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Background

Unintended pregnancy is a major public health problem. Women who experience an unintended pregnancy are less likely to seek timely and adequate prenatal care or to breastfeed their infant and are more likely to smoke or drink during their pregnancy (Committee on Unintended Pregnancy, 1995).

Utah Data

Healthy People 2010 goal 9-1 is to decrease the proportion unintended pregnancy to 30 percent. Utah PRAMS data indicate that in 2004, 31.4% of women with a live birth reported their pregnancy as unintended. Of the women who reported their pregnancy as unintended, 56.8% indicated they were using a method of birth control at the time of conception. The methods these women reported are noted below.

Of the remaining 43.2% of women with an unintended pregnancy who were not using some form of birth control, the reasons indicated were as follows:

Risk Factors

Although Utah is very close to achieving the Healthy People goal, there are subgroups of women with significantly higher rates of unintended pregnancy. Utah PRAMS data from 2004 indicate that women who are less than 20 years of age (71.2%), have less than a high school education (50.9%), are of non-white race (40.6%), are of Hispanic ethnicity (37.6%), are unmarried (66.9%), are uninsured (47.9%), and who report physical abuse before pregnancy (72.8%) have significantly higher rates of unintended pregnancy. Women with an unintended pregnancy are also more likely to report postpartum depression (10.7% vs 23.8%).

Services

The Community Health Centers and Planned Parenthood clinics in the state offer low cost contraceptive services. In 2006, the FDA allowed over/behind the counter distribution of emergency contraception. Currently, it is not known how widely available emergency contraception is in the state.

References

• Committee on Unintended Pregnancy, The Best Intentions: Unintended Pregnancy and the Well-Being of Children and Families, ed. S.S. Brown and L. Eisenberg. 1995. Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press. 380.

Background

Research indicates that bearing a child during adolescence is associated with long-term difficulties for the mother, her child, and society. These consequences are often attributable to the poverty and other adverse socioeconomic circumstances that frequently accompany early childbearing.

Risk Factors

Compared to babies born to older mothers, babies born to adolescent mothers, particularly young adolescent mothers are at higher risk of low birthweight and infant mortality. These babies are more likely to grow up in homes that offer lower levels of emotional support and cognitive stimulation, and they are less likely to earn a high school diploma.

are less likely to earn a high school diploma. For the mothers, giving birth during adolescence is associated with limited educational attainment, which in turn can reduce future employment prospects and earning potential. For the mothers, giving birth during adolescence is associated with limited educational attainment, which in turn can reduce future employment prospects and earning potential. Adolescent mothers age 15-19 reported that 71.2% of their pregnancies were unintended of which 87.7% of women aged 15-17 and 63.5% of women aged 18-19 reported their pregnancy as unintended in the 2004 Pregnancy Risk Assessment and Monitoring Survey (PRAMS). The highest risk ethnic group for teen births is Hispanic females who have a birth rate almost four times higher than Non-Hispanic females.

Utah Data vs. U.S.- How Are We Doing

Utah’s adolescent birth rate has been lower than the United States’ overall rate during the 1990s, but is higher than some other states. In 2004, the most recent year that national rates are available, Utah’s 15-19 year old adolescent birth rate was ranked seventeenth. Utah’s adolescent birth rate has declined over the past decade as have national rates.

Services/Hotlines

Prevention of teen pregnancy includes programs to encourage sexual abstinence and family planning services. A detailed report on adolescent pregnancy in Utah has been published by the Utah Department of Health and can be accessed on the internet www.health.utah.gov/cash.

The Utah Department of Health funds eight abstinence-only community-based projects for youth 9-14 years throughout the state with federal abstinence education monies.

National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy: www.teenpregnancy.org.

References

• Utah Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS), Utah Department of Health; 2004
• Utah Birth Certificate Database, Office of Vital Records and Statistics, Utah Department of Health; 2005 Population Estimates: Utah Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget; National Center for Health Statistics
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, CDC, NCHS, National data from the National Vital Statistics Reports of Births: Final Data for years 1990-2004

Infertility is typically defined as a lack of pregnancy among couples who have had one year of sexual intercourse without using contraception. Worldwide, millions of couples suffer from infertility. Population-based surveys from the United States and Great Britain indicate that between 8 and 10% of women suffer from impaired fertility; however, as far as we know, less than half of women seek medical treatment for this condition [1-2]. Couples with infertility may experience emotional distress and devastation when their childbearing desires and expectations are not realized. Infertility may also be an indicator of underlying health problems that can lead long-term consequences such as heart disease or cancer [3-4]. In addition, couples who receive infertility treatment have increased risk for multiple gestations, preterm birth, birth defects, growth restricted infants, and possibly children with developmental delays, perhaps depending upon the type of treatment received [5-8]. Thus, infertility is an important public health issue for couples in Utah and worldwide.

