STD

There were alarming increases in past years due to declining condom use, inadequate sex education, and reduced testing and treatment when the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

A new ad campaign from the AIDS Healthcare Foundation aims to encourage testing and treatment in Florida and across the U.S.

Our expert panel discusses pressing issues like a sharp rise in syphilis cases, the widening gender gap in life expectancy and the intricacies of COVID-19 vaccination efforts.

The guideline is specific to the group that has been most studied: gay and bisexual men and trans women who had a sexually transmitted disease in the previous 12 months and were at high risk to get infected again.

Taken after sex, the antibiotic doxycycline can ward off some sexually transmitted illnesses. Doctors are already prescribing it and the CDC is expected to share guidance soon for how best to use it.

The popularity of at-home COVID tests has amplified calls from health researchers and diagnostic companies to make testing similarly routine for sexually transmitted diseases. But FDA guidelines are lagging.

Statistics from 2021 show the rate of infectious syphilis cases reached its highest since 1991 and the total number of cases rose 26% to hit its highest since 1948.

Congenital syphilis rates keep climbing, according to newly released federal data. But the primary funding source for most public health departments has been largely stagnant, its purchasing power dragged even lower by inflation.

State and local health officials are looking to launch an aggressive campaign to reduce the numbers.

Syphilis cases in California have contributed to soaring national caseloads of sexually transmitted diseases. Experts point to the advent of dating apps, decreased condom use and an increase in meth.