STD diagnoses jumped in recent years, especially among seniors

by Lauren Sforza - 07/08/24 6:27 PM ET

This microscope image shows chlamydia trachomatis bacteria. — E. Arum and N. Jacobs, CDC via AP
This microscope image made available by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows chlamydia trachomatis bacteria. U.S. health officials released data April 11, 2023, showing how chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis cases have been accelerating, but doctors are hoping an old drug will help fight the sexually transmitted infections. Experts believe STDs have been rising because of declining condom use, inadequate sex education and reduced testing during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Diagnoses of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) jumped up in recent years, especially among older Americans, according to new data.

The data from FairHealth found a 4.8 percent increase in patients with STD diagnoses from 2020 to 2023. The 65 and older age group saw the highest increase in this period, with a 23.8 percent increase in STD diagnoses.

Axios, which reported first on the new figures, noted the data is consistent with findings from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that showed increases in STD diagnoses among adults 55 and older between 2012 and 2022.

The second-largest increase was among those aged 55 to 64, who saw a 16.2 percent jump in STD diagnoses. Patients aged 45 to 54 saw a 7.6 percent increase, while those in the 35 to 44 age group saw a 8.6 percent increase.

The only age groups to see a drop in diagnoses were 18 and younger and 19 to 24.

Overall, the data found that syphilis was the fastest growing diagnosis across all age groups between 2020 and 2023. There was a 29 percent increase in syphilis diagnoses, nearly 17 percent increase for gonorrhea, and about a 14 percent increase for HIV and AIDS.

There was also a 32 percent increase in human papillomavirus (HPV) diagnoses among those 65 and older, according to the data.

Tags sexually transmitted infections STDs