STDs are on the Rise in Utah

By Tracy Medley, 3-22-07

Ah, Utah. We truly have it all: Mountains, desert, goblin-like rock formations, cheap electricity and lots and lots of Sexually Transmitted Diseases. Eh. The Deseret News is reporting that while STDs such as Chlamydia and gonorrhea are on the decline throughout the rest of the U.S., Utah is experiencing, well – a bit of an STD boom.

Davis County Health Department director Lewis Garrett notes that Utah’s reported number of Chlamydia cases have increased steadily over the years. “It’s unacceptable to me and the health department,” Garret told the D-News. “Any time you have a disease that’s steadily increasing year after year, it’s a significant concern.”

Chlamydia, which is apparently the most-frequently reported infectious disease in the nation, has seen a reported 16.8 percent rise in cases in Davis County alone. Across the state – the numbers aren’t much better coming in at about 572 (12.4 percent) more cases reported this year than last.

Gonorrhea is also on the rise with confounding numbers. The number of gonorrhea cases in Utah has jumped a whopping 195 percent between 2000 and 2005. That’s according to the D-News. With the number of cases multiplying from 231 to 896 in the past 6 years it’s difficult not to feel a little unsettled.

So, what’s the deal? Well, it doesn’t take a genius to know that sexual health education isn’t exactly a priority in our conservative little burg. Even our institutes of higher learning have received poor marks when it comes to sex-ed and health services. 

Health officials suggest that lack of knowledge and proper testing and reporting methods are also to blame.

Many who have STDs go undiagnosed and untreated, allowing them to unknowingly spread infection to others. This, officials say is why screening for these types of “high-risk” diseases is important. The Utah Department of Health does, in fact offer free testing for STDs periodically, which is all thanks to the CDC – since the UDH receives no money from the state to prevent and control the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.

On that note, the legislature failed to pass a bill that would have given $1 million to the state health department for education and vaccination of women at risk for contracting HPV – a sexually transmitted disease that causes cervical cancer. But, really – does this lack of forethought on the part of our legislature surprise anyone?

What’s the moral here? Get tested! – Then write a letter to your legislator.

The Utah Department of Health is offering free testing for Chlamydia, gonorrhea and HIV between April 16 and April 20 at various locations around the state. For more information: 801-538-6171