STDs continue to rise in the U.S., reaching all-time high

STDs increase for the fifth consecutive year

New CDC data show that combined cases of syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia continued their record-breaking rise in 2018. Multiple factors are contributing to the overall increase in STDs, including drug use, socioeconomic status, decreased condom use, reduced access to health services, and cuts to STD programs at the state and local level.

Key findings

Increases were seen across the three most commonly reported STDs between 2017-2018:

• There were more than 115,000 syphilis cases, including a 14 percent increase in primary and secondary syphilis, the most infectious stages of the disease
• Gonorrhea increased 5 percent to more than 580,000 cases
• Chlamydia increased 3 percent to more than 1.7 million cases

Syphilis in newborns is a tragic consequence of the growing STD epidemic

Cases of congenital syphilis - syphilis passed from a mother to her baby during pregnancy - increased 40 percent from 2017-2018. Congenital syphilis can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, newborn death, and severe lifelong physical and neurological problems. The number of newborn deaths related to syphilis increased 22 percent from 2017-2018.

"STDs come at a high cost for babies and other vulnerable populations. Curbing STDs will improve the overall health of the nation and prevent infertility, HIV, and infant deaths."

- Jonathan Mermin, MD, MPH, Director of CDC's National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention

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