The 2021 Births of Sexually Transmitted Infections: A Case Study in a Growing Population with More Families and Fewer Doctors

Broader restrictions on reproductive rights – including a significant cut in federally funded family planning clinics by the Trump administration – likely also played a role, they wrote.

The most commonly cited barrier in both years was finding a physician or clinic that felt comfortable to the patient. About 1 in 4 women identified this as a challenge in 2021, up from about 1 in 5 in 2017.

Cost became slightly less of a barrier in that timeframe, but interpersonal relationships and logistical challenges such as finding transportation or child care became more challenging.

The Covid-19 pandemic likely contributed to these shifts, according to the researchers. Fear of contracting the virus could have heightened anxieties around visiting a health care setting, for example. In recent years, the child care crisis has worsened, which could limit travel flexibilities. On the other hand, stimulus checks may have helped ease some financial barriers.

More than 2.5 million cases of sexually transmitted infections were reported in 2021, jumping by 7% in one year, according to new data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Cases of syphilis surged 32% in one year, including an alarming rise in infections passed from pregnant mothers to babies developing in the womb. There were 220 stillbirths and infant deaths in the year 2021, caused by congenital STDs.

“The lack of access to health care, including testing and treatment for STI, can make it difficult for people to receive the care they need,” Mena said. “Decreased funding for public health and an eroding infrastructure in public health really have limited access to testing driven services.”

Gay and bisexual men, younger people, and Black and American Indian people are more likely to be affected by STIs than the general population.