Syphilis during pregnancy is a serious issue. It can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant death. Babies born with syphilis can face lifelong medical issues. This is why screening for syphilis is recommended for all pregnant patients, so infections can be found and treated.
As CDC notes, there were many missed opportunities to prevent newborn syphilis. For example, 2 in 5 (40%) people who had a baby with syphilis did not get prenatal care. Some pregnant patients were not screened for syphilis or were not treated after testing positive. Overall, 9 in 10 cases of newborn syphilis in 2022 might have been prevented with timely testing and treatment.
There are also clear disparities in newborn syphilis cases. In 2021, babies born to Black, Hispanic, or American Indian/Alaska Native mothers were up to 8 times more likely to have newborn syphilis than babies born to white mothers. These disparities stem from unfair and unjust systems, policies, and practices.
Newborn syphilis is a preventable problem. As the CDC states in its report, “Increasing rates of syphilis among babies reflect a failure of the U.S. health system.”
While there are large, systemic problems that play a role, like institutional racism and lack of access of care, there are clear steps that can be taken. CDC has offered guidance to health care providers and health departments on timely testing and treatment.
Read more about syphilis prevention, testing, and treatment here.
About 1.6 million cases of chlamydia and 600,000 cases of gonorrhea are diagnosed in the United Sates each year. A new study suggests that these patients may not be following through with STI treatment or getting the right antibiotics.
A clinical trial of a new antibiotic found that it works just as well as a current drug regimen for treating gonorrhea infections. This is important because the bacteria that causes gonorrhea has become resistant to most existing antibiotics.
You have probably heard that HPV can cause cervical cancer. But did you know that it can also cause cancers of the mouth, tongue, and throat?
The FDA just approved a new, fully at-home test for chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis. The tests, which is only for women, will be available without a prescription. Users can collect their own sample and have results in less than 30 minutes.
A new study found that opt-out screenings for all patients in emergency departments caught numerous cases of syphilis and HIV that would have gone undetected under other screening protocols.
A study revealed that the majority of young people would prefer testing for STIs at home over going to a doctor’s office or clinic.
ASHA believes that all people have the right to the information and services that will help them to have optimum sexual health. We envision a time when stigma is no longer associated with sexual health and our nation is united in its belief that sexuality is a normal, healthy, and positive aspect of human life.
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