Sex Infections Still Spreading in the U.S.

The United States is among western countries with the highest rates of sexually transmitted diseases, says John Douglas, director of the division of STD’s at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta.

Chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis are three highly treatable infections that show continued spread in the U.S. Gonorrhea is stable at unacceptably high levels while Chlamydia is on the increase. Syphilis is resurgent after almost being eliminated.

Objective findings:
 1.2 million cases of Chlamydia were reported in 2008, up from 1.1 million in 2007
 Nearly 337,000 cases of gonorrhea were reported.
 Adolescent girls 15 to 19 had the most Chlamydia and gonorrhea cases of any age group at 409,531.
 Blacks, who represent 12% of the U.S. population, accounted for 71% of reported gonorrhea cases and almost half of all Chlamydia and syphilis cases in 2008.
 Black women 15 to 19 had the highest rates of Chlamydia and gonorrhea.
 13,500 syphilis cases were reported in 2008, an almost 18% increase from 2007.
 63 % of syphilis cases were among men who have sex with men.
 Syphilis rates among women increased 36% from 2007 to 2008.

Overall, the CDC estimates that 19 million new STD’s are transmitted each year, almost half among 15-24 year-olds.

The only effective answer to this epidemic is abstinence from sex outside of a bona fide marriage to a monogamous partner. Condoms partially prevent STD spread.