Nothing Beats Abstinence & Condom Use, But That’s Not the Whole Story
Public health officials properly stress abstinence from sex and condom use as a way to address the super high chlamydia STD rate in African Americans, but little is said about the impact of improving our nutrition. Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted disease and is ONLY transmitted by having sex so the clear solution is not having sex or blocking the exchange of bodily fluids (condoms).
So what about this topic is so complicated?
African Americans have slightly more sexual encounters overall than members of other racial groups, and Black men have the highest number of sexual partners. That many partners expose them to a higher chance of catching and spreading a sexually transmitted disease (STD). That drives a lot of the increased rate of STDs in the Black community, but not all. The graph below shows that single White men (the orange bars) have the highest amount of “no” and “one partner” but Black men (the red bars) have more 2-, 3-, and 4+ partners.
Single Black women (the red bars) show a similar pattern with the lowest “no partner” and second highest “one partner” but then the highest “2-, 3-, 4+ partners.” Hispanic Latino women (the blue bars) have the lowest multiple partner profile and the highest single partner profile.
The point of these graphs is THE DIFFERENCE between the race or ethnicities is not great for any of these categories. The bars, while different, are not that different. As you look at the following STD graph, you will see more dramatic differences with African Americans.
Data also shows that African American men have the highest condom use. The article below examined codon use by race and the results even surprised the authors. Higher condom use should lead to lowerSTD rates.
If African Americans have only a slightly higher rate of having sex and a higher condom use, why are the STD rates off the charts? The answer is found in our poor nutrition which leads to poorer health which leads to a greater risk for CATCHING an infection . . . including an STD.
As I have written in the past, African Americans have the HIGHEST vitamin D deficiencies and the article shown above reviews how vitamin D is important for a highly functioning immune system. Having the highest rate of low vitamin D could be driving some of these out-of-control STD rates.
African Americans have, by far, the highest rate of the sexually transmitted disease chlamydia, having over six times the rate of Whites. Data shows that communities of color make up the vast majority of infections.
Asian Americans have the longest life expectancy and one of the best overall diets and have the lowest rates of chlamydia infections at half the rates of White Americans and twelve times less than Blacks.
Chlamydia Rates High in Black Lesbian & Bisexual Women
A study from the University of Alabama looked at chlamydia STD infection rates in African American women who only had sex with women and again found surprisingly high rates of chlamydia. However, these rates were statistically lower than women who have sex with men. Another study from Seattle looked at data from family planning clinics and also found high rates of chlamydia infections in women reporting exclusively “same-sex behaviors.”
It is well known that men who have sex with men have high rates of STDs, but many women who have sex exclusively with women are unaware of this very real risk.
Let’s learn a little bit more about this highly infectious sexually transmitted disease.
Chlamydia is the MOST common STD in the WORLD
Chlamydia is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the country (and the world) and is caused by a bacteria known as chlamydia trachomatis. Most women (about three in four) have no symptoms or indication that they are infected. Not having symptoms means they don’t know they are infected, and they don’t know to get it treated. Those with symptoms notice an increased vaginal discharge (increased fluid), pain with peeing, pain with sex, or increased bleeding after sex.
If chlamydia is left untreated, it can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (also called PID), an emergency situation requiring immediate attention. If PID goes untreated, it could impact a woman’s ability to have children. The graph below shows the occurrence of chlamydia in men (purple) and women (orange) per 100,000 cases in the US by their age (listed in the center column).
Chlamydia in Men
In men, having symptoms with a chlamydia infection is more common, and they may notice pain with peeing, a white, cloudy or watery discharge (fluid) from their penis, burning or itching in their urethra, or pain in their testicles (genitals or “balls”). And again, if left untreated, chlamydia can cause more serious infections in men too.
Much More Chlamydia Infections in Younger Black Girls
The overall occurrence of chlamydia cases in African Americans in the United States is by far the highest and over six times the rate of White people. The rate of these chlamydia cases in Black women is 5 times higher than White women. The chlamydia cases were highest for Blacks aged 15 to 24 years old.
