April 15, 2023
Jessica Mathews / [email protected]
Sexually transmitted infections are on the rise in Michigan, and state and local health officials are working to educate the public about the importance of testing and treatment.
As part of Sexually Transmitted Infections Awareness Week, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) urges sexually active people to incorporate sexual health discussions and regular STI screening into their sexual health routine. health care.
Chlamydia and gonorrhea remain the most common STIs in Michigan, while syphilis has increased at an alarming rate across all demographic groups in the state. Syphilis has increased by 25% since 2020 and rates have doubled since 2013. Most of the increase has been seen among heterosexuals.
The state said some contributing factors to the increase include limited access to testing and complicated treatment for COVID-19, stigma that limits open conversations about sexual health, substance use, including opioids, and changing patterns of dating sexual partners. Additionally, MDHHS reports that as the numbers have grown, the funding and staff available to track cases and ensure prompt treatment have remained stagnant.
State and local health authorities have stressed the importance of routine testing to help slow the spread of STIs. Early treatment would also be essential to avoid serious complications.
Director of Personal and Preventive Health Services and MSN-RN Rebecca Leach of the Livingston County Health Department tells WHMI they are seeing a similar trend in Livingston County.
In 2022, there were 230 cases of chlamydia and 42 cases of gonorrhea. Since 2013, she noted that there had been an increase of around 16% in local cases of gonorrhea.
Leach said they haven’t seen too many local syphilis cases, but they’re definitely on the rise statewide. She said it’s important to note that it was associated primarily with men who have sex with men or the MSM population, but they are now seeing more cases in the heterosexual population. Leach said this translates to an increased risk of congenital syphilis and they fear babies will be born exposed to it.
Leach said that overall locally there has been a downward trend, but the numbers statewide — especially in southeast Michigan — are up.
Chlamydia is also the most common STI locally and often a person can have an infection without knowing it. Leach stressed the importance of routine testing for sexually active people, as there are STIs that can be A-symptomatic, meaning no symptoms. She says they really encourage routine testing so that STIs can be identified and treated, and partners can be treated to prevent reinfection.
In Livingston County, testing and treatment options are somewhat limited.
Planned Parenthood’s Brighton Health Center closed in April 2016 after the Grand River building was sold. It worked for about 15 years in the local community. The clinic was well utilized and served more than 2,000 patients each year who were then forced to travel to health centers outside of Livingston County for care and services. The closest are located in Ann Arbor, Flint and Lansing.
The Livingston County Health Department does not perform routine testing, but can provide referrals and connect people to resources for testing and treatment. Leach recommends that sexually active people get routine STI testing through their primary care providers or emergency care.
A press release from MDHHS with more information is attached.