STI cases increase across El Paso County

Health care experts are working to raise awareness with the public about a dramatic jump in sexually transmitted infection rates.

The recently revealed numbers for 2017 show more than 7,000 new cases of STIs emerged in the El Paso area.

That number represents an 11% increase from 2016.

Meanwhile, overall STI rates have increased by over 60% in the last decade.

The issue is being seen across the country with gonorrhea and chlamydia cases continuing to appear.

“There is clearly a gap in health care here in El Paso, especially when it comes to sexual and reproductive health care and that is why Planned Parenthood is here,” said Family Nurse Practitioner Emily Robinson. “We are here in El Paso because we want to provide services that people need. STI testing, treatment, prevention, education.”

Robinson added that part of the solution includes stopping the overall social stigma that is often associated with STI’s which makes people to embarrassed or scared to go get tested in the first place.

“All STI’s can be treated,” said Robinson. “Most can be cured. So it is important to come in. There is no specific group that STI’s target. The biggest symptom is no symptom which is why we encourage routine screening for everyone.”

Many STI’s can lay dormant with physical symptoms not showing up for months or even years.

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