Syphilis Test Data
In 1986, there were 9 reported cases of early latent syphilis infection per 100,000 people. That number rose to 21 cases in 1991 and then consistently declined each year. In 2000 and 2001, the rate was down to 2.1 cases per 100,000 people. Since 2001, syphilis infection rates have risen each year. In 2013, there were 5.3 cases per 100,000, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which is double the number of cases in 2001.
Groups Most at Risk
Those most at risk of syphilis infection are men who have sex with other men. In 2012, almost 84 percent of syphilis cases reported were from men whose sex partners were male more than 70 percent of the time. This is cause for additional concern because syphilis and the behaviors associated with how you acquire syphilis significantly increase the likelihood that you will also become infected with the human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV. The CDC reports co-infection rates of syphilis and HIV to be between 50 and 75 percent among men who have sex with men.
CDC Recommendations for Syphilis Tests
The CDC recommends that everyone who is sexually active get tested for syphilis and other sexually-transmitted diseases at least once a year. Men who have more than one male sex partner, who have anonymous sex with men or who use illegal drugs such as methamphetamine should be tested every three to six months. There’s a simple blood test that will determine if you’re infected with syphilis. Syphilis is easily cured when it’s found early, but the longer you let it remain untreated, the more damage it will cause.
How to Get An Anonymous Syphilis Test
If your doctor tests you for syphilis and your syphilis test is positive, the doctor must report you to the state public health department. But don’t let embarrassment keep you from getting tested for syphilis and other sexually-transmitted disesases or from getting the treatment you need to cure a syphilis infection. Follow our free guide to get a truly anonymous syphilis test to get accurate test results that are only disclosed to you and to speak anonymously with a doctor who can get you treatment if you test positive for syphilis.
