California Reports Continuing Decline in Sexually Transmitted Infections

Press release from the California Department of Public Health:

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) announced that the number of reported sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in California decreased for the third consecutive year. The state’s latest data, covering the period from 2023 to 2024, showed a decrease in the number of people infected with chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and congenital syphilis in California. Of important significance, California maternal syphilis rates decreased by 19 percent from 2022-2024, while national rates increased a total of 28 percent.

“Investments in local health department and community efforts, along with recent innovations in STI prevention, such as doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis (doxy PEP) and point-of-care diagnostics, have played a critical role in reducing infections,” said Dr. Erica Pan, CDPH Director and State Public Health Officer. “We must keep this momentum going and reach people where they are, expand access to screening and treatment, and ensure addressing STIs remains a top health priority. Sexually active individuals should talk to their health care providers about testing for STIs.”

Policy decisions, along with recent one-time budget investments, have helped dramatically curb the increasing trendlines in STI diagnosis over the last six years. The state has invested $13.6 million in ongoing and $30 million in one-time state General Fund ending June 30, 2029 for local assistance to support STI prevention and response at the local level. The state also invested $15 million in one-time funds, which end this June 30, 2026, for routine screening and treatment in hospital emergency departments. Additional federal funds, totaling $45.7 million, will officially end on February 28, 2026. Overall, these funds made it possible for the state and local health departments to train and retain public health workers to serve on local disease intervention teams, improving patient access to care and prevention.

An additional factor leading to the decline in STIs was CDPH’s first-in-the-nation “doxy PEP” recommendations. When the medication doxycycline is taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex (post-exposure prophylaxis), it helps significantly reduce the risk of syphilis and chlamydia and can also help decrease gonorrhea. CDPH also released updated syphilis screening recommendations to health care providers that included screening all sexually active persons 15 to 44 years of age and testing all pregnant people three times during pregnancy. CDPH has been working with 28 hospitals to implement routine screening and treatment for syphilis, HIV and hepatitis C in their emergency departments.

While the STI epidemic is improving, it still touches nearly every community, and some groups and areas continue to be more impacted due to social factors that create obstacles to quality health care services. Sexually active individuals can learn how to take charge of their health by visiting the CDPH Sexual Health web page.

STIs can cause serious health problems if left untreated, including infertility, brain and nervous system disease and even death. Many STIs have no symptoms, making regular screening essential. Untreated syphilis during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth or infant death in up to 40 percent of cases.

What Can You Do to Prevent STIs?

• Become informed! Learn about STIs and how to reduce your risk. Visit go.cdph.ca.gov/sti.
• Talk with your partner! Discuss STIs and testing BEFORE you have sex.
• Protect yourself! Using condoms and having sex with just one person who is also just having sex with you can protect you from STIs. Consider doxy PEP and HIV PrEP if you are at increased risk for STIs. Get your mpox vaccine if you are at increased risk for mpox.
• Get tested! Talk with your medical provider about getting tested for STIs. You can use a ZIP-code based STI/HIV test locator at https://gettested.cdc.gov/ to identify confidential STI services.
• Protect your partners! If you are diagnosed with an STI, talk to your partner(s) about testing and treatment and ensure your partner(s) has an opportunity to protect their own health and protect you from reinfection.

Resources

For more information on STDs in California, visit www.std.ca.gov.