Despite the importance of infertility, there has been little population-based assessment of its incidence, treatment, and outcomes. In Utah, assessment of time to pregnancy and utilization of infertility services among women who have had a live birth was incorporated as of 2004 as part of the Pregnancy Risk Assessment and Monitoring System (PRAMS) [9]. PRAMS is an ongoing, population-based surveillance system designed to identify and monitor maternal health and behaviors before, during, and after pregnancy. Surveys are conducted in both English and Spanish. A stratified random sample of women who have delivered a live-born infant in Utah are identified and contacted 2-6 months postpartum with over-sampling of women with lower education levels and women who have delivered low birth weight infants. The data presented in this report are from the 2004 – 2005 PRAMS surveys, and include responses from 3789 questionnaires, weighted to represent the 98,636 women with births that occurred in Utah in 2004 and 2005 (a weighted response rate of 88.5% was achieved). Some of the questions are asked only to women who reported they were trying to get pregnant at the time of the conception leading to the current pregnancy; after weighting, the data represent the 57,806 Utah women (60.0%) who were trying to get pregnant and who delivered a live born infant 2004/2005. Data from three PRAMS questions about fertility are included in this report. These questions are as follows:

Data from three PRAMS questions about fertility are included in this report. These questions are as follows:

1. Did you receive treatment from a doctor, nurse, or other health care worker to help you get pregnant with your new baby? [This question was only asked to women who reported that they were trying to get pregnant at the time of the current pregnancy.]
   
2. Did you use any of the following treatments during the month you got pregnant with your new baby?(Check all that apply) [This question was only asked to women who reported that they were trying to get pregnant at the time of the current pregnancy.]
   
   a. Fertility-enhancing drugs prescribed by a doctor (fertility drugs include Clomid, Serophene, Pergonal, or other drugs that stimulate ovulation)
   
   b. Artificial insemination or intrauterine insemination (treatments in which sperm, but NOT eggs, were collected and medically placed into a woman’s body)
   
   c. Assisted reproductive technology (treatments in which BOTH a woman’s eggs and a man’s sperm were handled in the laboratory, such as in vitro fertilization [IVF], gamete intrafallopian transfer [GIFT], zygote inrafallopian transfer [ZIFT], intracytoplasmic sperm injection [ICSI], frozen embryo transfer, or donor embryo transfer)
   
   d. Other medical treatment
   
3. How many months had you been trying to
   
   a. 0 to 3 month
   b. 4 to 6 month
   c. 7-12 months
   d. 13-24 months
   e. More than 24 months

In 2004 – 2005, 5.5% of all women giving birth in Utah received some type of infertility treatment. Restricted to women who reported they were trying to get pregnant, 10.0% of women utilized infertility treatment. The proportion of women receiving infertility treatment increased with age (see Figure 1). As expected, the proportion of births complicated by twins was higher among women who received infertility treatment. Approximately 7.2% of Utah women who were trying to get pregnant and used infertility treatment gave birth to twins, in comparison with 1.3% of women who were trying to get pregnant and did not utilize infertility treatment. In 2004 – 2005, nearly 40% of multiple births in Utah occurred in women who were using infertility treatment.

The most common type of infertility treatment used by Utah women in 2004/05 was fertility enhancing drugs (60%). In contrast, 11.7% received assisted reproductive technology (ART) (see figure 2). “Other” types of treatment, used by 18.7% of women, include drugs such as glucophage or surgical treatments for conditions such as endometriosis.

Among those who did not receive infertility treatment, 85% reported that they had been trying to get pregnant for 6 months or less, and 93.4% had been trying for 12 months or less. This is consistent with other studies of time to pregnancy.10 Among women who were trying to get pregnant and received infertility treatment, 47% had a self-reported time to pregnancy of 12 months or less (see figure 3). This is an interesting time to pregnancy distribution because current guidelines for infertility treatment recommend that couples wait at least 12 months before initiating treatment, unless the woman is 35 years of age or older. Unfortunately, we are unable to examine the time to pregnancy data among women age ≥ 35 who utilized infertility treatment due to sample size limitations.

