It's a troubling trend both nationally and in San Diego County: sexually transmitted diseases are on the rise.
The number of cases of both gonorrhea and syphilis rose 15 percent in the county between 2013 and 2014. Health officials attribute the rise in part to an increase in risky sexual behavior.
Patrick Loose, chief of the county’s HIV, STD, and Hepatitis Branch, said it can be tough for someone to recognize that they have an STD.
“Certainly people can be infected and not have any symptoms," Loose said. "And sometimes health care providers might not recognize the symptoms, and that’s particularly true for syphilis.”
But left untreated, syphilis and gonorrhea can have serious and permanent health consequences.
Loose recommends that people who are sexually active should get tested for STDs at least once a year.
