ABSTRACT
Despite the dramatic appearance of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in the early 1980s, the incidence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) continues to increase in both the developing and the developed world. The early HIV epidemic caused previously undescribed morbidity and mortality in young sexually active people in the United States and Western Europe. This coincided with a reduction in the transmission of STIs due to a reactive increase in the use of barrier contraception and so-called “safe sex.” Unfortunately, since the advent of effective HIV treatment [highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART)], sexual behaviour has changed and the incidence of STIs has increased again; even among those who are HIV infected (1). In developing countries, the incidence of HIV is explosive, and, without effective treatment and STI prevention measures, the outlook seems potentially devastating.