There are several limitations to this analysis. The PRAMS data are only collected on women who have a pregnancy resulting in a live birth. Thus, women with infertility who never become pregnant or women who suffer a miscarriage will not be included. This results in an underestimation of the true impact of infertility on Utah women. Further, because of the small sample size, we were unable to stratify results by race/ethnicity. Although the information on utilization of infertility treatment is only collected for women who report that they were trying to get pregnant, it seems unlikely that there would be many women who received treatment but did not report trying to get pregnant. Finally, these data capture self-reported infertility treatment and time to pregnancy and are not validated by medical record reviews. Women’s interpretations of questions about infertility treatment may vary. In particular, there is uncertainty of the interpretation of the time to pregnancy question. Although it is a standard question used in retrospective surveys to assess time to pregnancy, in this PRAMS survey, it immediately follows the question about receiving treatment. Therefore, the interpretation of this question by women who received treatment could be how long they tried to get pregnant prior to treatment, during treatment, or both. However, the interpretation who did not receive treatment remains relatively straightforward.

Despite these limitations, the PRAMS data give us important insight into infertility in Utah.

Infertility treatment is relatively common among Utah women, and is involved in over 5% of births. The utilization of infertility treatment is more common among older women. Twins occur frequently among women who use infertility treatment. Fertility enhancing drugs are the most common type of infertility treatment used by Utah women. The atypical time to pregnancy distribution among women who received infertility treatment indicates that treatment may be initiated as early as 1-3 months after couples begin trying to become pregnant. A delay in treatment initiation may result in similar pregnancy outcomes for many of these women, while reducing the risks of multiple gestations and the associated poor neonatal outcomes that may occur with the utilization if infertility treatment. Further longitudinal research is needed to understand the optimal timing of fertility treatment, and the long term consequences of infertility treatment on neonatal outcomes and development.

References

1. Mosher WD, Pratt, WF. Fecundity and infertility in the United States, 1965-88.Advance data from vital and health statistics. No. 192. Hyattsville, MD.: Public Health Service, 1990 (vol DHHS publication no. (PHS) 91-1250).
2. Chandra, A., G. Martinez, et al. (2005). Fertility, family planning, and reproductive health of U.S. women: Data from the 2002 National Survey of Family Growth. NSFG Statistics. Atlanta, GA, CDC, NCHS, Hyattsville, MD. 23: 174.
3. Dahlgren E, Janson PO, Johansson S, Lapidus L, Oden A. Polycystic ovary syndrome and risk for myocardial infarction Evaluated from a risk factor model based on a prospective population study of women. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. Dec 1992;71(8):599-604.
4. Brinton LA, Westhoff CL, Scoccia B, et al. Causes of infertility as predictors of subsequent cancer risk. Epidemiology. Jul 2005;16(4):500-507.
5. Jackson RA, Gibson KA, Wu YW, Croughan MS. Perinatal outcomes in singletons following in vitro fertilization: a meta-analysis. Obstet Gynecol 2004;103(3):551-63.
6. Schieve LA, Meikle SF, Ferre C, Peterson HB, Jeng G, Wilcox LS. Low and very low birth weight in infants conceived with use of assisted reproductive technology. The New England journal of medicine 2002;346(10):731-7.
7. Schieve LA, Rasmussen SA, Reefhuis J. Risk of birth defects among children conceived with assisted reproductive technology: providing an epidemiologic context to the data. In: Fertil Steril; 2005:1320-4; discussion 7.
8. Stromberg B, Dahlquist G, Ericson A, Finnstrom O, Koster M, Stjernqvist K. Neurological sequelae in children born after in-vitro fertilisation: a population-based study. Lancet 2002;359(9305):461-5.
9. Utah Department of Health. Utah PRAMS Data Book 2002-2003. Available online at: http://health.utah.gov/rhp/pdf/ 02_03_Data_Book.pdf. Accessed January 29, 2007.
10. Gnoth C, Godehardt D, Godehardt E, Frank-Herrmann P, Freundl G. Time to pregnancy: results of the German prospective study and impact on the management of infertility. Hum Reprod 2003;18(9):1959-66.

Background

The United States Department of Health and Human Services’ Healthy People 2010 program established the goal: 70 % of all pregnancies in the U.S. will be intended by 2010. Utah is close to achieving this goal with only 31.4% of births reported as unintended [1]. Approximately 13% of unintended pregnancies occur among women not using contraceptives, but not intending to become pregnant. The rate of unintended pregnancies among those not using contraceptives demonstrates the role contraceptives will play in reducing unintended pregnancies. Utah’s rate of unintended pregnancies could be further reduced by increased access to and funding for all types of FDA approved contraceptives.

