Gonorrhea rates fell in 2009 to their lowest level since before World War II. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report found the number of syphilis cases remained steady following several years of increases. Cases of chlamydia in U.S. increased.
Gonorrhea infections plummeted to about 111 cases per 100,000 people in 2009. That’s a 10.5% decline from the previous year. The overall syphilis rate has risen steadily since 2001, mostly among men. In 2009 there were 4.6 cases of syphilis per 100,000 people, accounting for a 59% jump since 2005. The number of chlamydia cases jumped 19% from 2006 to 2009, according to the CDC report.
The CDC expressed concern about the disparities in STD rates by race. Incidence of chlamydia syphilis and gonorrhea are higher in African-Americans than whites, according to Charlotte Kent, acting director of the CDC's Division of STD Prevention. The 2009 syphilis rate in blacks was nine times that of whites.
Fortunately all three types of STDs in the report can be successfully treated with antibiotics, said Kent. Left untreated, gonorrhea and chlamydia can cause infertility.
Recognizing the Symptoms of STDs
People may not be aware they have contracted gonorrhea. Symptoms in men may include swelling or pain in one testicle and possibly a pus-like discharge from the penis. Women may experience
between-cycle vaginal bleeding and pelvic pain. Painful urination can be a symptom of gonorrhea in both men and women, notes the Mayo Clinic. A sore throat and swollen lymph nodes in the neck may be a sign of gonorrhea that affects the throat.
Syphilis produces a small, hard but painless sore on the area of your body where the bacteria entered. It can appear anywhere from 10 days to three months after exposure. The genitals, rectum, lips and tongue are typically affected. Lymph nodes in the groin may also become enlarged.
Symptoms of chlamydia generally start one to three weeks after exposure. In many cases, symptoms can be so mild they go unnoticed. Lower abdominal pain and painful urination is common in both men and women. Women may experience vaginal discharge and painful sexual intercourse. Men with chlamydia may have testicular pain and discharge from the tip of the penis.
You can protect yourself from STDs by practicing abstinence or by using a condom if you decide to have sex.
Sources:
Mayo Clinic, “Chlamydia” (Accessed November, 23, 2010)
Mayo Clinic, “Gonorrhea” (Accessed November 23, 2010)
Mayo Clinic, “Syphilis” (Accessed November 23, 2010)
USA Today, “Gonorrhea rates at lowest levels since 1941” (Accessed November 23, 2010)
Karen Gaskell - Karen Jean Gaskell has worked as a radio and television journalist for more than three decades. During her career Karen has written and ...
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