On October 19, 2016, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) released the organization’s annual Sexually Transmitted Disease Surveillance Report. According to the report, cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis reached an all-time high in 2015 with nearly 1.9 million cases reported. This was the second year in a row in which increases were seen in these three STDs.

This is a dangerous trend that can impact pregnant women.

Women’s rate of syphilis diagnosis increased by more than 27 percent from 2014 to 2015. Reported congenital syphilis (which occurs when the infection is transmitted from a pregnant woman to her baby) increased by 6 percent.

“The health outcomes of syphilis – miscarriage, stillbirth, blindness or stroke – can be devastating. Every pregnant woman should be tested for syphilis,” said Dr. Gail Bolan, Director of CDC’s Division of STD Prevention.

Other report results include the finding that Americans ages 15 to 24 accounted for nearly two-thirds of chlamydia diagnoses and half of gonorrhea diagnoses. More than 1.5 million cases of chlamydia were reported in 2015.

Chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis are curable with antibiotics. The CDC estimates STD cases cost the U.S. healthcare system nearly $16 billion each year.

Because STDs often present themselves without symptoms, the 1.9 million cases reported in this study is likely a low figure, and since many STDs go undiagnosed, the infected individual, their partners, and even their unborn children at risk.

What does all this mean for sexually active individuals? First, understand that not all STDs show symptoms. Whether you have symptoms of not, if you are sexually active, you might have an STD! Also, being aware of the potential dangers of these diseases and how to prevent them is crucial to your current sexual and future reproductive health. Third, if you’re not 100% positive that you do not have an STD, get tested. Visit the KnowWyo.org website to learn about low-cost and no-cost STD testing.

True Care tests for chlamydia and gonorrhea. If you’re experiencing an unplanned pregnancy, you owe it to yourself to know if you have an STD. Contact us for a free pregnancy test; our nurses will also provide you with free STD testing for chlamydia and gonorrhea. Call our Scheduling Line at 307-215-9684 for your appointment for these free tests.