Turning the Tide on STIs: Progress and Challenges in Public Health

Despite over 2.4 million sexually transmitted infections (STIs) reported in 2023, recent CDC data show promising signs of progress in addressing the epidemic. Gonorrhea cases declined 7% from 2022, and primary and secondary syphilis cases saw their first significant drop in over two decades, falling 10%. Congenital syphilis cases also grew at a slower rate. However, disparities persist, disproportionately impacting marginalized populations due to systemic barriers like poverty, stigma, and limited healthcare access.

 

Innovations such as at-home STI tests, doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), and enhanced federal responses are critical. Continued investment in equitable prevention, testing, and treatment is essential to sustain this momentum and protect public health. Read more from the CDC here.