Talk about a boner-buzz kill: Chlamydia rates are at an all-time high in the United States, says a new report from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention.
Almost 1.5 million cases of chlamydia were reported in 2012--that's the largest number the CDC has ever received for any condition. (To put that in perspective: 196,038 men in the U.S. were diagnosed with prostate cancer--the most common cancer among men--in 2010.)
And while female counts make up the majority of chlamydia cases, syphilis rates in men have jumped 11 percent from 2011 to 2012, while new gonorrhea cases increased by 4 percent--both spikes due to increases in male reports.
All three of these infections are treatable with antibiotics, yes. But your best defense is to rock a rubber, get tested yearly if you are sexually active, and know which symptoms to look out for:
Chlamydia is often known as a silent infection because most people have no symptoms, according to the CDC. If signs do appear, they'll come in the form of a burning sensation when urinating, or an abnormal discharge from the penis.
Gonorrhea usually catches your attention within the first 10 to 14 days after infection. Common symptoms include discomfort during urination, or a white, yellow, or green discharge from the penis.
Syphilis comes in three stages. First, in the primary stage, symptoms consist of an ulcer or sore at the infection site. The secondary stage appears as a rash that may look like "copper penny" spots or fine red dots on your palms or the soles of your feet. Other symptoms of secondary syphilis: a sore throat, sores in your throat, and fever. The latent (hidden) stage takes place when primary and secondary symptoms disappear. Without treatment, it can eventually lead to severe and fatal complications.
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