Copyright Information

All material contained in this report is in the public domain and may be used and reprinted without special permission; citation to source, however, is appreciated.

Suggested Citation

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sexually Transmitted Disease Surveillance, 2006. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, November 2007.

Copies can be obtained from the National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, Mailstop E–07, Atlanta, Georgia 30333. Printed copies of this report can be obtained online at: http://www.cdc.gov/std/

Selected STD Surveillance and Prevention References and Websites

Supplemental STD Surveillance Reports – 2006

• 2006 Chlamydia Prevalence Monitoring Project
• 2006 Gonococcal Isolate Surveillance Project
• 2006 Syphilis Surveillance Project

Others:

• STD Surveillance Reports 1993 – 2006
• STD Data on Wonder
• STD Fact Sheets
• STD Treatment Guidelines
• STD Program Evaluation Guidelines
• STD Program Operation Guidelines
• Recommendations for Public Health Surveillance of Syphilis in the United States
• Behavioral Surveillance
  • Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System
  • National Survey of Family Growth: Advance Data 362. Sexual Behavior and Selected Health Measures: Men and Women 15-44 Years of Age, United States, 2002. 56 pp. (PHS) 2003-1250

Foreword

“STDs are hidden epidemics of enormous health and economic consequence in the United States. They are hidden because many Americans are reluctant to address sexual health issues in an open way and because of the biologic and social characteristics of these diseases. All Americans have an interest in STD prevention because all communities are impacted by STDs and all individuals directly or indirectly pay for the costs of these diseases. STDs are public health problems that lack easy solutions because they are rooted in human behavior and fundamental societal problems. Indeed, there are many obstacles to effective prevention efforts. The first hurdle will be to confront the reluctance of American society to openly confront issues surrounding sexuality and STDs. Despite the barriers, there are existing individual- and community-based interventions that are effective and can be implemented immediately. That is why a multifaceted approach is necessary to both the individual and community levels.

To successfully prevent STDs, many stakeholders need to redefine their mission, refocus their efforts, modify how they deliver services, and accept new responsibilities. In this process, strong leadership, innovative thinking, partnerships, and adequate resources will be required. The additional investment required to effectively prevent STDs may be considerable, but it is negligible when compared with the likely return on the investment. The process of preventing STDs must be a collaborative one. No one agency, organization, or sector can effectively do it alone; all members of the community must do their part. A successful national initiative to confront and prevent STDs requires widespread public awareness and participation and bold national leadership from the highest levels.” ¹

¹Concluding statement from the Institute of Medicine’s Summary Report, The Hidden Epidemic: Confronting Sexually Transmitted Diseases, National Academy Press, Washington, DC, 1997, p.43.

Preface

Sexually Transmitted Disease Surveillance, 2006 presents statistics and trends for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in the United States through 2006. This annual publication is intended as a reference document for policy makers, program managers, health planners, researchers, and others who are concerned with the public health implications of these diseases. The figures and tables in this edition supersede those in earlier publications of these data.

The surveillance information in this report is based on the following sources of data: (1) case reports from state and local STD programs; (2) the Regional Infertility Prevention Projects, the National Job Training Program, the Corrections STD Prevalence Monitoring Project, and the Men Who Have Sex With Men (MSM) Prevalence Monitoring Project; (3) the Gonococcal Isolate Surveillance Project (GISP); and (4) national surveys implemented by federal and private organizations.

The STD surveillance systems operated by state and local STD control programs, which provide the case report data for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and chancroid are the data sources of many of the figures and most of the statistical tables in this publication. These systems are an integral part of program management at all levels of STD prevention and control in the United States. Because of incomplete diagnosis and reporting, the number of STD cases reported to CDC is less than the actual number of cases occurring in the United States population. Case report data for other STDs are not available because they are not nationally notifiable diseases.

Sexually Transmitted Disease Surveillance, 2006 consists of four parts. The National Profile contains figures that provide an overview of STD morbidity in the United States. The accompanying text identifies major findings and trends for selected STDs. The Special Focus Profiles contain figures and text describing STDs in selected subgroups and populations that are a focus of national and state prevention efforts. The Detailed Tables provide statistical information about STDs at the county, metropolitan statistical area (MSA), regional, state, and national levels. The Appendix includes information on interpreting the STD surveillance data used to produce this report, Healthy People 2010 STD objectives, Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) goals, and STD surveillance case definitions.

Selected figures and tables in this document identify goals that reflect progress towards some of the Healthy People 2010 (HP2010) national health status objectives for STDs.¹ Appendix Table A3 displays progress made towards the HP2010 targets for STDs. These targets are used as reference points throughout this edition of Sexually Transmitted Disease Surveillance 2006.

Any comments and suggestions that would improve the usefulness of future publications are appreciated and should be sent to Director, Division of STD Prevention, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, Mailstop E-02, Atlanta, Georgia, 30333.

¹ U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Healthy People 2010. 2nd ed. With Understanding and Improving Health and Objectives for Improving Health. 2 vols. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, November 2000.

Acknowledgments

Publication of this report would not have been possible without the contributions of the State and Territorial Health Departments and the Sexually Transmitted Disease Control Programs and the Regional Infertility Prevention Projects, which provided surveillance data to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

This report was prepared by the following staff and contractors of the Division of STD Prevention, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

Office of the Director

John Douglas
Melinda Flock
Amy Pulver

Epidemiology and Surveillance Branch

John Beltrami
Stuart Berman
Deblina Datta
Riduan Joesoef
Katrina Kramer
Kristen Mahle
Lori Newman
Catherine Lindsey Satterwhite
Hillard Weinstock
Eileen Yee

Statistics and Data Management Branch

Susan Bradley
Jim Braxton
Sharon Clanton
Darlene Davis
Miatta Dennis
Molly Dowling
LaZetta Grier
Samuel Groseclose
Alesia Harvey
Donna Helms
Rose Horsley
Kathleen Hutchins
Rob Nelson
Maya Sternberg
Akbar Zaidi

Geographical Divisions of the United States