STDs increased for the fifth consecutive year, reaching all-time high

According to the annual Sexually Transmitted Disease Surveillance Report, STDs increased for the fifth consecutive year – with nearly 2.5 million combined cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis. Cases of congenital syphilis – syphilis passed from a mother to her baby during pregnancy– increased 40 percent from 2017-2018. Congenital syphilis can result in miscarriage, stillbirth, newborn death, and severe lifelong physical and neurological problems.

Syphilis in Newborns is on the Rise
In the past four years, cases of congenital syphilis have nearly tripled (462 cases in 2014 to 1,306 cases in 2018). Congenital syphilis can result in miscarriage, newborn death, and severe lifelong health complications. Syphilis Testing is Essential for All Pregnant Women.
It is critical that all pregnant women visit a health care provider as soon as possible during every pregnancy and are tested for syphilis at least once. For some women, repeat testing may be needed.

Sources:
2018 STD Surveillance Report

• Press Release: New CDC Report: STDs Continue to Rise in the U.S.
• Data Table: STD Diagnoses Among Key U.S. Populations, Five-Year Trendspdf icon
• Full Report: Sexually Transmitted Disease Surveillance, 2018
• Fact Sheet: Reported STDs in the United States, 2018pdf icon