Most Recent STD Stats
Chlamydia
In 2019, a total of 1,808,703 cases of Chlamydia trachomatis infection were reported to the CDC, making it the most common notifiable condition in the United States for that year. This case count corresponds to a rate of 552.8 cases per 100,000 population, an increase of 2.8% compared with the rate in 2018. During 2018–2019, rates of reported chlamydia increased among both males and females, in all regions of the United States, and among all racial/Hispanic ethnicity groups.
Gonorrhea
In 2019, a total of 616,392 cases of gonorrhea were reported to the CDC, making it the second most common notifiable condition in the United States for that year. Rates of reported gonorrhea have increased 92.0% since the historic low in 2009. During 2018–2019, the overall rate of reported gonorrhea increased 5.7%. Rates increased among both males and females, in all regions of the United States, and among all racial/Hispanic ethnicity groups.
Antibiotic Resistant Gonorrhea
Gonorrhea can quickly develop resistance to antibiotics used to treat infection, and in 2019, more than half of all infections were estimated to be resistant to at least one antibiotic.
Syphilis
In 2019, 129,813 cases of all stages of syphilis, were reported, including 38,992 cases of primary and secondary (P&S) syphilis, the most infectious stages of the disease. Since reaching a historic low in 2000 and 2001, the rate of P&S syphilis has increased almost every year, increasing 11.2% during 2018–2019. Rates increased among both males and females, in all regions of the United States, and among all racial/Hispanic ethnicity groups.
Disparities in STDs
As in past years, there were significant disparities in rates of reported STDs. In 2019, over half (55.4%) of reported cases of STDs were among adolescents and young adults aged 15-24 years. Disparities continue to persist in rates of reported STDs among some racial minority or Hispanic groups when compared with rates among non-Hispanic Whites. In 2019, 30.6% of all cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and P&S syphilis were among non-Hispanic Blacks, even though they made up only approximately 12.5% of the US population. MSM are disproportionately impacted by STDs, including P&S syphilis and gonorrhea.
It is important to note that these disparities are unlikely explained by differences in sexual behavior and rather reflect differential access to quality sexual health care, as well as differences in sexual network characteristics. For example, in communities with higher prevalence of STDs, with each sexual encounter, people face a greater chance of encountering an infected partner than those in lower prevalence settings do, regardless of similar sexual behavior patterns. Acknowledging inequities in STD rates is a critical first step toward empowering affected groups and the public health community to collaborate in addressing systemic inequities in the burden of disease — with the ultimate goal of minimizing the health impacts of STDs on individuals and populations.
It is important to note that these disparities are unlikely explained by differences in sexual behavior and rather reflect differential access to quality sexual health care, as well as differences in sexual network characteristics. For example, in communities with higher prevalence of STDs, with each sexual encounter, people face a greater chance of encountering an infected partner than those in lower prevalence settings do, regardless of similar sexual behavior patterns. Acknowledging inequities in STD rates is a critical first step toward empowering affected groups and the public health community to collaborate in addressing systemic inequities in the burden of disease — with the ultimate goal of minimizing the health impacts of STDs on individuals and populations.