The following information is provided by the Georgia Department of Public Health and the Center for Disease Control:
What is an STD?
An STD (sexually transmitted disease) is an infection that can be passed through sex or sexual contact.
What is an STD?
An STD (sexually transmitted disease) is an infection that can be passed through sex or sexual contact.
STDs include:
How does Georgia rank among other states for STD burden? Georgia is #4 in the nation.
In 2015 Georgia:
Many people have an STD with no symptoms. If you have symptoms, you may notice any of these things.
- Bacterial Vaginosis (BV)
- Chlamydia
- Genital Herpes
- Gonorrhea
- Human Papillomavirus Infection (HPV Infection)
- Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
- Syphilis
- Trichomoniasis
- HIV/AIDs
- Hepatitis B and C
How does Georgia rank among other states for STD burden? Georgia is #4 in the nation.
In 2015 Georgia:
- 2nd for Primary and Secondary Syphilis
- 8th for Congenital Syphilis
- 6th for Chlamydia
- 7th for Gonorrhea
- Some STDs infect only your sexual and reproductive organs. Others (HIV, hepatitis B, syphilis) cause general body infections.
- Sometimes you can have an STD with no signs or symptoms. Or the symptoms may go away. Either way, you still have the STD until you get treated.
- STD is spread during vaginal, anal and oral sex, and sometimes by genital touching.
- Some STDs (HIV and hepatitis B) are also spread by contact with infected blood.
- STD germs need to live in warm, moist areas. That’s why they infect the mouth, rectum and sex organs (vagina, vulva, penis and testes).
- Don’t just hope the STD will go away. It won’t!
- Most county health departments have special STD clinics. Private health care providers also treat STD.
- If you don’t know where to get help, call your local family planning clinic for information. Your case will be kept private.
- You may feel embarrassed about having an STD. It may be hard for you to go to a provider or clinic for help. But you must get treatment for the STD. This is the only way you will get well.
- Many STDs can be cured. Others cannot be cured. But all STDs can and must be treated.
- Many STDs can be treated with antibiotics. Do exactly what your provider tells you. Be sure to use all of your medicine.
- You also must tell your sexual partner(s). If they aren’t treated, they can get sick. They can spread the STD. They might even give it to you again!
Many people have an STD with no symptoms. If you have symptoms, you may notice any of these things.
Protect Yourself
Stay Safe: Not having sex is the best way to protect yourself from STD. Having sex with only one uninfected partner who only has sex with you is also safe.
If You Have Sex:
- Use latex condoms with a water-based lubricant every time you have vaginal, anal or oral sex. Condoms will protect you from STD much of the time.
- Use plastic (polyurethane) condoms if you’re allergic to latex. These come in both male and female styles.
- Talk to your partner about past sex partners and about needle drug use. Don’t have sex with someone who you think may have an STD.
- Look closely at your Partner for any signs of STD- a rash, a sore or discharge. If you see anything you’re worried about don’t have sex.
Take Action:
- Get checked for STD regularly. Ask your health care provider to help you decide how often and which tests you should have.
- Vaccines can help protect you against hepatitis B and some types of HPV. Ask your provider if they’re right for you.
- Know the signs and symptoms of STD. If you notice a symptom that worries you, get checked!
If You Have an STD:
- Tell your sex partner(s). Your partner must get tested and treated too. Otherwise he or she could give the STD to someone else or back to you.
- Wait to have sex. Ask your provider how long after treatment you must wait.
National Statistics
The Following information is provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
Chlamydia
In 2016, a total of 1,598,354 cases of Chlamydia trachomatis infection were reported to the CDC, making it the most common notifiable condition in the United States. This case count corresponds to a rate of 497.3 cases per 100,000 population, an increase of 4.7% compared with the rate in 2015. During 2015–2016, rates of reported chlamydia increased in all regions of the United States.
Rates of chlamydia are highest among adolescent and young adult females, the population targeted for routine chlamydia screening. Among young women attending family planning clinics participating in a sentinel surveillance program who were tested for chlamydia, 9.2% of 15–19 year olds and 8.0% of 20–24 year olds were positive. Although rates of reported cases among men are generally lower than rates among women, reflecting the larger number of women screened for this infection, increased availability of urine testing and extragenital testing has resulted in an increased number of men, including gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (collectively referred to as MSM) being tested and diagnosed with a chlamydial infection.
Rates of reported chlamydia varied among different racial and ethnic minority populations. In 2016, rates were highest among Blacks and American Indians/Alaska Natives. However, during 2012–2016, rates decreased 3.5% among Blacks and 6.4% among American Indians/Alaska Natives and increased among Whites, Asians, and Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islanders.
