STIs in Minnesota

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) in Minnesota: The Facts

The Minnesota Department of Health 2006 Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Statistics includes summary of data for Minnesota’s four reportable sexually transmitted infections (STIs) — chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and chancroid.

•    In Minnesota, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are the most commonly reported communicable diseases and account for over 60% of all notifiable diseases reported to the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH).

•    In 2006, the number of reportable bacterial sexually transmitted infections reached their highest level ever with 16,428 cases reported. This represents an overall increase of two percent from the previous year and is part of a continued trend observed over the past ten years.

•    In 2006, the change in incidence rate varied by infection, with chlamydia rates increasing by 5 percent.

•    According to the Minnesota Department of Health, the incidence of chlamydia in the state has doubled over the past ten years, from 115 to 263 infections for every 100,000 persons.
 
•    Chlamydia is the most commonly reported sexually transmitted infection in Minnesota, with nearly 13,000 reported cases in 2006, compared to 3,303 of gonorrhea and 190 cases of syphilis.  Although all racial groups, with the exception of Native Americans, had a rate increase over the past ten years, the highest increases were seen among African Americans (12%) and Latinos (8%).  In fact, in Minnesota, the rate for African American Minnesotans is 15 times that of whites.

•    Minneapolis has the highest number of infected persons; however the greatest increases were seen in St. Paul (11%) and in the suburbs (9%) in 2005.  

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates:

•    That by 2010, 1 out of every 2 young adults will have an STI.  
•    That a significant number of persons ages 14-39 have chlamydia.  In fact, since younger women have an ‘unacceptably high burden’ of infection the CDC recommends screening all sexually active women 25 years of age and younger.  

The Alan Guttmacher Institute’s national cost estimates:

•    Direct medical costs associated with STIs are $13 billion annually.
•    More than $8 billion is spent each year to diagnose and treat STIs.  (This figure does not include HIV.)

For more than 75 years, Planned Parenthood has worked in communities across Minnesota to make sure all people have the information and the means to decide freely and responsibly whether and when to have children – and that every child is wanted and loved.  Planned Parenthood operates 27 clinics in Minnesota, providing quality and affordable family planning and reproductive health care services for nearly 80,000 women and men each year.