"We face a serious public health challenge regarding the sexual health of our nation....doing nothing is unacceptable. If we are to meet this challenge, we must find common ground and reach consensus on the nature of these problems and their possible solutions, consistent with the best available science." -Surgeon General David Satcher, June 28, 2001.

• 12 million Americans are infected each year with a sexually transmitted disease.
• 800,000 to 900,000 Americans are living with HIV, with one-third of them unaware that they are even infected.
• Unintended pregnancy accounts for nearly one-half of all pregnancies in the United States.
• An estimated 1.36 million abortions were performed in 1996.

* Statistics from The Surgeon General's Call to Action to Promote Sexual Health and Responsible Sexual Behavior, June 2001.