Photo by Michelle Leman
On November 12, 2024, the CDC released new data indicating that the sexually transmitted infection (STI) epidemic in the United States may be showing signs of slowing down. Despite over 2.4 million STIs reported in 2023, including gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis, there are notable declines in certain infection rates.
In 2023, gonorrhea cases dropped by 7%, marking a decline for the second consecutive year and falling below pre-pandemic levels. Additionally, primary and secondary syphilis cases saw a significant decrease of 10%, the first substantial decline in over two decades. This decline was particularly notable among gay and bisexual men, with a reported 13% drop in cases.
The CDC’s report highlights ongoing disparities in STI rates among various populations. American Indian/Alaska Native, Black/African American, and Hispanic/Latino communities continue to face higher rates of STIs due to systemic barriers such as poverty and lack of access to healthcare.
The CDC also emphasized recent advancements in STI prevention strategies, including the recommendation for doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis (doxy PEP) to prevent bacterial STIs. This approach has shown promising results in clinical trials and is aimed at high-risk populations such as men who have sex with men and transgender women.
As part of ongoing efforts to combat STIs, the CDC is advocating for increased testing and treatment options. The introduction of FDA-authorized at-home tests for syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia represents a significant step forward in making testing more accessible.
For further details on this evolving public health issue, you can read the full article from CNN here.
Sources:
[1] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38833414/
[2] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38770770/
[3] https://www.hiv.gov/blog/cdc-s-dr-mermin-discusses-hiv-sti-prevention-highlights-from-croi-2024
[4] https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2024/p1112-sti-slowing.html
[5] https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9138-sexually-transmitted-diseases–infections-stds–stis
[6] https://www.hiv.gov/hiv-basics/staying-in-hiv-care/other-related-health-issues/sexually-transmitted-diseases
[7] https://stipreventionconference.org
[8] https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/jwh.2024.0367
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