U.S. Rates of Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Syphilis Continue To Rise, CDC Study Says

November 16, 2009 — Rates of the three most common sexually transmitted infections in the U.S. -- chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis -- continue to increase, especially among teenagers, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study released Monday, Reuters reports. The study reported that the number of reported chlamydia cases increased from 1.1 million in 2007 to 1.2 million in 2008. There were nearly 337,000 cases of gonorrhea reported in 2008, according to the study. There were about 13,500 syphilis cases reported, nearly an 18% increase from 2007.

Syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia can all be treated with antibiotics. However, if left untreated, the infections can cause infertility, pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy or infection in newborns, Reuters reports. John Douglas, director of the sexually transmitted disease division at CDC, said, "Chlamydia and gonorrhea are stable at unacceptably high levels and syphilis is resurgent after almost being eliminated," adding, "We have among the highest rates of [STIs] of any developed country in the world."

Black women ages 15 through 19 had the highest rates for chlamydia and gonnorhea. Blacks, who represent 12% of the U.S. population, accounted for about 71% of reported gonorrhea cases and nearly half of chlamydia and syphilis cases in 2008. The greatest number of chlamydia and gonorrhea cases by age group was among female adolescents ages 15 through 19, with 409,531 cases.

The report also showed an almost 18% increase in the number of reported syphilis cases from 2007 to 2008, when there were 13,500 cases. Sixty-three percent of syphilis cases were among men who have sex with men, while the rate among women rose by 36% from 2007 to 2008, Reuters reports. CDC estimates that 19 million new STI cases occur annually, almost half of which occur among 15- to 24-year-olds.

Douglas said improved sex education could help curb the rising STI rates. "We are not honestly and openly dealing with this issue, and it's the larger issue of sexual health," he said. Referring to abstinence-only education, Douglas added, "We haven't been promoting the full battery of messages." Several studies have shown that abstinence-only sex education programs, which were heavily supported under former President George W. Bush, do not work well and that effective programs combine abstinence messages with information about contraception and STIs. President Obama indicated in his fiscal year 2010 budget proposal that he wants to move away from abstinence-only programs in favor of more comprehensive curriculums (Fox, Reuters, 11/16).