Why Experts Are Expecting an STI Surge—and How You Can Stay Safe
originally published on vaulthealth.com
After a difficult and unprecedented year, many Americans are feeling optimistic again: As more people get vaccinated against COVID-19 and cases continue to fall, life as we knew it is finally returning.
Now, vaccinated Americans are able to resume pre-pandemic activities like indoor dining, going to the gym, and spending time with friends and loved ones.
And as we emerge from this past year of isolation and grief, the ability to connect with one another feels even more precious.
Amidst this desire to connect, medical experts are already seeing a resurgence of another pre-pandemic activity: hooking up. And while they support safe and consensual sex, they’re worried about a new spike in sexually transmitted infections, or STIs.
Why Experts Are Predicting a Post-Pandemic STI Surge
During the pandemic, sexual health organizations around the globe found correlations between easing restrictions and rising STI numbers.
Several surveys conducted by the British Association of Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH) found that clinics got busier when lockdown measures were eased.
In the US, syphilis cases were at an all-time high in 2019, just before the pandemic hit. Now that vaccinated people are hooking up again, experts worry that syphilis and other STI cases will begin to climb.
But there’s another factor at play here: during the pandemic, contact tracers and testing supplies were diverted from STIs to Covid. With resources diverted from STI diagnosis, treatment, and contact tracing, there may be more individuals who have been left undiagnosed or untreated from the past year. Combined with a national reopening, the CDC and other experts believe that 2021 could see an unprecedented STI surge.
Hooking Up? Get Tested
If you’re feeling the desire to make up for lost time, you’re not alone. If you’re vaccinated, single, and/or in a non monogamous relationship, the CDC says that you can resume the activities you enjoyed before the pandemic—including hooking up.
But there are still some precautions you should take to help you and your partner stay safe:
Practice Safe Sex. After a year of little-to-zero contact, it may be tempting to remove all barriers between you and your new partner: Don’t do it. Using a condom correctly every time you have sex can lessen the risk of infection for all STIs. Keep in mind that you can still get some STIs, like herpes or HPV, from contact with your partner’s skin even when using a condom.
Use Alcohol and Drugs Wisely. Research shows that alcohol and some drugs, like methamphetamine, can lower your inhibitions and alter your decision-making abilities, reducing some people’s commitment to safe sex practices.
Get Tested. Many STDs and STIs don’t have symptoms, but can still cause health problems. If you’re regularly sexually active with new partners, consider getting tested every four-to-six weeks, or before each new partner, to stay informed about your sexual health.