2008 STD Statistics

[Victoria]

http://www.cdc.gov/nchhstp/Newsroom/...ssrelease.html

CDC has released their stats for 2008 on the three reportable STDS: Chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis.

Chlamydia rates are at an all time high, with 1.2 million cases reported. When you hear "reported" this simply means forwarding number of cases to CDC for statistical purposes. The real point here? CDC estimates the "real" number of cases is probably closer to 3 million per year! That's why testing and safer sex are so important.

Syphilis rates are going up, too, and are especially an issue for gay men and, increasingly, women.

As stated in earlier posts, adolescent girls have the highest rates of chlamydia, so please don't think your daughter isn't at risk.

[Hockey Girl]

Why do teen girls have such high STD rates? I though guys would!

[getSTDtested Administrator]

Well, actually adolescent males do have a similar prevalence of STDs, but biological differences place females at greater risk for STDs than males. There are a variety of factors, physical and otherwise, that put young females at an elevated risk for STDs and contribute to their high risk of infection. One reason is that their reproductive system has not finished developing, and their membranes are thinner and more easily damaged so infections can get in.