Black Women Have a Higher Rate Than Black Men
Overall, Black women have a much higher rate of chlamydia than Black men. That is because women usually don’t have symptoms until they have had chlamydia for a longer time. Black women aged 20 to 24 have the highest risk. The second highest risk is in teen women 15 to 19 years old. Data also show these younger Black women have the worst nutrition. Poor nutrition leads to poor health and a poor immune system and makes you more prone to infections, including STDs.
STD Rates Go Down With Age
As we age, the risk for all sexually transmitted diseases goes down significantly. Black women aged 20 to 24 have twice the rate of Black men of the same age. Black women in their late teens have three times the infections that Black men of the same age.
Among males aged 15–19 years, the rate of reported chlamydia cases among Blacks was 9 times the rate among Whites. The rate of chlamydia cases for Black males aged 20–24 years was 5 times the rate among White males. Black men over 35 consistently have higher rates of chlamydia than Black women over 35.
Nutrition Goes Up With Age
Comparing the nutrition of younger Black men and women, we see a similar pattern of diets lacking vitamin C, vitamin D, zinc, and more. As they age, diets improve, and the infection rates decrease. Overall older Black men and women eat more fruit and vegetables . . . and they take more multivitamins and other supplements.
The moral of this story is we are missing some of what contributes to the high STD rates in African Americans . . . their nutrition. In addition to stressing abstinence and condom use, we also need to ask “When was the last time you had a bowl of fresh fruit?”
Greg Hall, MD is a physician, author, speaker, inventor, professor, and public health professional, specializing in urban health and the clinical care of African Americans. Dr. Hall’s extensive research in the care of African Americans lead to the development of GNetX Sequence Multivitamins a supplement developed to support African American needs. Most recently, Dr. Hall established the National Institute for African American Health, which is a nonprofit designed to promote health-related education, support students interested in a career in medicine, and serve as an advocate for African American patients. You can keep in touch with Dr. Hall by tuning into his Better Black Health Podcast where he covers Black American health topics.
Do you have trouble with recurrent sexually transmitted disease (STD) infections? Is bacterial vaginitis a recurrent problem? African Americans have the highest rate of HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea, herpes, and bacterial vaginitis in the country while not having much higher rates of sex or sexual partners. Why would the Black community have these super high rates of STDs without also having much more sex?
The answer may surprise you. Researchers have shown that people with poorer nutrition have higher infection susceptibility; in other words, they are more prone to “catch something” including a cold, the flu, a chemical imbalance, or an STD.
All of these issues are related to your immune system, or your body’s ability to fight off an infection. Your immune system constantly monitors your body’s status in terms of exposure to something that might make you ill. When it sees something, like a bacteria or virus, it kicks in and attacks it before it can make you sick. Once bacteria and viruses start to multiply, they are harder to control and kill without added antibiotics.
The key to a healthy life is a strong immune system.
Your immune system is a system of cells and fluids that are built to fight off infections.
A healthy body is the first step to maintaining a healthy immune system. Deficiencies in nutrients like vitamins and minerals can lead to poor immune function, making you more susceptible to conditions such as HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea, or herpes. People with diets rich in fresh fruits and vegetables have lower rates of infections overall and lower sexually transmitted disease (STD) rates.
Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) Occur Too Often in the Black Community
STDs are too common in African Americans. African Americans have the highest rate of HIV (AIDS), syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and herpes. In fact, the gonorrhea rate in African Americans is 30 times higher than it is in Whites. These alarmingly high rates of sexually transmitted diseases are surprisingly constant when it comes to the Black community.
One STD Leads to Another
It is also true that getting one sexually transmitted disease puts you at an increased risk of getting another sexually transmitted disease. That is why doctors are trained to screen for other STDs when they see one. Everyone who tests positive for chlamydia or gonorrhea gets tested for HIV (and the other way around). Women with bacterial vaginitis have a higher risk of contracting an STD.
