Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), also called venereal diseases, are caused by germs that travel from person to person through sexual contact. Common STDs include syphilis, chlamydia, genital herpes, gonorrhea, and AIDS. Because the germs that cause STDs die quickly outside the human body, these sicknesses are not spread through coughing, sneezing, or contact with infected objects such as toilet seats or eating utensils. Most STDs, however, can be transmitted from an infected pregnant woman to her baby, often causing serious and life-threatening complications for the infant. Some viral diseases, including AIDS and hepatitis B, are spread through direct exposure to infected blood and can be transmitted through sexual contact or through nonsexual means such as the sharing of needles for drug use.

Sexually transmitted diseases have become a serious health problem in the United States. The Institute of Medicine, an arm of the National Academy of Sciences, asserts...