Sexually Transmitted Infections Among Active Component Service Members, U.S. Armed Forces, 2014-2022.

Abstract

This report summarizes incidence rates and trends of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) from 2014 to 2022 among active component service members of the U.S. Armed Forces. The data compiled for this report are derived from medical surveillance of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis as nation-ally notifiable diseases. Case data for 2 additional STIs, human papilloma virus (HPV) and genital herpes simplex virus (HSV), are also presented. Since 2019 case rates for all STIs have declined, excluding syphilis, which declined briefly but rose among male and female service members by approximately 40% between 2020 and 2022. Overall age- and gender-adjusted case rates for chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis remain somewhat higher within the U.S. Armed Forces than among the general U.S. population, which may be due to factors including mandatory screening, more complete reporting, incomplete adjustment for age distribution, and inequitable comparisons between the active duty military and entire U.S. population. While case rates among female service members for chlamydia, gonorrhea, HPV, and HSV are significantly higher, syphilis rates display a male preponderance for all except the youngest age group. Social restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic may have contributed to declines in true case rates and screening coverage.