Rates of chlamydia are highest among adolescent and young adult females, the population targeted for routine chlamydia screening. Among young women attending family planning clinics participating in a sentinel surveillance program who were tested for chlamydia, 9.2% of 15–19 year olds and 8.0% of 20–24 year olds were positive. Although rates of reported cases among men are generally lower than rates among women, reflecting the larger number of women screened for this infection, increased availability of urine testing and extragenital testing has resulted in an increased number of men, including gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (collectively referred to as MSM) being tested and diagnosed with a chlamydial infection.
Rates of reported chlamydia varied among different racial and ethnic minority populations. In 2016, rates were highest among Blacks and American Indians/Alaska Natives. However, during 2012–2016, rates decreased 3.5% among Blacks and 6.4% among American Indians/Alaska Natives and increased among Whites, Asians, and Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islanders.
Gonorrhea
In 2009, the national rate of reported gonorrhea cases reached an historic low of 98.1 cases per 100,000 population. During 2009–2012, the rate increased slightly each year to 106.7 cases per 100,000 population in 2012 and has increased steadily during 2014–2016. In 2016, 468,514 gonorrhea cases were reported for a rate of 145.8 cases per 100,000 population, an increase of 18.5% from 2015.
During 2015–2016, the rate of reported gonorrhea increased 22.2% among men and 13.8% among women. The magnitude of the increase among men suggests either increased transmission or increased case ascertainment (e.g., through increased extra-genital screening) among MSM or both. The concurrent increases among cases reported among women, suggests parallel increases in heterosexual transmission, increased screening among women, or both.
In 2016, the rate of reported cases of gonorrhea remained highest among Blacks (481.2 cases per 100,000 population) and among American Indians/Alaska Natives (242.9 cases per 100,000 population). During 2012–2016, rates increased among all racial and ethnic groups.
Antimicrobial resistance remains an important consideration in the treatment of gonorrhea. Dual therapy with ceftriaxone and azithromycin is now the only CDC recommended treatment for gonorrhea.2 In 2016, the percentage of isolates with elevated minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of cefixime and ceftriaxone remained low (0.3% and 0.3%, respectively). During 2013–2016, the percentage of isolates with reduced azithromycin susceptibility increased from 0.6% to 3.6%. Continued monitoring of susceptibility patterns to these antibiotics is critical.
During 2015–2016, the rate of reported gonorrhea increased 22.2% among men and 13.8% among women. The magnitude of the increase among men suggests either increased transmission or increased case ascertainment (e.g., through increased extra-genital screening) among MSM or both. The concurrent increases among cases reported among women, suggests parallel increases in heterosexual transmission, increased screening among women, or both.
In 2016, the rate of reported cases of gonorrhea remained highest among Blacks (481.2 cases per 100,000 population) and among American Indians/Alaska Natives (242.9 cases per 100,000 population). During 2012–2016, rates increased among all racial and ethnic groups.
Antimicrobial resistance remains an important consideration in the treatment of gonorrhea. Dual therapy with ceftriaxone and azithromycin is now the only CDC recommended treatment for gonorrhea.2 In 2016, the percentage of isolates with elevated minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of cefixime and ceftriaxone remained low (0.3% and 0.3%, respectively). During 2013–2016, the percentage of isolates with reduced azithromycin susceptibility increased from 0.6% to 3.6%. Continued monitoring of susceptibility patterns to these antibiotics is critical.
Syphilis
In 2000 and 2001, the national rate of reported primary and secondary (P&S) syphilis cases was 2.1 cases per 100,000 population, the lowest rate since reporting began in 1941. However, the P&S syphilis rate has increased almost every year since 2001. In 2016, 27,814 P&S syphilis cases were reported, representing a national rate of 8.7 cases per 100,000 population and a 17.6% increase from 2015. During 2015–2016, the P&S syphilis rate increased among both men and women in every region of the country; overall, the rate increased 14.7% among men and 35.7% among women.
During 2012–2016, P&S syphilis rates were consistently highest among persons aged 20–29 years, but rates increased in every 5-year age group among those aged 15–64 years. In 2016, rates were highest among Blacks (23.3 per 100,000 population) and Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islanders (13.9 per 100,000 population); however, rates increased among all racial and ethnic groups during in 2012–2016.
During 2000–2016, the rise in the P&S syphilis rate was primarily attributable to increased cases among men and, specifically, among MSM. In 2016, men accounted for almost 90% of all cases of P&S syphilis. Of those male cases for whom sex of sex partner was known, 80.6% were MSM. Reported cases of P&S syphilis continued to be characterized by a high rate of HIV co-infection, particularly among MSM. Among 2016 P&S syphilis cases with known HIV-status, 47.0% of MSM were HIV-positive, 10.7% of cases among MSW and 4.1% of cases among women were HIV-positive.
