Removed CDC Resources
On January 31, 2025, several web pages regarding sexual and reproductive health were removed from the Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) website without warning. At Comma, we believe everyone should have accurate, scientific, and equitable access to information and education on sexual and reproductive health. As such, we retrieved the most recent version of these CDC resources from the Wayback Machine and are hosting them here on our website.
Click to view a TLDR and access a PDF copy of the full resource.
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HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that attacks the body's immune system and can lead to AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome). HIV is transmitted via unprotected sexual behavior—unprotected oral sex, anal sex, and vaginal sex, sharing needles, and from parent to fetus during pregnancy or child birth. Currently, we have no true cure for HIV. Once someone gets HIV, they have it for life—but proper medical care can help control the symptoms. Someone with HIV who gets on, and stays on, effective HIV treatment can live a long, healthy life and protect their partner(s). Through the use of antiretroviral therapy (ART), individuals with HIV can reach a status called undetectable, at which point the virus is no longer transmittable to others. Some people have no symptoms at all while others have flu-like symptoms after infection. The only way to know if you have HIV is to get tested (so get tested!).
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In this resource you’ll find a brief overview of the 2024 U.S. Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use (U.S. MEC), the 2024 U.S. Selected Practice Recommendations for Contraceptive Use (U.S. SPR), and links to the latest guidance documents on how healthcare professionals are to provide quality sexual and reproductive health services for people of reproductive age. It can also be used as a guide for family-building services, contraception, pregnancy testing and counseling, early pregnancy management, sexually transmitted infections and human immunodeficiency virus prevention and testing services, and other preventive health services.
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When choosing a contraceptive method, you may consider safety, effectiveness, availability (including accessibility and affordability), side effects, user control, reversibility, and ease of removal or discontinuation. This document explores everything from hormonal birth controls, barrier methods, and emergency options to fertility awareness-based choices and beyond. Staying informed about these different types empower you to choose what will work best for you.
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This page contains tools and resources that were developed collaboratively with local, state, and federal partners to help educate the public and assist the needs of women of reproductive age, caregivers, and infants before, during, and after public health emergencies.
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Did you know women who experience gender-based violence are 1.5 times more likely to get HIV, and women living with HIV in low-income countries are twice as likely to experience gender-based violence? Gender-based violence (GBV) is violence against someone based on their sex, gender identity, or expression including physical, sexual, or psychological abuse, threats, coercion, being unfairly kept from freedom, or being deprived of money or resources. GBV is often linked to gender power imbalances. Addressing gender inequality and ending gender-based violence has the power to bring the world closer to ending HIV.
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This resource contains a glossary of commonly used terms in public health surveillance (how we monitor for the spread of disease) and epidemiology (the study of how diseases travel, health behavior shifts, and the effectiveness of interventions).
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In 2019, nearly 1 million people (.3%) identified as transgender in the United States, and transgender people made up 2% (671) of new HIV diagnoses in the US and dependent areas. Originally published in March 2024, this resource contains the latest data on HIV among transgender people.
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Quality sexual and reproductive health services are important for supporting adolescent health and wellbeing. This resource shows healthcare providers how they can provide education about contraceptive methods and sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention, information about how to select and use a contraception method correctly and consistently, and counseling for parents and guardians around talking with their teens about sex, pregnancy, contraception, and STIs.
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Many LGBTQ+ youth thrive during adolescence. But unfortunately stigma, discrimination, harassment, family disapproval, social rejection, and violence put them at increased risk for negative health and life outcomes including poor mental health, suicidal thoughts and behaviors, experiences of violence, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). This report dives into the statistics and details around this issue.
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This resource overviews contraception, depression, female genital mutilation, and infertility as they relate to a women’s reproductive health. It also links to a guide of other common reproductive health concerns for women.
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Youth Online pulls from national, state, and local Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) data from high school and middle school surveys conducted during 1991–2021 and the Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS) data from students aged 13-17 conducted during 2003–2015, allowing you to analyze tobacco, alcohol, and drug use, sexual behaviors, obesity, dietary behaviors, unintentional violence, and more.
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