Sexually transmitted infections have declined nationally, but Montana is showing an increase

Recent data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that sexually transmitted infections are on the decline across the country.

The 2023 reports show that the STD epidemic is slowing.

NBC Montana looked through the national data to see where Montana’s numbers lie.

The number of new cases of gonorrhea decreased in almost all age groups, while the rates of syphilis and chlamydia remained stable.

In total, more than 2.4 million STDs were diagnosed last year, a small decrease from the 2.5 million reported in 2022. This decline, while modest, comes after decades of rising infection rates.

Unlike other states in the country, the number of reported cases of syphilis in Montana is increasing.

Show data the Treasure State’s total numbers increased by more than 100 cases. Last year there were 767 cases reported and in 2022 there were 629 cases.

Despite this downturn, nearly 4,000 babies were diagnosed with congenital syphilis last year, many of whom were stillborn or died shortly after birth. According to data, Montana is in the top 10 states for congenital syphilis. That’s when a mother passes a syphilis infection to her newborn baby.

Other states have higher recorded cases, but the data is ranked per 100,000 live births, with only 19 cases in 2023which amounts to a rate of 170 per 100 thousand live births.

Gonorrhea is declining nationally, Montana reported more than 750 cases last year. This is the second year in a row that the STD has decreased.

Montana also reported 3,655 cases of chlamydia. The STD spiked in Montana 2019 with a reported 4,753 cases.

The CDC says the decline in cases can be attributed to several factors. This includes increased funding for health departments during the COVID-19 pandemic, shifts in sexual behavior among gay and bisexual men following the MPOX outbreak, and the introduction of doxycycline as a preventive treatment after unprotected sex.

CDC officials remain cautious, noting that nearly half of new infections continue to affect adolescents and young adults between the ages of 15 and 24. Despite the decline, there is still a long way to go to reverse the trend of rising STD rates that has persisted for almost two decades.

“I see a glimmer of hope in the midst of millions of STDs,” Jonathan Mermin, MD, MPH, director of CDC’s National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention, said in a statement. “After almost twenty years of an increase in STDs, the tide is turning. We must make the most of this moment – ​​let’s further this momentum with creative innovation and further investment in STD prevention.”