Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are a sensitive subject, and thus, talking about them can be embarrassing. However, because many sexually transmitted diseases are asymptomatic, by the time they are detected they can cause serious health problems such as “infertility, or liver disease, or cervical cancer” (xxv). The prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases in the United States is high. According to the US National Institutes of Health, one in six Americans is already infected with genital herpes, and according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, we have more that 1.1 million Americans living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)(xxv).

Sexually Transmitted Disease: An Encyclopedia of Diseases, Prevention, Treatment and Issues is a two-volume set that contains over 230 entries. These entries span the history and wide range of topics regarding sexually transmitted diseases. This encyclopedia set takes a multidisciplinary approach in its coverage of sexually transmitted diseases. Along with the anatomy and basics of the disease, it also addresses the emotional, financial, and social implications as well as pharmacology used to treat the disease and legal implications of disease transmission. The first volume begins with a STD timeline that dates back to 400BC. Where appropriate, entries include a case study that “demonstrates a common scenario in today’s medical climate” (xxi). Each entry ends with sources for additional research.

Most published works on sexually transmitted diseases focus on one disease or one aspect of the disease, such as treatment. For this reason it was difficult to compare Sexually Transmitted Disease: An Encyclopedia of Diseases, Prevention, Treatment and Issues to other sources. The encyclopedias of similar nature that I was able to find were all at least five years old and not as up to date. Sexually Transmitted Disease: An Encyclopedia of Diseases, Prevention, Treatment and Issues fills a need for a more current, up to date comprehensive encyclopedia on sexually transmitted diseases.

This encyclopedia would be a useful resource in public libraries with consumer health resources, in high school libraries and undergraduate academic libraries alongside other general reference sources or in undergraduate libraries with public health or consumer health programs.