STI Cases in the United States Continue to Escalate

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FHEA Faculty

1 minute

Recent data from the CDC shows that reported cases of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) have increased between 2020 and 2021. Total reported cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis have reached nearly 2.5 million in the United States. 

According to the report, in a single year: 

  • Gonorrhea rates increased more than 4% 
  • Syphilis rates increased nearly 32% for combined stages of the infection 
  • Congenital syphillis rates rose by 32%, resulting in in 220 stillbirths and infant deaths 
  • Chlamydia rates increased nearly 4% 

“The U.S. STI epidemic shows no signs of slowing,” said Leandro Mena, MD, MPH, Director of CDC’s Division of STD Prevention. “The reasons for the ongoing increases are multifaceted – and so are the solutions. 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.” 

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Editor’s note: this post was originally published on April 20, 2023 and updated on April 22, 2024.

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