The U.S. has the highest rates of sexually transmitted diseases in the industrialized world and the number of diagnoses increased for the fourth year in a row in 2017, according to new numbers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
About 2.3 million cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis were identified across the country last year.
Most people who carry STDs don't experience any symptoms and don't realize they're passing an infection to sexual partners.
Texas Health & Human Services records the number of sexually transmitted infections reported to the state specifically for chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis.
The 2017 data ranks Bexar County third — behind Harris and Dallas counties — for the highest number of infections. Last year, there were 12,475 cases of chlamydia, 4,357 reports of gonorrhea and a total of 1,293 recorded for syphilis in Bexar County.
How do the symptoms and consequences differ for the most common sexually transmitted infections?
How often should you get tested? What should you do if diagnosed with an STD?
Why are infection rates so high in the U.S. and what's causing the increase in diagnoses? What can be done on the local, state and national levels to stop the spread of infection and prevent future cases?
Guests:
- Sian Elmore, program manager for the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District's STD/HIV clinic
- David Harvey, executive director of the National Coalition of STD Directors
- Pedro Lora, director of prevention services at the Alamo Area Resource Center (AARC)
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