NEWSER) – For the first time in nearly a decade, three of the most well-known sexually transmitted diseases are on the rise—and CDC experts are calling the increase "alarming," NBC News reports. In the agency's latest findings, there were nearly 20,000 syphilis cases in 2014 (a 15% rise from 2013, and the highest rate since 1994), including 458 cases in newborns—a 27.5% increase from the year before. On the gonorrhea front, 350,000 cases were reported in 2014 (a 5% increase), while chlamydia racked up 1.4 million cases in 2014, which is the highest number of cases of any disease ever reported to the CDC. But while young people and women usually end up being most affected, there's another group that doctors are now keeping an eye on. "We are concerned that most of the surging rates are among men," says the director of the CDC's STD prevention division, per HealthDay News. "Men are driving these increases."
So what's the root of this surge? Slashed budgets for state and local STD initiatives, for one, meaning clinic closings or reduced hours and increased fees and copays, NBC notes. Another contributor is a change in sexual behavior, especially among gay and bisexual men, based on advances in HIV treatment: Because drugs for the virus are so effective, people have let down their guard and stopped wearing condoms as much—but condoms are still needed to prevent STDs like syphilis and gonorrhea. "America's worsening STD epidemic is a clear call for better diagnosis, treatment, and prevention," a CDC doctor tells the AP. For policymakers wary of prevention programs' costs, an American Sexual Health Association rep makes another crucial point, per HealthDay News: STDs run up a $16 billion bill each year. (There's a new STD in town, folks.)
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last commentI read an article recently blaming the Tinder app because it enables people to easily pick up more sexual partners than they were able to previously with little effort.
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Not what I wanted to read right before I go into the VIP.
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The CDC never overreacts or inflates risk, so make sure to panic. Panic! Before it's too late. Think of the children. Won't someone think of the children?!
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^^^ I'm just thinking I better make sure my dick doesn't fall of and always play safe.
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Maybe the conservatives should stop trying to closed down planned parenthood and other free clinics that raise sexual awareness and help the treatment and prevention of std's.
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LOL JS :)
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First of all; the “increases” do not see that drastic; it's not as if it's a 50 or 100% increase.
Secondly; I think it has to do mostly with HIV not seemingly being a death sentence today as it was 10+ years ago – HIV fear (and not really the other STDs IMO) was probably the driver for safe-sex in the past.
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Do you think the more relaxed attitude towards HIV is truly warranted?
SJG
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Buddy Guy
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Seems vaccines and even cures for HIV are getting close.
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So close that we don't need to be careful anymore, that we don't need to protect ourselves and others?
SJG
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Buddy Guy
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whoa, I didn't even know you could be BORN with an STD. I thought it NEVER affected newborns? Are you sure this information is accurate?
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Tinder works? Please tell me how because I can NEVER get a girl on there.
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Estafador - of course it's true. Babies can also be born with drug addictions due to their mothers use during pregnancy.
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I think Estafador was being sarcastic. No adult should be that ignorant to sexual health. It's common knowledge that fetuses can be affected by std's (the placenta, duh) and any sexually active person should know this. Obviously during birth the baby could also get infected if the woman's vagina / birth canal has an infection.
I learned this is elementary school...
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@NinaBambina “Maybe the conservatives should stop trying to closed down planned parenthood…”
Planned Parenthood - killing people of color one baby at a time.
"Colored people are like human weeds and are to be exterminated." - Margaret Sanger, founder of Planned Parenthood and self professed role model for Hillary Clinton
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