Quick answer: STI rates rose for most of the past decade, and while reported cases fell 9% in 2024, they are still 13% higher than ten years ago. Congenital syphilis rose for the 12th straight year (CDC, 2024 provisional data). Experts point to several drivers: less consistent condom use, weakened public health funding, stigma that keeps people from testing, and gaps in education (National Academies, 2021).
If you’ve seen headlines saying STIs are “surging” and others saying they’re “falling,” you’re not imagining it. Both have been true at different times. This explainer breaks down what the latest data shows, why rates climbed, and what helps bring them down.
What the latest numbers show
The CDC’s provisional 2024 data, released in 2025, is the most recent national snapshot (CDC STI Surveillance 2024; CDC press release):
| Infection | Change, 2023 to 2024 |
|---|---|
| All reported chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis | Down 9% (more than 2.2 million cases) |
| Chlamydia | Down 8% |
| Gonorrhea | Down 10% |
| Primary and secondary syphilis | Down 22% |
| Congenital syphilis | Up, for the 12th consecutive year (about 4,000 cases) |
Two things are true at once:
- There’s real progress. 2024 was the third year in a row of overall decline.
- The problem isn’t solved. Total cases remain 13% higher than a decade ago, and congenital syphilis cases are nearly 700% higher than in 2015.
Final 2024 data is expected in 2026, so numbers may shift slightly.
Why did STI rates rise for so long?
There isn’t one cause. A 2021 report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, along with CDC researchers, identified several overlapping drivers (National Academies, 2021; Kidd et al., 2019).
1. Less consistent condom use
National youth survey data shows condom use among sexually active high school students fell from 59% in 2013 to 52% in 2023 (CDC YRBS). Researchers have also noted that as HIV became more treatable and preventable, some people became less likely to use condoms, which affects other STIs (National Academies, 2021).
2. Weakened public health infrastructure
Over many years, funding cuts reduced STI clinic hours, staff and partner-notification services in many communities. Fewer clinics means fewer people tested and treated early (National Academies, 2021).
3. Substance use
Researchers studying the syphilis resurgence found links to methamphetamine and other drug use, which can be associated with higher-risk situations and barriers to care (Kidd et al., 2019).
4. Stigma and fear
Shame, fear of judgment and worries about privacy keep people from getting tested or telling partners. The CDC identifies stigma and discrimination as barriers to care (CDC).
5. Gaps in education and access
Many STIs have no symptoms, so people can have and pass on an infection without knowing it. Testing is low among young people: only 6% of high school students reported STI testing in the past year (CDC YRBS). And only 26 states require sex education to be medically accurate (Guttmacher).
Why are rates falling now?
The CDC credits several factors for the recent decline, including expanded testing options such as at-home self-tests and new prevention tools like doxy-PEP, an antibiotic taken after possible exposure, for some groups at higher risk (CDC press release). Public health departments have also worked to rebuild testing and treatment services.
Why congenital syphilis is still rising
Congenital syphilis happens when syphilis passes from a pregnant person to the baby. It can cause miscarriage, stillbirth and lifelong health problems, and it is preventable with timely testing and treatment during pregnancy (CDC). Rising cases usually signal missed chances: no prenatal care, late testing, or treatment that came too late. The CDC recommends syphilis screening for all pregnant people early in pregnancy, with repeat testing for some (CDC).
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Four myths that keep STI rates high
Myth: “I’d know if I had an STI.” Fact: Many infections, including chlamydia and gonorrhea, often cause no symptoms at all. Testing is the only way to know for sure.
Myth: “Only certain kinds of people get STIs.” Fact: Anyone who is sexually active can get an STI. Thinking of STIs as a problem for “other people” is part of the stigma that keeps people from testing.
Myth: “Getting tested is a big, painful ordeal.” Fact: Many tests use a urine sample, a quick swab or a small blood draw. Some can even be done at home with a self-test kit.
Myth: “Once I’ve been treated, I can’t get it again.” Fact: You can get the same infection more than once. That’s why partner treatment and retesting, when a provider recommends it, matter.
Clearing up myths like these is one of the simplest, most effective things education can do. When people know the facts, testing feels routine instead of scary.
What actually helps
Testing
Testing is the single most important step, because many STIs have no symptoms. The CDC recommends everyone ages 13 to 64 get an HIV test at least once, and recommends yearly chlamydia and gonorrhea screening for sexually active women under 25 (CDC). See How Often Should You Get Tested for STIs? and our explainer STI Testing: What It Is.
Treatment
Chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis are treatable with antibiotics. Getting treated, and making sure partners are treated, stops the cycle.
Prevention
Condoms, PrEP for HIV, vaccines for HPV and hepatitis B, and regular testing all reduce risk. A health care provider can help you choose what’s right for you.
Education
Accurate, judgment-free education ties it all together. Reviews of three decades of research show comprehensive sex education supports healthier relationships and better health outcomes (Goldfarb & Lieberman, 2021). For a full roundup, read Sex Education Statistics in America.
How Dr Sex Ed helps
Our high school program, Know Your Body, Know Your Rights, teaches STI prevention, testing and how to access care. Adults can ask Dr Ed, our free AI health educator, private questions any time at drsexed.ai (ages 13+; under 13 with a parent’s consent). Explore our programs and free resources.
Frequently asked questions
Are STI rates increasing in 2026?
The most recent CDC data (provisional, for 2024) shows reported STIs fell 9% from 2023, the third straight year of decline. But rates are still 13% higher than a decade ago, and congenital syphilis continues to rise.
Why did STI rates go up over the past decade?
Experts point to several factors: less consistent condom use, cuts to public health STI programs, substance use, stigma that discourages testing, and gaps in education and access.
What is congenital syphilis?
It’s syphilis passed from a pregnant person to their baby. It can cause serious harm but is preventable with timely testing and treatment during pregnancy.
Can you have an STI without symptoms?
Yes. Many STIs, including chlamydia and gonorrhea, often have no symptoms. Testing is the only way to know.
Are STIs curable?
Chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis can be cured with antibiotics. Others, like HIV and herpes, can’t be cured but can be managed with treatment.
Can you get the same STI more than once?
Yes. Treatment cures some infections, but it doesn’t make you immune. Partner treatment and retesting help prevent reinfection.
Sources
- CDC. Sexually Transmitted Infections Surveillance, 2024 (Provisional). https://www.cdc.gov/sti-statistics/annual/index.html
- CDC press release, 2025. https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2025/2025-cdc-reports-latest-national-data-on-syphilis-in-newborns-and-sexually-transmitted-infections-stis.html
- National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Sexually Transmitted Infections: Adopting a Sexual Health Paradigm. 2021. Ch. 2 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK573159/ ; financing chapter https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK573155/
- Kidd SE, et al. Resurgence of Syphilis in the United States: An Assessment of Contributing Factors. 2019. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6798162/
- CDC. YRBS Data Summary & Trends Report, 2013–2023. https://www.cdc.gov/yrbs/dstr/pdf/YRBS-2023-Data-Summary-Trend-Report.pdf
- CDC. STI Health Equity. https://www.cdc.gov/sti/php/projects/health-equity.html
- CDC. Getting Tested for STIs. https://www.cdc.gov/sti/testing/
- Guttmacher Institute. Sex and HIV Education. https://www.guttmacher.org/state-policy/explore/sex-and-hiv-education
- Goldfarb & Lieberman, J Adolesc Health 2021. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2020.07.036