sexual health
Chlamydia and Gonorrhea
Labcorp offers timely, accurate and convenient screening options that can help curb rising STI rates in the U.S.
Sexually transmitted infections (STI) are on the rise in the US
Most recent data available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed that chlamydia and gonorrhea were on the rise for the sixth year.1 With many patients being unwilling to admit to being sexually active,2 many chlamydia and gonorrhea infections remain undiagnosed and untreated. As many as 10-20% of untreated chlamydia or gonorrhea infections progress to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).3
An estimated one in five people in the U.S. has an STI.2 In 2019, there were 68 million new cases of STIs in the U.S.—up from 26 million in 2018—almost half of which were among youth aged between 15 and 24.2 Nearly $962 million in direct medical cost has been attributed to both chlamydia and gonorrhea.2
Screening patients for chlamydia and gonorrhea
The newly released “Sexually Transmitted Infections Treatment Guidelines, 2021” from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advocates for a new approach to screening for C. trachomatis and N. gonorrhoeae by introducing the concept of opt-out testing.
Per the updated CDC guidelines, opt-out chlamydia and gonorrhea screening among young and adolescent females can increase screening, save on costs and ultimately identify more infections among patients who may not be comfortable disclosing sexual behavior.4
ASHA presents a CE Webinar titled "Improving Chlamydia Screening Rates Though Opt-Out Screening"
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References
- Reported STDs Reach All-time High for 6th Consecutive Year. https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2021/p0413-stds.html. Accessed August 10, 2021.
- Leichliter JS, Copen C, Dittus PJ. Confidentiality issues and use of sexually transmitted disease Services among sexually experienced persons aged 15–25 Years — United States, 2013–2015. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention MMWR. 2017;66(9):237-241.
- Risser WL, Risser JM, Risser AL. Current perspective in the USA on the diagnosis and treatment of pelvic inflammatory disease in adolescents. Adolesc Health Med Ther. 2017;8:87-94.
- Sexually Transmitted Infections Treatment Guidelines, 2021. https://www.cdc.gov/std/treatment-guidelines/default.htm. Accessed July 29, 2021.