3 STDs have skyrocketed in the U.S., new CDC report says — here’s what you need to know

The rates of three sexually transmitted diseases — gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis — have skyrocketed in the U.S., according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .

Video: STDs at all-time high. How did we get here?What you need to know about these STDsChlamydia, which often has no symptoms, is the most commonly reported STD in the U.S., with 1.8 million cases. Rates of chlamydia have gone up by 19 percent since 2014. The highest rates of reported chlamydia cases in 2018 were among those 20–24 years old, followed by teens 15-19 years old.

But what’s even more concerning are the reported rates of congenital syphilis — when an infected mother passes syphilis to her baby during pregnancy — which have shot up by 185 percent since 2014, with 1,306 cases in the U.S. CDC’s Bolan noted in a statement that 94 newborns died from congenital syphilis in 2018, calling it “the most alarming threat.

Why STD rates are so high right nowSo what’s going on? The CDC data show that there are several factors behind these rising STD rates. “These include cuts to STD programs at the state and local levels,” Michael Cackovic, an ob-gyn at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, tells Yahoo Lifestyle. “Over 50 percent of these local programs have experienced budget cuts resulting in clinic closures, reduced screenings, and inability to pursue patient follow-up.

What can people do to prevent the spread of STDs?First, get tested. “The most important first step that people take is to go get tested and be open with their healthcare provider about specific behaviors that can put them at risk for STDs,” says Bazan. He explains that specific behaviors can put people at risk for STDs, such as having multiple sex partners, sex while using drugs, or not using protection such as condoms in non-monogamous relationships.

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