This presentation will revolve around what factors most strongly predict the prevalence and incidence of a sexually transmitted infection and then which of these are most amenable to change. The presentation will discuss the data that supports each of these and draw analogies to other human desires that are difficult to change.  It will deal with what approach we should take in thinking about and presenting cases to government for increased funding; subject to the government being receptive to logical and analytical arguments rather than ideology. Finally, it will discuss new data on the understanding of the transmission of sexually transmitted infections and how this data could be used to develop interventions for their control.