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Primary and secondary syphilis cases dropped 13 percent among gay and bisexual men for the first time since the CDC began tracking the group in the mid-2000s.
Despite the number of sexually transmitted infection (STI) cases remaining high, new data from the CDC found that the epidemic may be slowing down, particularly among gay men.
There were more than 2.4 million reported cases of STIs in 2023, according to the organization's annual Sexually Transmitted Infections Surveillance. While the number may seem daunting, the rates of infections overall are going down — gonorrhea cases declined 7 percent from 2022, dropping for the second year in a row as well as falling below pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels from 2019.
Primary and secondary syphilis cases also fell 10 percent, which the CDC noted marks "the first substantial decline in more than two decades." These stages of syphilis, which are the most infectious, also dropped 13 percent among gay and bisexual men for the first time since the CDC began tracking the group in the mid-2000s.
While syphilis cases increased by 1 percent overall, it is a significant drop from previous years that saw double-digit increases. Newborn syphilis, also known as congenital syphilis, saw a 3 percent increase nationally between 2022 and 2023, down from 30 percent annual increases.
The CDC noted that "while the STI epidemic touches nearly every community, some geographic areas and populations are affected more severely, including American Indian/Alaska Native, Black/African American, and Hispanic/Latino people, as well as gay and bisexual men." This is due to several factors, including "poverty, lack of health insurance, less access to health care, and stigma."
The organization emphasized that stronger efforts are needed from local and state governments to combat the epidemic, such as developing, investing in, and distributing prevention, testing, and treatment solutions, particularly among under-served populations.
"I see a glimmer of hope amidst millions of STIs," Jonathan Mermin, Director of CDC's National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, said in a statement. "After nearly two decades of STI increases, the tide is turning. We must make the most of this moment — let's further this momentum with creative innovation and further investment in STI prevention."
