Health officials say the number of sexually transmitted diseases in the state is on the rise. Learn which diseases are the most prevalent in South Dakota and how people can protect themselves.
The South Dakota Department of Health is reporting that the number of sexually transmitted diseases in South Dakota has been rising for the last four years.
State Epidemiologist Lon Kightlinger says chlamydia is the most commonly reported STD across the nation – and in South Dakota.
“We have about four-thousand of those every year and this year we’re up, we’re twenty-percent above our baseline so that’s headed in a bad direction this year. Gonorrhea, another sexually transmitted disease is always up. In fact with gonorrhea we’ve doubled the number of cases in the past four years in this state and unfortunately, syphilis, we’re having two syphilis outbreaks in the state right now so we’re seeing more syphilis now in South Dakota than we have in two generations,” says Kightlinger.
Kightlinger says South Dakota has traditionally been a low-incident state for STDs but is now above the national rate.
He says South Dakotans can decrease their chances of contracting an STD by using protection, like condoms, every time, or abstaining from sex all-together.
But, Dr. Joy Falkenburg with the Custer Regional Medical Clinic says if sexual partners do get caught up in the moment – they should proceed with caution.
“If the choice is made that they feel like they can’t abstain from sexual intercourse they should choose their partners wisely. Partners don’t have to be honest with what they have. I’ve known people that have contracted HIV that asked their partner if they’re HIV positive and they said no,” says Falkenburg.
Dr. Falkenburg says South Dakotans don’t talk enough about STDs and she says that’s unfortunate because most people are sexually active.
Health officials say herpes and genital warts are also prevalent in South Dakota and that young people with multiple partners and homosexual males are most at risk of getting an STD. They say that STDs can lead to infertility, dementia, and even death if left untreated and that all South Dakotans should get tested regularly and see a doctor if symptoms like burning, itching, or blistering appear.