Utah ranked 48th among the 50 states in a 2006 Guttmacher report on contraceptive access [2]. The report analyzed state funding for contraceptives, policies about contraceptives, and contraceptive services availability. Utah has relatively limited “safety net” funding for family planning services; although the state receives Title X funding for contraceptive services for low-income women, there is no state funding designated for family planning services [3]. Further, over the past eight years the Utah State Legislature has refused to pass a bill mandating insurance coverage for all FDA approved contraceptives in Utah. Both the failure to change state policy and the failure to maintain or increase family planning funding at both state and federal levels has made it more difficult for Utah’s women to access contraceptives, plan their families and prevent unintended pregnancies.

Utah Data: How are we doing?

Of the 31.4% of unintended pregnancies in Utah 43.2% occurred among women who did not use any sort of birth control method at the time they became pregnant. Among those women not using contraceptives, 13% said that they did not use contraceptives because they had problems getting it when she needed it. Furthermore, 43% of those women not using contraception also reported having no insurance or Medicaid before becoming pregnant.

Opponents to mandated prescription contraceptive coverage argue that the state and businesses would incur difficult financial burdens. Insurers make similar claims. Providing full contraceptive coverage in employment-based health care plans would cost employers, at most, only $21.40 per employee per year. For employers with plans that currently provide no contraceptive coverage, the average cost of adding it, — if employers contributed 80 percent of the cost – would be $17.12 per year or $1.43 per month.4 A pregnancy, on the other hand, can cost as much as $10,000 per year.

Summary

Utah has made great strides to improve the rate of unintended pregnancies in Utah. These efforts would be furthered by improved access to contraceptives. Utah’s Women whose contraceptives are not covered by their employer can call Planned Parenthood at 801-322-5571.

References

1. Utah Department of Health: Utah PRAMS data 2004. Available online at: http://www.health.utah.gov/rhp/pdf/04_Data_Book.pdf. Accessed November 23, 2006. Search Keywords: Utah PRAMS 2004.
2. Guttmacher Institute: Contraception Counts Utah. Available online at: http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/state_data/states/utah.html. Accessed November 21, 2006. Search Keywords: Contraceptive coverage Utah, Guttmacher state facts, contraceptive access Utah.
3. Utah Department of Health: Utah PRAMS. Available online at: http://health.utah.gov/rhp/pdf/IPI.pdf. Accessed November 25, 2006. Search Keywords: PRAMS Short Inter-pregnancy spacing in Utah 2006.
4. Cover My Pills: Fair Access to Contraceptives Get the Facts. Available at: http://www.covermypills.org/facts/. Accessed December 1, 2006. Search Keywords: Contraceptive Equity, Facts About Contraception Costs, Cover My Pills.

2005 Utah Resident Abortions: 3,279 [1]. Over the last decade Utah has maintained lower abortion rates than those of the nation (see chart 1). The rate represents the number of abortions per 1,000 women between the ages of 15 and 44. While both Utah rates and national rates have been decreasing [2], Utah rates remain on average nearly one third that of the national rate. Utah rates for the decade peaked in 1996 at 6.9; they have decreased to 6.0 and remained constant from 2002 to 2004 [3]. Although the population of women aged 15 to 44 has been increasing along with the number of births and abortions, the abortion ratio (the number of abortions per 1,000 births) has been decreasing over the last decade, as shown in table 1 [4].

Requirements for an abortion increased over the last decade. In 1993, a mandatory 24 hour waiting period was introduced. The patient must also receive “face to face” consultation at least 24 hours prior to the procedure covering: the affect of the procedure on the fetus, the risks and alternatives to having an abortion, including information on adoptions services; the age and development level of the fetus at the time of the procedure; and the medical risks of maintaining the pregnancy to term. As of May 1, 2006, abortion providers are required to obtain consent from a parent or legal guardian of a minor prior to the procedure [5].

Table 1 gives the estimated population of women between the ages of 15 and 44 and the total number of resident abortions from the years 1995 to 2005. Chart 2 breaks down the total resident abortions into four year range age groups for 2004 and shows women between the ages of 20 and 24 represented the highest age group obtaining abortions in 2004, at 1,187 reported residential abortions. The age group with the lowest number of abortions was 45 and over, at nine, followed by 15 and under, at ten.

