According to the CDC, STIs are augmenting in the United States, including an 80% increase in syphilis over a 5-year period. Findings from a new national survey conducted by The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center revealed that many Americans have misconceptions about how STIs are transmitted and who should be treated, which could contribute to increasing rates of transmission and related complications.

This survey was conducted on behalf of The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center by Social Science Research Solutions (SSRS) on its Opinion Panel Omnibus platform. The SSRS Opinion Panel Omnibus is a national, twice-per-month, probability-based survey. Data collection was conducted from April 5 to April 7, 2024, and the survey was conducted via web (n = 975) and telephone (n = 30) and administered in English. The margin of error for total respondents is +/- 3.4 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. All SSRS Opinion Panel Omnibus data are weighted to represent the target population of U.S. adults aged 18 years or older.

The national survey involving 1,005 individuals discovered that over one-third of Americans (34%) falsely believe STIs can only be transmitted through sexual intercourse and were unaware that STIs can also be spread by kissing, sharing needles, and even during childbirth. The survey also revealed that one in five Americans (20%) believe testing for STIs should only occur if symptoms are present.

Jose A. Bazan, DO, a professor of clinical internal medicine with the Division of Infectious Diseases at Ohio State, stated, “We’re likely still experiencing some of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic when STI prevention services were completely shut down. A lot of STIs were undiagnosed and under-reported then, allowing these infections to spread within the population. The CDC’s latest surveillance data from 2022 showed an alarming increase in cases of syphilis and congenital syphilis.”

According to the CDC, congenital syphilis occurs when women pass syphilis to their babies during pregnancy, sometimes resulting in stillbirths or other life-threatening conditions. In the U.S., cases of congenital syphilis increased 180% during the 2018–2022 timeframe.

Dr. Brazen also stated, “It’s important that pregnant individuals get screened for syphilis as this is a very preventable infection that can easily be treated with antibiotics. Unfortunately, the rising number of cases tells us we’re not reaching vulnerable populations in time.”

Stacey Biffle-Quimba, a family nurse practitioner who is program manager for sexual health and women’s health at Columbus Public Health in Ohio, stated, “Part of having a safe and healthy relationship with your partner is being able to have those conversations and say, ‘When was the last time that you were tested? What’s your status? Preventing transmission to a partner is very important because that partner may have other partners, and that’s where it can turn into an epidemic. It's important that people be tested, especially if they've never been screened, have new sexual partners or have high-risk sexual partners.”

Dr. Bazan noted that for some individuals, infections like human papillomavirus, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and HIV can develop without significant symptoms, and patients may be unaware of infection for long periods of time. These can manifest into serious health issues such as cancers of the anogenital tract, fertility issues, chronic pain, and a compromised immune system, she added.

Additionally, “Doctors need to normalize talking about sexual health with their patients. We should feel just as comfortable talking about sexual health topics as we do about blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes,” stated Dr. Bazan.

The CDC recommends a simple three-step process for preventing the transmission of STIs: talk, test, and treat. Discreet at-home testing kits are available for different STIs, including HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis, the experts noted; however, learning personal results is only one step in the process.

“While these tests are convenient and private, it’s important to discuss the results with a doctor to determine if a repeat STI test or treatment is needed,” Dr. Bazan said. “Having these conversations in a safe and non-judgmental way is a critical tool in helping us fight the epidemic of STIs.”

The content contained in this article is for informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice. Reliance on any information provided in this article is solely at your own risk.