The Canadian Journal of Human SexualityVolume 6 - Number 2 1997 Editors' IntroductionSexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and their sequelae pose a significant risk to sexual and reproductive health. Outcomes such as infertility, ectopic pregnancy, cirrhosis of the liver, perinatal morbidity, and cancer may occur, particularly in cases where infection is undetected, untreated and/or incurable. Some STDs, such as HIV/AIDS, are life-threatening. Early diagnosis, effective treatment, preventive education and other such interventions, can significantly reduce both the emotional suffering and stigmatization experienced by many infected individuals, and the long-term economic costs felt by the health care system. The authors in this special theme issue of the Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality (CJHS) provide state-of-the-art information and analysis on the epidemiology, prevention and control of STDs in Canada. The variety of disciplines they represent, including medicine, microbiology, epidemiology, sociology and psychology, is a reflection of the complexity of factors that must be considered in developing, implementing and evaluating STD prevention programs. Seven of the ten papers in this issue (Alary; Lytwyn & Sellors; MacDonald & Brunham; Maticka-Tyndale; Patrick; Steben & Sacks; Romanowski) are expansions on papers initially presented for discussion at a November, 1996, meeting of the Expert Working Group to Establish Goals for STD and Sexual Risk Behaviour. Sponsored by the Division of STD Prevention and Control, Bureau of HIV/AIDS and STD, Health Canada, the meeting was part of a three stage process to set national goals to control the incidence of chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, human papillomavirus, genital herpes, pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy, and sexual risk behaviour. Three additional papers (Fisher; Patrick; Tepper & Gully) were written on invitation of CJHS and a fourth, a thematic analysis of issues surrounding implementation (Rekart), will appear in an upcoming issue. We thank all authors for their creativity, hard work and generosity. SIECCAN is grateful also to the Division of STD Prevention and Control, Health Canada, for agreeing to and supporting this means of disseminating the insights and expertise of such an exceptional group of contributors. A special note of thanks to the prominent corporations and professional associations, identified on the adjacent page, whose support has insured widespread distribution of this important information. We hope that this special theme issue of the Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality will be both a stimulus and a resource for governments, public health agencies, hospitals, schools, community groups, corporations, religious institutions, media, and others whose collective efforts can strengthen sexual health education in general, and STD prevention in particular. As David Patrick noted in his paper on chlamydia, "STD control stands at the threshold of its greatest opportunity in 15 years. We have at our disposal all the necessary diagnostic, public health and therapeutic tools to engineer a dramatic decline in the prevalence and morbidity associated with the continent's most frequently reported communicable disease." We hope that this theme issue will help to "mobilize these resources" against all STDs. Michael Barrett, Editor SIECCAN gratefully acknowledges the following organizations for their generous support of this special issue of The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality
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