STD Trends in the United States: 2010 National Data for Gonorrhea, Chlamydia, and Syphilis
This web page is archived for historical purposes and is no longer being updated. Newer data is available on the STD Data and Statistics page.
Table
Gonorrhea | Chlamydia | Syphilis (Primary and Secondary) | |
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Current Burden |
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| Primary and secondary (P&S) syphilis, the most infectious stages of the disease:
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Trends Over Time |
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Disparities | Many of the same social and economic factors that place African Americans and Latinos at risk for other diseases also fuel the spread of STDs in these communities. For example, people who don’t have the means to see a doctor may not get an STD test or treatment until it’s too late—and nearly one in five African Americans and one in three Latinos are uninsured. Other factors, such as greater STD prevalence in communities of color, can increase an individual’s risk of infection, even with similar levels of risk behavior. Distrust of the medical system may also cause some African Americans to access health services less, and language barriers may affect quality of and access to care for some Latinos. These factors provide an important reminder that while everyone has a personal responsibility to protect their own health, it is also critical to address the root causes of these disparities. | ||
Overall, African Americans are most affected by gonorrhea. Young black women bear the heaviest burden, and young Hispanic men and women are also affected.
| Chlamydia disproportionately affects African Americans, and young black women are especially hard hit. Young Hispanic men and women are most affected among Hispanics.
| Men who have sex with men and African Americans are most affected by P&S syphilis.
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CDC Recommendations | CDC recommends yearly gonorrhea screening for at-risk sexually active women (e.g., those with new or multiple sex partners, and women who live in communities with a high burden of disease). | CDC recommends annual chlamydia screening for young women aged 25 and under, as well as older women with risk factors such as new or multiple sex partners. | CDC recommends that sexually active men who have sex with men be tested at least annually for syphilis (as well as gonorrhea, chlamydia, and HIV). MSM who have multiple or anonymous partners should be screened more frequently (i.e., at 3 to 6 month intervals). |
- Page last reviewed: November 22, 2010 (archived document)
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