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Sexually transmitted diseases are on the rise in the U.S. according to a recently Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report.
Sexually transmitted diseases are on the rise in the U.S. according to a recently Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report.
Over the past decade, more sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) cases have been reported nationally, with an increase being registered across the spectrum. In 2014, gonorrhea, chlamydia and syphilis cases have spiked worryingly compared to 2006. 1.4 million cases of chlamydia have been reported in 2014 nationally. The number amounts to a 2.8 percent increase in chlamydia cases from 2013. In addition, it is the highest rate of cases of this common STD reported to the CDC.
Syphilis cases have also spiked at an alarming rate, with the first two stages of the disease infecting a little under 20,000 people in 2014. Overall, the rate of syphilis infections increased by 15.1 percent in 2014 compared to 2014. As for gonorrhea, another common STD, the spike was calculated at 5.1 percent compared to 2013, representative for 350,000 cases registered nationwide.
One of the most worrying trends reported in the CDC report concerns newborns. 458 cases of syphilis have been registered with newborns. This is 27.5 percent increase compared to 2013.
Doctor Gail Bolan with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated:
“Certainly, this is the first time since 2006 that all three of our notifiable sexually transmitted diseases have increased. Some of the increases are quite alarming”.
Sexually transmitted diseases are on the rise in the U.S., with young people and women being the highest risk categories. It is unclear what drove this alarming increase. However, as the 2014 statistics show, men aren’t more fortunate either.
Gay and bisexual men have also registered an uptick in sexually transmitted diseases infections. These trends are the more alarming as a large number is typically undiagnosed and thus unreported. It could soon turn into a public health issue that requires ever more emphasis. One possible reason at least in the latter category might have to do with the increased efficiency of HIV treatments.
Offering a new perspective on the immune disease, HIV treatments might have spiked risky sexual behavior, including not using a condom. Other reasons may include insufficient or inefficient awareness programs and campaigns, as well as lack of access to medical testing and the issue of stigmatization.
The CDC recommends that high risk groups such as women under the age of 25, younger people, as well as gay and bisexual men request yearly STDs tests, particularly gonorrhea and chlamydia tests.
Photo Credits: Wikimedia
