Gonorrhea rates on the rise

Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients,  July, 2001  by Tori Hudson

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Between 1997 and 1999, the rate of gonorrhea has increased 9% after a 20 year period of decline.

In 1997, there were 119 gonorrhea cases per 100,000 women but in 1999 the rate grew to 130 cases. In men, the number of cases increased from 125 per 100,000 to 136 in the same time period. From 1985 to 1996, the rates of disease decreased by about 10%, stabilized in 1996 and 1997, and rose from 1997 to 1999.

It is estimated that 650,000 new cases of gonorrhea occur each year. Greater condom use and safer sexual practices during the mid-80's to mid-90's probably account for the drop in the figures during that time period. Unfortunately, condom use and safer sex practices appear to be declining.

Currently, the United States has the highest gonorrhea rate of any industrialized nation and is roughly 50 times that of Sweden and eight times that of Canada. Clinicians must be willing to educate their patients about STDs, the importance of safer sex practices and the dangers of having unsafe sex, and STD testing.

COPYRIGHT 2001 The Townsend Letter Group
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning