There has been an increase of reported cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis for the first time since 2006, the Center for Disease Control reports.
According to data collected in 2014, the rate of chlamydia is up 2.8 percent since 2013. The rate of primary and secondary syphilis has increased by 15.1 percent. Meanwhile, the rate of gonorrhea has increased by 5.1 percent in one year.
Teens and young adults ages 15 to 24 have the highest reported cases of chlamydia and gonorrhea. The group was almost two-thirds of all the cases. Additionally, the CDC is increasing its focus on gay and bisexual men's sexual health. More than 83 percent of all primary and secondary syphilis cases reported among males were of men whose sexual partners were men, the reports states.
“The consequences of STDs are especially severe for young people,” said Gail Bolan, M.D., director of CDC’s Division of STD Prevention, in the report. “Because chlamydia and gonorrhea often have no symptoms, many infections go undiagnosed and this can lead to lifelong repercussions for a woman’s reproductive health, including pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility.”
The CDC urges that getting tested annually is key in catching these STDs early on and to receive treatment before they cause other health problems such as infertility in women. Additionally, the organization recommends the use of condoms and limiting sexual partners to increase safety and prevent transmission.
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