Survey shows: Many have false ideas about the risk of sexually transmitted infections

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are on the rise in the United States. Syphilis cases have increased 80% in five years. A new national survey from Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center shows that many Americans have misconceptions about how STIs are spread and who should get treatment.

The nationwide survey of 1,005 people found that over a third of Americans (34%) mistakenly believe that STIs can only be transmitted through sexual intercourse. In reality, there are many ways that STIs can spread, such as through kissing or sharing needles and even during childbirth. The survey also found that one in five Americans (20%) believe they only need to get tested for STIs if they have symptoms.

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

Congenital syphilis occurs when people transmit syphilis to their babies during pregnancy, sometimes resulting in stillbirths or other life-threatening conditions. According to the CDC, cases of congenital syphilis in the United States increased 180% between 2018 and 2022.

“It is important that pregnant women be screened for syphilis because it is a highly preventable infection that can be easily treated with antibiotics. Unfortunately, the increasing number of cases shows us that we are not reaching the vulnerable populations in time,” said Bazan.

How to prevent sexually transmitted diseases

The most effective way to prevent a sexually transmitted disease is to use a condom and discuss STI testing with a doctor or sexual partner, says Stacey Biffle-Quimba, a family nurse practitioner and sexual health and women’s health program manager at Columbus Public Health in Ohio.

“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 you were tested? What’s your status?’ Preventing transmission to a partner is very important because that partner may have other partners and an epidemic may start there. It’s important for people to get tested, especially if they’ve never been screened before, have new sexual partners or have high-risk sexual partners,” she said.

HPV and hepatitis A/B vaccines are also effective, as are HIV medications for pre-exposure and post-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP and PEP). This month, the CDC adopted new guidelines for the use of the antibiotic doxycycline for post-exposure prophylaxis (doxy PEP) in certain groups at risk for STIs.

“Doxy PEP is a new intervention given within 72 hours of sexual contact in the hope that it can prevent the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases such as chlamydia, gonorrhea or syphilis,” Bazan said.

Importance of talking about and getting tested for sexually transmitted diseases

In some people, infections such as HPV, chlamydia, gonorrhea and HIV can develop without significant symptoms and go undetected for long periods of time, leading to serious health problems such as cancer of the anogenital tract, fertility problems, chronic pain and a weakened immune system.

“Doctors need to make it normal to talk about sexual health with their patients. We should feel as comfortable talking about sexual health issues as we do about high blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes,” Bazan said.

The CDC recommends that individuals and healthcare providers take three simple steps to prevent the transmission of STIs: talk, test, and treat. Several home test kits are available for various STIs, including HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis.

“While these tests are convenient and confidential, it is important to discuss the results with a healthcare provider to determine if STI retesting or retreatment is necessary,” Bazan said. “Having these conversations in a safe and nonjudgmental manner is an important tool in the fight against the STI epidemic.”