SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES
Rates of reportable sexually transmitted diseases
(STDs) are particularly high among adolescents (ages
15-19) and young adults (ages 20-24). In these age
groups, reported rates of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and
syphilis are much higher among black non-Hispanic
youth than white non-Hispanics.
The most common STD in adolescents and young adults
in 2000 was chlamydia, with 1,373 cases per 100,000
adolescents and 1,404 per 100,000 young adults. Gonorrhea
followed in prevalence with 516 cases per 100,000
adolescents and 623 cases per 100,000 young adults.
Infection rates for chlamydia decreased slightly for
adolescents, but increased for young adults from 1999.
Gonorrhea among adolescents declined slightly while
the rate for young adults increased. Syphilis is much
rarer among young people, with only 2.3 cases per
100,000 adolescents and 4.9 cases per 100,000 young
adults in 2000, a slight decline in both age groups
from 1999.
Although these conditions are treatable with antibiotics,
STDs can have serious health consequences. Active
infections can increase the likelihood of contracting
HIV and untreated STDs can lead to pelvic inflammatory
disease and infertility in women.
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