Sexually transmitted disease are on an alarming new record setting rise in the USA according to new research from the CDC who’s experts say many factors have contributed to the increase, the biggest one seems to be less frequent condom use.
Nearly 2.3 million cases of syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea were diagnosed within the USA in 2017 surpassing the record set in 2016 of more than 200,000 according to the CDC. Other than less frequent condom use it is less clear whether dating apps such as Tinder have contributed in some way, though it is highly likely. There has been a steep and sustained increase over the past 5 years, typically there are ebbs and flows, but the sustained increased is very alarming, there hasn’t been anything like this for over 2 decades says Dr. Gail Bolan, director of the STD Prevention Division at the CDC.
Majority of syphilis infections have been seen in the past among homosexual men, bisexual men, and other men who have sex with men; recently there are increases in heterosexual men, women, and pregnant women passing these infections onto their babies.
It is suspected that newer drugs making HIV less lethal and lowering the risks of being infected could have contributed to declines in condom use. One study following 17,000 homosexual and bisexual men before and after a campaign to promote pre-exposure prophylaxis found that condom use had fallen dramatically; before the campaign 46% of the men were using condoms, while after the campaign only 31% were. Most people are aware of the lifesaving HIV medications that became available as an important advance for HIV prevention, but those tools do not prevent STDs. Now a decline in condom use is being seen in heterosexual as well as homosexual and bisexual men.
Gonorrhea has increased by 67% in 5 years going from 33,004 to 555,608 with the greatest increase in men going from 169,130 to 322,169, with women rising 18%.
Syphilis diagnoses rose 76% from 17,357 to 30,644 with the majority being men. Syphilis in women is concerning as it can have serious effects on developing fetuses.
Chlamydia held steady with upwards of 1.7 million cases diagnosed in 2017. Chlamydia is worrisome as it can scar women’s reproductive organs making her infertile.
Both gonorrhea and chlamydia were most common among young people between the ages of 15 to 24. STDs are widespread across rural and urban boundaries and crossing socioeconomic boundaries going to places where STDs haven’t been seen before. STD symptoms can be asymptomatic, the CDC recommends sexual active people under the age of 25 bet tested whether they display symptoms or not.
Breakthroughs in HIV treatment and prevention have unintentionally had consequence of driving increases in other STDs, now that people are mistakenly not as afraid of dying from HIV they have become less likely to use condoms and more likely to have multiple partners. It is very likely that apps such as Tinder have helped to drive up rates by making it easier to find partners.
New STD tests are in clinical trials that may help tamp the tide, with these people may be able to be treated before they leave the clinic and help to eliminate future spreads as most people don’t come back after testing, such rapid testing will be a beneficial tool in infection protection. People need to get back to using condoms and practicing safe sex, this unwise practice of less frequent condom use is not safe, anyone thinking they can’t or won’t be infected from anything from crabs, to AIDs is sadly mistaken, and there is no guarantee that medical breakthrough treatments will be effective for you. Be smart cover up and practice safe sex.