Some People Never Get STDs
It is also surprising that many people manage to never (or rarely) get sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). What is special about them? Many believe it is their health and nutrition that strengthen their immune system and allow them not to get infected when others not as healthy in the same situation would get infected.
Vitamin C, vitamin D, and zinc deficiency are key to a healthy immune system. Ironically, vitamin C, vitamin D, and zinc deficiencies are common in the Black community. Is this a coincidence? Absolutely not.
Always Practice SAFE Sex to Avoid STDs: Condoms and Avoiding Sex Always Works!
Don’t forget that practicing safe sex including using condoms and abstinence is key to avoiding any STD . . . no sex, no sexually transmitted disease . . . it is that simple. And never think you are too healthy to get an STD; there is no evidence of that either. Get screened regularly by your doctor for STDs because some people have no idea that they are carrying a sexually transmitted disease and may innocently pass it to someone else.
Nutrition Can Also Make a Difference
But beyond those critically true facts, having a strong immune system through having a healthy diet that includes FRESH vegetables and FRESH fruit (NOT canned, packaged, or processed) coupled with a multivitamin and mineral supplement with the extra vitamin D almost all African Americans need can make a difference. With your health, always start with the basics of diet, nutrition, and exercise.
Greg Hall, MD is a physician, author, speaker, inventor, professor, and public health professional, specializing in urban health and the clinical care of African Americans. Dr. Hall’s extensive research in the care of African Americans lead to the development of GNetX Sequence Multivitamins a supplement developed to support African American needs. Most recently, Dr. Hall established the National Institute for African American Health, which is a nonprofit designed to promote health-related education, support students interested in a career in medicine, and serve as an advocate for African American patients. You can keep in touch with Dr. Hall by tuning into his Better Black Health Podcast where he covers Black American health topics.
Bacterial vaginitis (BV) is an imbalance of the bacteria that normally inhabit the vagina. A third of US women overall have had “BV”. Unfortunately, African American women have the highest occurrence of BV at just over 50% of all women of childbearing age. BV is NOT a traditional sexually transmitted disease (STD) but BV does increase in women with a higher number of sexual partners and when not using condoms. Getting BV also puts women at an increased risk of catching an STD. The chemical imbalance inherent in bacterial vaginitis increases a woman’s risk of catching gonorrhea, chlamydia, herpes, and HIV. BV can also lead to endometritis, urinary tract infections, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), and preterm (premature) labor and delivery.
When to suspect Bacterial Vaginitis?
Something “Fishy” is Going On!
Bacterial vaginitis is relatively easy to identify. It has a characteristic “fishy odor” associated with an increase in a white or gray discharge. The fishy odor is particularly noticeable after sex. It can start slowly, and progress as the harmful bacteria increase in number. Most women report no symptoms beyond the smell. The increase in bacteria is related to the acid-base status of the vagina. In other words, the vagina has a set acid-base status (also called a pH) that is ideal for health. It tends to be on the acidic side (pH of 4 to 5). One common cause of raising the pH of the vagina is douching. Douching, or “rinsing out the vagina” is strongly discouraged and can easily disrupt the vaginal pH and normal bacteria. When the vagina becomes less acidic, other bacteria thrive, and everything is thrown off. Then comes the fishy odor. Ironically, sometimes women smell the fishy odor, and then douche in order to clean the odor out, but that makes the situation worse. As the infection progresses, women may have pain, burning, and itching.
Isn’t Bacteria a Bad Thing?
Bacteria is not always a bad thing. Humans have normal bacteria in our digestive system that help digest the food we eat. Imbalances in gut bacteria can give us diarrhea, abdominal pain, bleeding, and more. A woman’s vagina is also populated with bacteria that keep the environment regular and functioning properly.
As crazy as it may sound, researchers have found that African American women’s vaginal microflora, or the predominant bacteria in their vagina, is somewhat different from the bacteria in white women’s vaginas. The different bacteria provide a different vaginal pH that may be causing increased problems with bacterial vaginitis particularly in Black women.
