Infections of sexually transmitted diseases jumped 7% in 2021, says the CDC

An Increase in Barriers to Reproductive Health Care Due to Covid-19 and Efficacy of Preventing Congenital Syphilis

The largest increases in barriers to reproductive health care were reported by individuals from historically disadvantaged populations, including low-income and Hispanic women.

The most commonly cited barrier in both years was finding a physician or clinic that felt comfortable to the patient. There was an increase in the number of women who identified this as a challenge.

Figuring out transportation or child care became more cumbersome in the time period because of cost’s less of a barrier.

The Covid-19 pandemic likely contributed to these shifts, according to the researchers. Fear of contracting the virus could have heightened anxieties around visiting a health care setting, for example. The child care crisis has been exacerbated in recent years, which could limit travel flexibilities. On the other hand, stimulus checks may have helped ease some financial barriers.

According to the data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were more than two million sexually transmitted infections reported in 2021, jumping by seven percent.

“The most important thing to remember is that congenital syphilis is 100% preventable,” Mena said. “In many ways, it is the result of our failure to prevent syphilis among women of reproductive age and their partners.”

There is a lack of access to healthcare that can make it hard for people to get the care they need. The funding for public health has been decreased and there is a limited access to testing driven services.

The CDC shows that gay and bisexual men, younger people, and Black and American Indian people are more likely to get a sexually transmitted disease.