Sexually transmitted diseases are something most people don’t like to talk about, but the stigma needs to end and we need to get the conversation started. According to a press release by the CDC, cases of syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia reached an all time high in 2018. Syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia are all infections that are curable by antibiotics (for now). However, increasing antibiotic resistance makes the rising rates of these diseases especially concerning.
Gonorrhea is caused by the bacteria Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Untreated gonorrhea can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, and ectopic pregnancies, among other complications. Being able to successfully treat this disease is vital, and we are losing that ability. In the 1990’s ciprofloxacin, ceftriaxone, and cefixime were recommended to cure a gonorrhea infection. However, by the early 2000’s ciprofloxacin use was discontinued due to extensive resistance. Currently there is only one recommended first line treatment: ceftriaxone, taken with azithromycin. However, it is reported that in recent years Gonorrhea’s susceptibility to azithromycin has decreased as well.
If this doesn’t scare you, it should. The idea that these diseases may not be treatable in coming years, means it’s time we need to start taking protecting ourselves more seriously. If you grew up in North Carolina like I did, sexual eduction in school was pretty much nonexistent. It’s time to stop the stigma surrounding sexual health and have more conversations. Check out this link here, for some great information about how to best protect yourself and get all the facts you may have missed in school.
Microbiology by Madeline 