Bacterial Vaginitis, Herpes Simplex & Vitamin D Deficiency
Recent studies have shown a higher incidence of BV and HIV infection among women with vitamin D deficiency. It is well known that African American women are very prone to having vitamin D deficiencies. Another study showed an increased risk for BV in pregnant Black women with low vitamin D levels.
Research has clearly shown that people with poor nutrition tend to have more infections overall. Recently, poor nutrition has been added to the list of risk factors for bacterial vaginitis . Women appear more likely to get bacterial vaginosis if they have lower circulating levels of nutrients like vitamin D, vitamin C, zinc, and beta carotene in their bloodstream—indicating a lower intake of fruits and vegetables.
“You Are What You Eat”
The old saying “you are what you eat” is more accurate than many of us thought. A recent study tracked the diets of 151 normal women and compared them to the diets of another 144 women with a history of BV. The results showed that women with “unhealthy diets” had the highest rate of bacterial vaginitis.
Having the proper amount of vitamins and minerals in the body, through having a diet that is rich in fresh fruits and vegetables, is critical to maintaining a healthy immune system. As for bacterial vaginitis, researchers believe that poor nutrition and vitamin deficiencies are critical factors.
GNetX Sequence Multivitamins were formulated to help correct the many deficiencies seen in Black women including vitamin D, zinc, and vitamin C deficiencies. Most multivitamins were made to address the nutritional needs of White Americans, research has confirmed that Black Americans have unique needs not satisfied by these products.
Having a diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables is key to preventing infections and imbalances in your body. Taking GNetX Sequence Multivitamins for African Americans once daily is a great way to quickly improve any nutritional deficiencies.
Greg Hall, MD is a physician, author, speaker, inventor, professor, and public health professional, specializing in urban health and the clinical care of African Americans. Dr. Hall’s extensive research in the care of African Americans lead to the development of GNetX Sequence Multivitamins a supplement developed to support African American needs. Most recently, Dr. Hall established the National Institute for African American Health, which is a nonprofit designed to promote health-related education, support students interested in a career in medicine, and serve as an advocate for African American patients. You can keep in touch with Dr. Hall by tuning into his Better Black Health Podcast where he covers Black American health topics.
Single Black women (the red bars) show a similar pattern with the lowest “no partner” and second highest “one partner” but then the highest “2-, 3-, 4+ partners.” Hispanic Latino women (the blue bars) have the lowest multiple partner profile and the highest single partner profile.
The point of these graphs is THE DIFFERENCE between the race or ethnicities is not great for any of these categories. The bars, while different, are not that different. As you look at the following STD graph, you will see more dramatic differences with African Americans.
Data also shows that African American men have the highest condom use. The article below examined codon use by race and the results even surprised the authors. Higher condom use should lead to lower STD rates.
If African Americans have only a slightly higher rate of having sex and a higher condom use, why are the STD rates off the charts? The answer is found in our poor nutrition which leads to poorer health which leads to a greater risk for CATCHING an infection . . . including an STD.
As I have written in the past, African Americans have the HIGHEST vitamin D deficiencies and the article shown above reviews how vitamin D is important for a highly functioning immune system. Having the highest rate of low vitamin D could be driving some of these out-of-control STD rates.
African Americans have, by far, the highest rate of the sexually transmitted disease chlamydia, having over six times the rate of Whites. Data shows that communities of color make up the vast majority of infections.
Asian Americans have the longest life expectancy and one of the best overall diets and have the lowest rates of chlamydia infections at half the rates of White Americans and twelve times less than Blacks.
It is also surprising that many people manage to never (or rarely) get sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). What is special about them? Many believe it is their health and nutrition that strengthen their immune system and allow them not to get infected when others not as healthy in the same situation would get infected.
Vitamin C, vitamin D, and zinc deficiency are key to a healthy immune system. Ironically, 
