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STDs on the Rise, Costing Americans Billions

CBN

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The number of sexually transmitted diseases is on the rise in the United States, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control.

Gonorrhea was up 4 percent and syphilis shot up by 11 percent in 2012

The CDC report says most of the new cases came from men having sex with other men, accounting for 75 percent of all primary and secondary syphilis cases.

"Primary and secondary syphilis are the most infectious stages of the disease, and if not adequately treated, can lead to visual impairment and stroke," the study said.

Most reported chlamydia and gonorrhea infections occur among 15- to 24-year-olds.

There are around 20 million new sexually transmitted infections every year. STDs cost the American health care system about $16 billion every year.

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