STD rates soar to record high driven by rising rates among over-40s

The rates of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are rising rapidly among US adults above age 40, a new report has found.

From 2016 to 2017, chlamydia rates increased the most among middle-aged Americans while cases of syphilis nearly doubled.

Additionally, outbreaks of chlamydia and gonorrhea have led to Alaska being named the state that leads the nation in rates of infection.

The findings are in line with a report last year from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that found STDs hit a record high in 2017. 

About 2.3 million Americans were diagnosed, which is 200,000 more than the year before.   

The team, from Health Testing Centers, says the findings show that more education and access to preventative services needs to be made nationwide to drive down the staggering numbers. 

The number of STDs in the US over the last 76 years has increased by 248 percent from about 679,000 to around 2.3 million. After a slight dip in the 1990s, they've continued to climb year-over-year

The number of STDs in the US over the last 76 years has increased by 248 percent from about 679,000 to around 2.3 million. After a slight dip in the 1990s, they've continued to climb year-over-year

Alaska came in first in chlamydia cases with nearly 800 cases per 100,000 residents, and leads the nation in STD infection rates

Alaska came in first in chlamydia cases with nearly 800 cases per 100,000 residents, and leads the nation in STD infection rates

For the report, the team looked at data from the CDC's 2017 Sexually Transmitted Disease Surveillance Report.

They found that, over the last 76 years, the number of STDs in the US has increased by 248 percent from about 679,000 to around 2.3 million. 

After a slight dip in the 1990s, they've continued to climb year-over-year.

In 2017, chlamydia increased by 6.9 percent, syphilis increased by 15.3 percent and gonorrhea increased by 18.6 percent, from the previous year.

'Chlamydia has had a sharp increase from the '80s,' Meg Piedmont, an account manager who works on behalf of Health Testing Centers, told DailyMail.com.

'Gonorrhea still had the biggest percentage increase, but they're starting to catch up to each other.' 

The report found that despite STDs rising overall, specific states and demographics contracted them more than others.

For gonorrhea, Mississippi had the highest rate in 2017 at about 310 cases per 100,000 with Alaska not far behind in the number two spot

For gonorrhea, Mississippi had the highest rate in 2017 at about 310 cases per 100,000 with Alaska not far behind in the number two spot

In regards to chlamydia, Alaska had the highest rate with nearly 800 cases per 100,000 residents.

However, this was not surprising to researchers as the recent outbreak of chlamydia and gonorrhea has placed Alaska leading the US in STD rates.

In fact, Susan Jones, HIV/STD Program Manager

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