Mature female doctor friendly talking with her young female patient.Did you know that chlamydia is the most commonly reported notifiable disease in the United States and in Arizona? Did you know that gonorrhea is the second most commonly reported notifiable disease in the United States and in Arizona? In 2014, a total of 1,441,789 cases of chlamydia and 350,062 cases of gonorrhea were reported to the CDC. Of those, 31,750 chlamydia cases and 7,585 gonorrhea cases were reported from Arizona.

The CDC estimates that fewer than half of all chlamydia and gonorrhea infections are reported each year in the United States because many people don’t have symptoms. Only about 10 percent of men and 5 to 30 percent of women diagnosed with chlamydia have symptoms. Estimates for gonorrhea vary, but many men and women diagnosed with gonorrhea also show no symptoms. This allows for the continual spread of infection.

Chlamydia and gonorrhea are curable, and screening provides an avenue to early detection and treatment . Screening is especially important among young females, aged 15 to 24, as this group accounts for the highest rates of infection in Arizona. Currently, the rate among females aged 15 to 24 is roughly twelve and a half times higher than the rest of the female population in Arizona. Screening among this group is so important that the CDC recommends annual screening for all sexually active females less than 25 years of age.

Without detection and treatment, these infections can cause permanent, long-term damage including Pelvic Inflammatory Disease and infertility. Learn more by visiting STD Control Program website, and our Annual or Youth reports.