Rates for sexually transmitted diseases on rise in Volusia County

Sept. 11--The threat of a popular sexually transmitted disease becoming incurable and a drastic rise in STD rates over the past few years have physicians worried about the lack of sex education and access to proper health care.

A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns that gonorrhea, which often shows no symptoms, has become resistant to most forms of antibiotics and could in time become effectively untreatable if it becomes immune to the only antibiotic that can now cure it.

Dr. Jesse Greenblum, OB-GYN for Halifax Health-Care for Women, said that if gonorrhea becomes incurable it would be "a disaster."

"That is something that physicians and people in the pharmaceutical world will have to work against," Greenblum said. "People have to educate themselves, and they have to realize that having multiple sex partners or having sex with partners involved with drug use is taking on a large risk that can influence their lives forever."

The CDC report also showed that nearly 2.3 million cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis were reported. This exceeds the previous record in 2016 by 200,000 cases. These STD's often don't present symptoms and can cause long-term health issues like infertility and chronic pain. Unless individuals are getting regular screenings they may not be aware they are carrying and potentially passing on the diseases.

Greenblum said many factors play a role in the increase.

"There is a decline in condom use over the past couple of years, there have been budget cuts in safe sex education programs at the community level, there is limited care for people in need and limited access to physicians," Greenblum said. "I think that's really helped to see this great big explosion over the past three to four years."

The rise of opioid use is also contributing to the rise of STD's, especially in Volusia and Flagler counties.

"These people that are on drugs are much more promiscuous and have what we define as a high-risk sexual behavior," Greenblum said. "The more partners you have, the more likely you are to catch something."

[READ MORE: Trail of Death: Opioid overdoses rising in Volusia]

In a report by the Florida Department of Health Volusia County, the number of cases of chlamydia and gonorrhea has been on a steady increase since 2014. Syphilis remained steady until 2016 when cases spiked, and in 2017 the number decreased slightly. No such statistics were available for Flagler County.

The lack of health insurance in young adults is the leading cause for why they are not getting tested, Greenblum said.

"They may feel something a little different down there, but it doesn't interfere with their life so they just don't go," Greenblum said. "Even if they do go, they usually don't come back to make sure everything is cleared up because they have to pay for that second visit and they might still have the STD."

Screenings are available through primary care providers, the Health Department and an OB-GYN, said Dr. Caroline Sargeant, gynecologist at Palm Coast Women's Center. Testing is usually covered by insurance, and there are free options available through the Health Department for people without insurance.

"Gonorrhea and chlamydia are tested by swabbing and syphilis is done with a blood test," Sargeant said. "At our office the out of pocket expense is $100."

Prevention is a less expensive option to testing or treatment, Sargeant noted.

"The only way to avoid it altogether is to avoid sex," Sargeant said. "But in terms of being safer, be in a long-term, monogamous relationship and practice condom use with new partners."

Although condoms are thought to be the best protection, they are only effective in protecting against STD's 60 to 70 percent of the time.

"It's not perfect, but it's better than nothing," Greenblum said. "Men and women have to understand that if they are in an open relationship they need to go to periodic screenings because some people don't have symptoms" but carry an STD.

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