Jan 13, 2009 11:14 pm US/Eastern
Number Of STD Infections Is On The Rise
BALTIMORE (WJZ) ―
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Infertility and death are two outcomes more people are facing as more and more Americans contract sexually transmitted diseases.
CBS
Infertility and death are two outcomes more people are facing as more and more Americans contract sexually transmitted diseases.
Dennis Edwards explains that, while on the decline for years, STDs are now back on the rise.
Doctors are calling these figures a major wake up call.
Nationwide last year, there were just over one million cases of chlamydia, a bacterial infection that can lead to infertility. That adds up to 370 cases in every 100,000 women, up 7.5%. Researchers believe there are another 2.8 million people out there who don't know they have it.
"Anyone who is sexually active or has the potential to have been exposed to these diseases should get tested," said Dr. Christine O'Connor with the Gynecology Center at Mercy.
On the verge of elimination 10 years ago, the study shows syphilis is inching back into the picture among gay and bisexual men, who were 65% of all cases in 2007. Gonorrhea is about the same.
Some people aren't surprised the numbers are up. But others are because of all the information that's available about the dangers involved in STDs.
Cathlene Merkle's surprised that people aren't better at avoiding STDs, but not surprised at the increase for other reasons.
"People aren't even as afraid of HIV as they once were. I think it's just sort of...it's not as shocking as it used to be," she said.
Doctors tell
Eyewitness News the key to dealing with the increase is still to get tested early and often.
If left untreated, syphilis can be deadly. Chlamydia and gonorrhea are not life-threatening.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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