STDs On The Rise in the US

Seattle - Despite better detection and more education, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that sexually transmitted diseases such as syphilis and chlamydia are on the rise in the United States. Chlamydia is at an all-time high, increasing about 7% since 2006.

The highest rates for chlamydia were found in African-American women, ages 15-19 years. Socioeconimc status was cited as being partly responsible for the increase in this sector, with the numbers being associated with more people being screened, not necessarily more people being infected, according to John Douglas, director of the CDC’s Division of STD prevention. Although STD’s are on the rise in the US, they are treated easily with a course of antibiotics. If left untreated, these infections can lead to infertility in both men and women.

Syphilis was thought to be close to being eliminated in 2000 by public officials, but the recent report has revealed a dramatic jump in the disease, especially in gay and bisexual men. Since symptoms often do not appear in men or women, screening is often the only way to detect the diseases. Many young adults are not being screened, due to lower access to healthcare and a distrust of the healthcare system. Unless a more aggressive approach is taken to screen sexually active young adults, the numbers are not likely to decrease.