The Most Common STDS in L.A. County

Written by Leslie K. Hughes

Sexually transmitted diseases are continuing to rise, and in 2019 reached what was deemed epidemic levels. 

Three STDs, in particular, reached their highest numbers in the state of California in the last 30 years. According to L.A. County Public Health, there were a total of nearly 100,000 reported STD cases in 2019. 

At the top of the list, with the title of the most common STD in California is chlamydia, which accounted for 66% of the reported cases in 2019. Next was gonorrhea, which represented 25% of the cases, and in third place is syphilis, which was 9% of the total nearly 100,000 STD cases reported. 

Though the numbers in L.A. county are quite high, a report showed that San Francisco has the highest STD rate not only in California but the third highest in the entire country. 

Chlamydia

It does not come as a surprise that chlamydia is the most common STD in L.A. county, as it is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases in the entire country. It can be transmitted vaginally, rectally, or orally, making it easy for anyone participating in sexual activity of any kind to become infected. 

Symptoms of this disease include things such as genital pain and discharge. 

However, the main reason that this STD is transmitted at such high rates is because many people who have chlamydia aren’t aware of it. Not everyone with chlamydia develops symptoms, which means they are more likely to infect others unknowingly. 

This furthers the importance of regular STD tests if you are sexually active. Chlamydia can be detected simply by peeing in a cup or rubbing genitals gently with a cotton swab. Cell samples gathered are tested for chlamydia bacteria. 

The good news is that chlamydia can be treated with antibiotics. By not treating chlamydia, you risk serious health problems, as well as the continued spread of the disease. 

Gonorrhea

This sexually transmitted disease is another easy one to contract, as it can be transmitted via vaginal, anal, or oral sex. 

It is also so common because oftentimes men and women with this disease experience no symptoms at all. However, for those men who do have symptoms they may look like a white, yellow, or green discharge from the penis, burning while urinating, and possible swollen testicles. And for women, the symptoms of gonorrhea may look a lot like a bladder or vaginal infection and include things like increased discharge, painful sensation while urinating, and bleeding between periods. 

Similar to chlamydia, gonorrhea tests comprise of either a urine sample or a swab of the affected area. And it also can be treated with antibiotics. 

Syphilis

This bacterial infection is typically spread via sexual contact and starts as a painless sore. 

Once the initial infection has happened, the bacteria can lie dormant in your body for years before becoming active again, thus making it easy to spread this disease unknowingly. You must get the disease treated when you experience the first since signs. Otherwise, you risk infecting other people as well as creating major issues for yourself including damage to your brain, heart, liver, blood vessels, and more. 

Testing for syphilis is done with a blood test that confirms the presence of antibodies that your body produces to fight syphilis. If caught in the early stages, syphilis can be treated with an antibiotic. Later stages of the disease are treated with an injection of penicillin. 

To avoid complications with the above STDs or any others, you must get regularly tested if you are sexually active. STD testing is something you should do at least once a year, but if you have multiple partners, you should be getting tested at least every 6 months. This helps keep both you and your sexual partners safe. 

Sameday Health is here for all of your STD testing needs. You can quickly and easily book an STD panel at select Sameday locations and get your results in no time.