Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are currently on an alarming upward trajectory in the United States, warned the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Specifically, cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis all rose between 2020 and 2021, totaling more than 2.5 million reported cases, according to CDC surveillance data. From 2020 to 2021, gonorrhea rates increased 4%, while syphilis rate rose nearly 32% for combined states of infection. From 2020 to 2021, syphilis cases increased from 133,954 to 176,713, the CDC said. The agency pointed out that cases of congenital syphilis rose 32% during the one-year period and resulted in 220 stillbirths and infant deaths. The cases of syphilis reported in 2021 were the highest in 70 years, the data revealed.
Chlamydia rates also rose during this time, up 4%. In addition, chlamydia rates did not return to pre-pandemic levels unlike gonorrhea and syphilis.
The rise in STIs prompted the CDC to urge local, healthcare, industry and public sectors groups to contribute to preventing the epidemic.
“The U.S. STI epidemic shows no signs of slowing. The reasons for the ongoing increases are multifaceted––and so are the solutions,” Leandro Mena, MD, MPH, director of CDC’s Division of STD Prevention, said in a statement. “For the first time in decades, we’re seeing promising new STI interventions on the horizon, but these alone will not solve this epidemic. It will take many of us working together to effectively use new and existing tools, to increase access to quality sexual healthcare services for more people, and to encourage ongoing innovation and prioritization of STI prevention and treatment in this country.”
While STIs are common in all U.S. regions, there are some groups impacted more than others. For example, gay and bisexual men and younger people continue to be disproportionately impacted by STIs, as well as Black/African American and American Indian/Alaska Native people. These minority groups may face more social conditions that make it more difficult to stay healthy, the CDC said, such as access to healthcare services.
The rise in STI cases happened during the COVID-19 pandemic, when some in-person healthcare services were temporarily halted. In addition, many Americans put routine care on hold during the early days of the pandemic to reduce their exposure to the COVID-19 virus.
The CDC recommended several strategies to combat the rise in STIs and reverse the trend:
- Leveraging local public health services, including rebuilding, sustaining and expanding efforts to offer STI testing and treatment programs to those most in need
- Making STI testing and treatment more accessible, with new point-of-care rapid tests and self-tests
- Advancing scientific research and exploring new interventions, such as vaccines or post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) strategies to prevent bacterial STIs.
Amy joined TriMed Media as a Senior Writer for HealthExec after covering home care for three years. When not writing about all things healthcare, she fulfills her lifelong dream of becoming a pirate by sailing in regattas and enjoying rum. Fun fact: she sailed 333 miles across Lake Michigan in the Chicago Yacht Club "Race to Mackinac."