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

U.S. Rates of Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Syphilis Continue To Rise, CDC Study Says
— especially among teenagers. The study CDC 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. The head of the CDC STD division said "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 -- 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. Reuters, 11/16/09