs more often to stop this issue from spreading.

“I think keeping sex education in schools and teaching kids about protection or even just talking about it can help stop the spread,” said Lizzy Coyle, a student at Grand View. “Parents can also help by talking with their kids. To be 100 percent guaranteed not to get STDs is to not have sex, but safer sex lowers the chances of getting it.”

Ruth White, GV’s campus nurse, agreed with Coyle.

“Use condoms, and get tested yearly,” White said. “Now that’s not going to completely protect you, but it will help decrease the risks. There is a rise in the United States. In Des Moines and Iowa, there have been more chlamydia, gonorrhea and even syphilis cases … On campus I see a lot of chlamydia and treat cases like this more often than other STDs.”

She noted that by having fewer partners, the risks of STDs spreading are much lower.

By bringing awareness to this issue, the problem will likely become less of an issue. When following steps to prevention, STDs can be decreased or even prevented for generations to come. Simple options such as practicing abstinence, using protection such as condoms, having fewer partners and getting vaccinated can prevent STDs or decrease the chances of getting one. Some STDs are curable and treatable, so a tip you’ll hear from most health care providers is that if you have any questions or worry at all, just get checked. It never hurts.

There are many locations around the Des Moines areas and in the surrounding towns to get checked. Polk County Health Department, The Project of PHC and InnerVisions Healthcare are a few clinics in Des Moines that offer free STD testing. All your information is protected. Remember to take care of yourself and the people around you, and practice safe sex to help prevent the spread of STDs.