The number of abortion providers decreased 43% in the last decade. In 1996 there were seven abortion providers in Utah, in 2000 there were four. These abortion providers are in urban areas, and 93% of Utah counties do not have an abortion provider.6 Provo-Orem is the only metropolitan area without an abortion provider.

References

1. Utah Vital Statistics: Births and Deaths, 2005. Available online at http://health.utah.gov/vitalrecords/pub_vs/ia05/05bx.pdf. Accessed January 23, 2007.
2. National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion: Abortion Surveillance, United States, 2003. Available online at http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/ss5511al.htm. Accessed January 8, 2007.
3. Utah’s Vital Statistics: Abortions, 2004. Available online at http://health.utah.gov/vitalrecords/pub_vs/ia04/04apdf. Accessed January 23, 2007.
4. Utah Vital Statistics: Births and Deaths, 2005. Available online at http://health.utah.gov/vitalrecords/pub_vs/ia05/05bx.pdf and Utah’s Vital Statistics Abortions, 2004. Available online at http://health.utah.gov/vitalrecords/pub_vs/ia04/04apdf. Accessed January 23, 2007.
5. U.C.A. 76-7-304 and U.C.A. 76-7-305
6. Guttmacher Institute. State Facts About Abortion, Utah. Available online at http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/sfaa/utah.html. Accessed January 1, 2007.

Compiled by Angie Stefaniak, MPA

Background

Emergency contraception (EC) is a birth control method that works by preventing pregnancy after an act of unprotected intercourse. Currently, two forms of emergency contraception are available: pills containing hormones and copper-T intrauterine device (IUD).[1] It is estimated that half of the 3.5 million unintended pregnancies that occur each year in the United States could be prevented if EC were easily accessible and used, [2] and the number of abortions each year could also be cut by as much as half. [3] The Department of Health and Human Services Healthy People 2010 goal is to increase the proportion of pregnancies that are intended to 70 percent.

For decades, EC has been prescribed for women following unanticipated sexual activity, contraceptive failure, or sexual assault to reduce the risk of pregnancy. In the mid-1960s physicians prescribed high dose estrogen to prevent pregnancy in a survivor of sexual assault. In the early 1990s, about one third of EC prescriptions were for rape survivors. By the end of the 1990s EC was recognized as a safe and effective method for all women at risk of unintended pregnancy.

Until the late 1990s EC was commonly known as the “morning after pill.” This term is a misnomer because treatment involves more than one pill, can be taken within five days after unprotected intercourse, and should not be confused with medication abortion because EC cannot terminate an established pregnancy. [4 ]

Before September 1998, no dedicated EC product had been approved, labeled and marketed in the U.S., and EC was available only through the “off-label” use of oral contraceptive pills. In September of 1998 the FDA approved the application to market the first dedicated EC product, the PREVEN ™ Emergency Contraceptive Kit. In 1999 the FDA approved the first progestin-only EC – Plan B®. Plan B® is the EC most widely used, and last year the FDA announced its approval of the sale of Plan B® over the counter to women and men 18 and older. [5]

National and Utah Data

According to a survey conducted by the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation and SELF Magazine in 2003, women’s awareness and use of EC remains low nationally, but is steadily increasing. They report roughly two-thirds of women “know that there is something they can do to prevent pregnancy” in the event of contraceptive failure or unprotected sex. Only about one in 20 women reported ever having used EC. [6] Table 1 shows the percentage of women who have ever used EC has increased annually from 1% in 1997 to 6% in 2003.

In Utah, data about EC use are harder to identify. The Utah Department of Health says it does not collect information on EC use. In addition, Barr Pharmaceuticals, Inc and Duramed Pharmaceuticals, Inc. the manufacturers and suppliers of Plan B, are unable to provide the total number of Plan B prescriptions distributed or written in the state of Utah.

To date, the most comprehensive data available for EC use in Utah comes from the state’s largest prescriber of EC – Planned Parenthood Association of Utah (PPAU). Chart 1 shows the total increase each year from 2000-2006. According to the data in Table 2, EC use has steadily increased annually (2003-2006) in all age groups. Women age 20-24 used EC more than any other age group. Age breakdowns are not available for years prior to 2003. These prescriptions represent those written for immediate consumption, and those written in advance of need. PPAU says that although they do provide EC prescriptions for future need, the majority of prescriptions provided are for immediate use.

Once called America’s “best-kept secret” the slow, but steady increase in EC prescriptions is most likely due to a combination of factors:

• The release of dedicated EC products: PREVEN™ and Plan B®;
• Organized education efforts by groups such as Planned Parenthood and the pharmaceutical manufacturers of EC; and
• Increased awareness of EC by providers and women. Enter more text and/or charts here as needed.

