STDs across the U.S. are on the rise. Hawaii says that the prevalence of online dating is playing a role.
Sexually transmitted diseases are on the rise in the U.S., but one state in particular is blaming online dating for the uptick.
Gerald Hasty, PhD, program coordinator for Hawaii’s Department of Health Harm Reduction Services Branch, told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser that the trend may be increasing exposure. “As people rely on digital means of making connections, it can lead to circumstances where they might be more exposed to infection without them knowing it,” he said. “More partners, more chances to get infections.”
Hawaii is not alone in seeing a rise in STD rates, however. A new report from the CDC shows that three STDs in particular — chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis — have increased across the U.S. Chlamydia is up 3 percent to more than 1.7 million cases, while gonorrhea rose by 5 percent to more than 580,000 cases . Syphilis is up by 14 percent to more than 35,000 cases — also the highest number reported since 1991.
Winslow tells Yahoo Lifestyle that people also tend to underestimate how easy it is to get an STD. “I think there’s a false perception that these diseases are not as easily transmitted as they are and that it’s not a big deal to treat them once you get them,” he says.
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