The 2013 rate of congenital syphilis (9.2 cases per 100,000 live births) marked the first increase in congenital syphilis since 2008. During 2013–2014, the rate increased 27.2%, during 2014–2015 the rate increased 6.0%, and then increased 27.6% during 2015–2016. There were 628 cases of congenital syphilis reported in 2016 compared with 492 cases in 2015. In 2016, rates of congenital syphilis were highest among Blacks (43.1 cases per 100,000 live births), followed by American Indians/Alaska Natives (31.6 cases per 100,000 live births), and Hispanics (20.5 cases per 100,000 live births).
During 2012–2016, P&S syphilis rates were consistently highest among persons aged 20–29 years, but rates increased in every 5-year age group among those aged 15–64 years. In 2016, rates were highest among Blacks (23.3 per 100,000 population) and Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islanders (13.9 per 100,000 population); however, rates increased among all racial and ethnic groups during in 2012–2016.
During 2000–2016, the rise in the P&S syphilis rate was primarily attributable to increased cases among men and, specifically, among MSM. In 2016, men accounted for almost 90% of all cases of P&S syphilis. Of those male cases for whom sex of sex partner was known, 80.6% were MSM. Reported cases of P&S syphilis continued to be characterized by a high rate of HIV co-infection, particularly among MSM. Among 2016 P&S syphilis cases with known HIV-status, 47.0% of MSM were HIV-positive, 10.7% of cases among MSW and 4.1% of cases among women were HIV-positive.
The 2013 rate of congenital syphilis (9.2 cases per 100,000 live births) marked the first increase in congenital syphilis since 2008. During 2013–2014, the rate increased 27.2%, during 2014–2015 the rate increased 6.0%, and then increased 27.6% during 2015–2016. There were 628 cases of congenital syphilis reported in 2016 compared with 492 cases in 2015. In 2016, rates of congenital syphilis were highest among Blacks (43.1 cases per 100,000 live births), followed by American Indians/Alaska Natives (31.6 cases per 100,000 live births), and Hispanics (20.5 cases per 100,000 live births).
United States: 2015 Health Profile
| unitedstates_profile_2015.pdf |
Georgia Statistics
This information is provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
HIV/AIDS Epidemic
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In 2015, an estimated 39,393 people in the United States were diagnosed with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. About 1 in 7 people with HIV in the United States do not know that they are infected.
In 2015, an estimated 2,381 adults and adolescents were diagnosed with HIV in Georgia. Georgia ranked 5th among the 50 states in the number of HIV diagnoses in 2015.
In 2015, an estimated 2,381 adults and adolescents were diagnosed with HIV in Georgia. Georgia ranked 5th among the 50 states in the number of HIV diagnoses in 2015.
Adolescent and School Health
Many young people engage in sexual risk behaviors that can result in unintended health outcomes. Sexual risk behaviors place adolescents at risk for HIV infection, other sexually transmitted diseases, and unintended pregnancy. However, there has been a nationwide decrease in the percentage of adolescents who have ever had sex:
- 24% of 9th graders have reported ever having sex in 2015 compared to 34% in 2005.
- 35.7% of 10th graders have reported ever having sex in 2015 compared to 42.8% in 2005.
Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)
Syphilis
Primary and secondary (P&S) syphilis (the stages in which syphilis is most infectious) remains a health problem, primarily among men who have sex with men, but congenital transmission of syphilis from infected mothers to their unborn children persists in many areas of the country.
- In Georgia, the rate of primary and secondary syphilis was 6.9 per 100,000 in 2011, 14 per 100,000 in 2015, and 13.2 per 100,000 in 2016.
- There were 105 cases of congenital syphilis from 2011 through 2016.
Chlamydia & Gonorrhea
Untreated STDs are a common cause of pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility and chronic pelvic pain. In addition, they can increase the spread of HIV, and cause cancer. Pregnant women and newborns are particularly vulnerable.
In 2015, Georgia:
In 2015, Georgia:
- Ranked 6th among 50 states in chlamydial infections (570.8 per 100,000 persons) and ranked 7th among 50 states in gonorrheal infections (158.3 per 100,000 persons).
- Reported rates of chlamydia among women (779.5 cases per 100,000) that were 2.2 times greater than those among men (349.3 cases per 100,000).
- Ranked 5th among 50 states in chlamydial infections (614.6 per 100,000 persons) and ranked 3rd among 50 states in gonorrheal infections (201.2 per 100,000 persons).
| georgia_profile.pdf |