Summary

EC use has increased steadily both nationally and locally. However, although options for and information about EC have increased in the past decade, further efforts and research are needed to build a comprehensive picture of the number of women accessing emergency contraception, the reasons EC is used and what, if any, impact EC has on unintended pregnancy and abortion rates in Utah. As Plan B® becomes available without a prescription to women and men over 18 it is important to gather and analyze data on how over the counter access impacts unintended pregnancy rates as well.

Information about Plan B can be found at: www.Go2PlanB.com and www.plannedparenthood.org.

References

1. Emergency contraception: What’s the Big Deal? American Medical Student Association. Available at: http://www.amsa.org/hp/ECD.ppt. Accessed January 9, 2007.
2. Raine T, Harper C, Rocca C, Fischer R, Padian N, Klausner J, Darney P. Direct Access to Emergency Contraception Through Pharmacies and Effect on Unintended Pregnancy and STIs: A Randomized Control Trial. JAMA. 2005; 293(1):54 -62.
3. Boonstra H. Emergency Contraception: The Need to Increase Public Awareness. The Guttmacher Report on Public Policy. October 2002.
4. Weiss D, lead author. Golub D, revisions. A Brief History of Emergency Contraception. Planned Parenthood Federation of America Report. December 2006. Published by the Katharine Dexter McCormick Library.
5. Ibid
6. Kaiser Family Foundation and SELF Magazine Survey. 2003.Anational Survey of women about their sexual health. Take charge of your sexual health. Summer 2003. Available at: http://www.kff.org/womenshealth/loader.cfm?url=/commonspot/security/getfile.cfm&PageID=14298. Accessed on January 9, 2007.

Chlamydia and Gonorrhea are common sexually transmitted diseases. They are both bacterial infections that can be acquired by sexual contact or by mother to newborn contact at birth. Women infected with chlamydia or gonorrhea may have discharge, painful urination, lower abdominal pain, or bleeding between menstrual periods. Men infected with chlamydia may have some discharge. Men infected with gonorrhea may have discharge as well as painful and frequent urination, or swollen genitalia. With 75% of infected women and 50% of infected men showing no signs of infection, chlamydia is largely asymptomatic which can lead to unknowingly infecting a partner or to not treating the infection. Gonorrhea may also be asymptomatic for both genders as well. Both infections can be easily treated with antibiotics. However if left untreated, the infections can develop into pelvic inflammatory disease or cause complications during pregnancy in women. In men, untreated infections may cause inflammation of the testis and prostate or infertility.[1]

In 1996, there were 1,201 newly reported chlamydia cases and 93 newly reported gonorrhea cases among Utah women. Whereas, in 2005, there were 3,081 newly reported chlamydia cases and 319 newly reported gonorrhea cases among Utah women. (See Fig. 1 and 2) From 1996 to 2005, there has been an increase of over 100% in the number of reported chlamydia cases in Utah women; and an increase of over 200% in the number of reported gonorrhea cases in Utah women. These increases may be due to better screening tests and reporting, more people being tested, and possibly more disease in our communities. The higher number of reported infections among women than men may be due to the higher occurrence of screenings among women. The age group most afflicted by gonorrhea and chlamydia nationwide and in Utah are the 15-29 year olds. (See Fig. 3) In 2005, 68% of Chlamydia cases in Utah were among those between 15 and 24 years old.[2]

To reduce the increasing number of Chlamydia and gonorrhea infections, regular screening and examinations as well as latex condom usage are advised for those at risk. If being treated for an infection, avoid sexual intercourse until treatment is complete. Monogamous sexual relationships also lessen the risk of infections. However, the most effective prevention measure is abstinence.[3]

Many of the County Health Departments throughout Utah have an STD clinic or offer STD testing. For more information, please visit the Utah Department of Health STD testing site at health.utah.gov/cdc/std/std_test.htm or call the Utah Department of Health at 801-538-6171.

References

1. Utah Department of Health. Available online at http://health.utah.gov. Accessed January 5, 2007. Search Keywords: Chlamydia Fact Sheet; Gonorrhea Fact Sheet.
2. Utah Department of Health. Available online at http://ibis.health.utah.gov. Accessed January 5, 2007. Search Keywords: Chlamydia Profile.
3. The National Women’s Health Information Center. Available online at http://www.womenshealth.gov/. Accessed January 31, 2007. Search Keywords: Chlamydia, Gonorrhea