Reports Of Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Syphilis Increase Among Tennessee Women, Study Finds

Main Category: Sexual Health / STDs
Also Included In: Women's Health / Gynecology
Article Date: 25 Sep 2009 - 4:00 PDT

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National Partnership for Women & Families Reported cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis among Tennessee women all rose from 2002 to 2007, prompting state health officials to issue a grade of "F" in the sexually transmitted infections category on the 2009 Tennessee Women's Health Report Card, the Tennessean reports. The report card is a collaboration between the state health department and several Tennessee colleges and universities.

Chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis can all be detected through testing and treated with antibiotics. However, if left untreated or not caught early, they can lead to serious complications, including infertility or death in some cases, according to Kimberly Looney, an assistant professor at Meharry Medical College.

It is unclear whether the increase in STIs is due to improved screening and reporting or a greater number of infections, the Tennessean reports. The next report, to be released in two years, should help health officials answer that question. The data align with a 2007 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that found that Tennessee had one of the highest rates in the country for each of the three STIs.

The new report found that reported cases of chlamydia rose by 67%, from 425 cases per 100,000 women in 2002 to 633 cases per 100,000 in 2007. Among black women, the number of chlamydia cases rose from 852 per 100,000 women in 2002 to 2,032 per 100,000 in 2007 (Sanchez, Tennessean, 9/22).

Reprinted with kind permission from http://www.nationalpartnership.org. You can view the entire Daily Women's Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery here. The Daily Women's Health Policy Report is a free service of the National Partnership for Women & Families, published by The Advisory Board Company.

© 2009 The Advisory Board Company. All rights reserved.

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