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STD levels have escalated, reaching a new highs.
Syphilis infections jumped 32 percent in 2021 to more than 176,000 – the highest
total since 1950. According to an estimate from The World Health Organization
(WHO), eight million adults aged 15–49 acquired syphilis globally in 2022.
Overall, the CDC reported over 2.53 million cases of STDs in the U.S. in 2024,
reaching another all-time high. Although gonorrhea saw a slight decline of 7.7%,
chlamydia remains the most common STD, with more than 1.6 million infections.
Experts stress that these numbers are still likely undercounted due to ongoing
challenges in accessing screening and treatment.
"There are no signs the [sexually transmitted infections] epidemic is
slowing," Leandro Mena, the director of the CDC's Division of STD
Prevention, said in an interview, describing the new data as "jarring."
Progress in combating HIV also stalled during the 2019 COVID-19 pandemic and
beyond, with access to
testing and treatment widely disrupted. Some parts of the country, including San
Francisco, saw HIV rates increase for the first time in nearly a decade. The
majority of new HIV infections are in the American South — home to 7 of the 10
states that have not expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. And we
expect this will only get worse as millions are kicked off Medicaid now that the
government has declared the Public Health Emergency "over."
Meanwhile, new concerns are emerging in 2025. Some researchers are warning of a
post-pandemic sexual health crisis. Globally, syphilis is making a shocking
comeback, with experts linking this resurgence to both systemic neglect and
changing sexual behaviors. In the U.S., outbreaks are especially severe in
underserved areas, with rates disproportionately high among young people and
LGBTQ+ communities.
Sexual health experts and government officials are warning that without federal
action, millions of Americans could face serious, even fatal, consequences if
infections go untested and untreated.
"Unfortunately, all signs indicate that the numbers are getting worse and
that they're not going to get better until we adopt some new approaches and
invest further in STD and public health programs," said David Harvey, the
executive director of the National Coalition of STD Directors. "We have a lot
of work to even get back to where we were pre-pandemic."
The pandemic forced sexual health clinics across the country to close their
doors or cut back their hours and services. Government disease investigators who
had spent years contact-tracing for STDs were reassigned to Covid work, and many
quit the public health field entirely. Federal agencies saw widespread shortages
of testing supplies. Millions of people lost their jobs and, with them, their
health insurance. A surge in addiction and mental health problems contributed to
riskier behavior, such as trading sex for drugs, seeking out anonymous sex, and
skipping routine health care.
The growing STD crisis costs the American health system billions every year.
The rampant spread of STDs is only increasing in 2025. Despite this, U.S.
District Court Judge Reed O'Connor's decision to toss out the requirements for
insurance companies to cover the HIV prevention drug PrEP and to offer a range
of preventive services — from syphilis tests to depression screenings — at no
cost to the general public is still in limbo as appeals are ongoing. Many worry
it won't fare well before conservative-leaning judges in the higher courts.
If O'Connor's ruling is upheld, the roughly 168 million people with private
health insurance plans could be hit with new charges for PrEP, STD testing, and
other preventive care.
"Anything that hinders health care access, especially for marginalized
communities, will end up in fewer people being on PrEP and more people getting
HIV," warned Demetre Daskalakis, the director of HIV prevention at the CDC
who also spearheaded the Biden administration's Mpox campaign. "And then
really, in that scenario, there's no going back."
In 2025, that warning feels more urgent than ever. STD rates are climbing
alarmingly high, with younger adults avoiding screenings due to cost, fear, or
stigma. A 2025 report from STD Rapid Test Kits shows a disturbing trend: even
with growing awareness, testing rates have dropped in many urban and rural areas
alike, primarily due to cost barriers and the decline of walk-in public clinics.
As more and more people have to pay for their own STD screening, the chances are
high that they will not do it. Numerous studies show that people often skip STD
services when they aren't free, resulting in increasing levels of STD infection.
In conclusion, it's more important now than ever to look out for your sexual
health and safety. Free or low-cost clinics, at-home test kits, PrEP access, and
public awareness campaigns remain vital tools — but without national investment
and structural reform, the epidemic will only continue to worsen.
Related Articles:
Sexually Transmitted Infections Surveillance (CDC)
Data on Syphilis (World Health Organization)
Why STDs Are Spreading Like Wildfire in 2025, Despite All the Warnings (STD Rapid Test Kits, 4-26-25)
Syphilis surprises with a worldwide comeback (Sanger Institute, 2-17-25)
STDs are at record levels. It could get much worse. (Politico, 4-11-23)
Texas judge strikes down free HIV drugs, cancer screenings under Obamacare (Politico, 3-30-23)
Covid chaos fueled another public health crisis: STDs (Politico, 12-3-22)