Sexually Transmitted Diseases At All-Time High In California

CALIFORNIA — Here's a record that no one wanted to see - rates of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) have reached an all-time high in California, according to new statistics from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH).

The 2016 STD Annual Report shows over a quarter million cases of STDs were reported, a 40 percent increase compared to five years ago. The rates show:

• chlamydia: 198,503 cases
• gonorrhea: 64,677 cases
• early syphilis: 11,222 cases
• congenital syphilis: 207 cases

If not treated, STDs can lead to lifelong reproductive health problems.

"The number of reported STDs in California is increasing at a concerning rate," said CDPH Director and State Public Health Officer Dr. Karen Smith. "This is the third year in a row that we have seen increases in chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis."

Not surprisingly, chlamydia and gonorrhea rates are highest among people under age 30. Rates of chlamydia are highest in women, while men account for the majority of syphilis and gonorrhea cases.

All of these diseases can be prevented by the use of condoms and cured with antibiotics. A directory of where to get tested for STDs can be found at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention web site.

-Image via Pixabay

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