Sexually transmitted infections are a substantial cause of morbidity across the world, and as a WHO report showed in 2005, are particularly common in adolescents. Untreated, or under-treated STIs can lead to complications such as infertility, stillbirths and chronic pelvic infection.

It is therefore no surprise that identifying and treating STIs are a priority for all health systems. Ensuring that available treatments, both those prescribed and those available without prescription are subject to a rigorous analysis of their benefits and harms, and that this information is made widely available is essential for informed decision making. Cochrane Systematic Reviews bring together all the evidence, analyse it in a consistent rigorous and structured manner and give the evidence in a summarised way to clinicians, policy makers and consumers.

The Cochrane Database of Systematic Review (CDSR) forms the main part of The Cochrane Library. It now has over 5000 reviews. Its impact factor for 2011 is 5.715. Globally, more than 50% of health professionals enjoy one click access, free at the point of use, and every 4 seconds someone views the full text of a Cochrane Review.

The STI Cochrane Review Group has been re-registered in the year 2011 and since 2012 we undertake the task of providing evidence about the effectiveness and safety of interventions which seek to modify behaviours that increase the risk of STI acquisition, to prevent STI, to guide the treatment of STI of the etiological approach or under the syndromic approach.

We want to show the recent work of the STI Group, our network of more than 100 contribuitors from around the world and invite anyone interested in the development of new reviews, new protocols or review updates to be part of the group as well as to participate in the role of consumers and peer referees. www.sticr.cochrane.org