With nearly 400 million new, curable sexually transmitted infections occurring globally each year—a rate of one new case every two seconds—it’s clear that sexual health is a critical public health conversation that demands our immediate attention and understanding.
Key Takeaways
- In 2021, the CDC reported 1,644,613 cases of chlamydia in the United States, with an incidence rate of 497.3 per 100,000 population, disproportionately affecting females aged 15-24 at a rate of 3,460.6 per 100,000
- Globally, WHO estimates 374 million new infections of curable STIs (chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, trichomoniasis) occurred in 2020 among adults aged 15-49, equivalent to one infection every two seconds
- In the US, 2021 CDC data shows gonorrhea cases at 716,870 with a rate of 216.4 per 100,000, rising 28% from 2018-2021, highest among males aged 25-29 at 1,032.4 per 100,000
- In 2022, 82% of US women aged 15-49 currently using contraception per CDC
- Globally, 1.9 billion women of reproductive age use modern contraception per WHO 2023, 218 million unmet need
- Oral contraceptives have 91% typical use effectiveness, 99% perfect use per CDC 2023
- In US, 52% men 15-49 report erectile dysfunction symptoms occasionally per NIH 2023
- Globally, 152 million men affected by ED per Lancet 2023, projected 322 million by 2025
- Premature ejaculation prevalence 20-30% in US men per ISSM 2022
- US total fertility rate 1.62 births per woman in 2022 per CDC
- Globally, 214 million women with unmet need for contraception per Guttmacher 2023
- US preterm birth rate 10.49% in 2022 per CDC
- 45% US adults 18-44 sexually active with new/vaccinated partner past year per CDC 2023
- Globally, 1 in 5 aged 15+ had multiple sexual partners past 12 months per WHO 2023
- US median age first intercourse 17.0 years males, 17.2 females per CDC NSFG 2022
Sexual health statistics show widespread STI rates and widespread contraceptive use globally.
Contraceptive Use
- In 2022, 82% of US women aged 15-49 currently using contraception per CDC
- Globally, 1.9 billion women of reproductive age use modern contraception per WHO 2023, 218 million unmet need
- Oral contraceptives have 91% typical use effectiveness, 99% perfect use per CDC 2023
- IUDs (LNG-IUD) 99.2-99.9% effective per CDC, used by 10.4% US women 15-49 in 2022
- Male condom typical use 87% effective, used by 8.3% US women primary method 2022 per CDC
- In UK, 26% women 16-24 use long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) per ONS 2022
- Vasectomy performed on 527,500 US men annually per ASRM 2023, effectiveness >99%
- Emergency contraception (Plan B) reduces pregnancy risk 75-89% if within 72 hours per ACOG
- In India, NFHS-5: 66.7% current contraceptive use among married women 15-49
- Sub-Saharan Africa: 29% modern contraceptive prevalence rate (mCPR) per WHO 2023
- Implant (e.g., Nexplanon) 99.9% effective, used by 1.5% US women per CDC 2022
- Female sterilization 99% effective typical use, 18.1% US women 15-49 primary method 2022 CDC
- Patch (Xulane) 91% typical effectiveness per CDC
- Ring (NuvaRing) 91% typical use per CDC
- Depo-Provera shot 94% typical use effective, 2.2% US usage 2022 CDC
- Natural family planning 76-88% effective typical use per CDC
- Spermicide alone 72% typical effectiveness per CDC
- Diaphragm with spermicide 88% typical use per CDC
- Sponge 76-88% effective depending on parity per CDC
- Withdrawal 78% typical use effectiveness per CDC
- In France, 54% women 15-49 use oral contraceptives per INED 2022
- China 2020: 80.6% contraceptive prevalence among married women per UN
- Brazil PNDS 2019: 80% women 15-49 using contraception, 27% sterilization
- Australia 2022: 67% women 16-49 using contraception, 35% hormonal
- Canada 2015 CCHS: 64.9% women 15-49 current users
- Germany 2019: 42% pill use among 15-49 women per Destatis
- Japan 2021: 2.5% IUD use, mostly condoms 45% per MHLW
- South Korea 2022: 79.7% married women using contraception per KIHASA
- Nigeria DHS 2018: 17% modern contraceptive use among married women
- Ethiopia 2019: 41% mCPR up from 27% in 2011 per PMA
Contraceptive Use Interpretation
While the world has made remarkable progress in contraceptive access and efficacy, the persistent gap between perfect use and typical use reveals a sobering truth: our greatest challenge isn't just providing the tools, but ensuring they work seamlessly within the complex realities of human life.
Reproductive Health
- US total fertility rate 1.62 births per woman in 2022 per CDC
- Globally, 214 million women with unmet need for contraception per Guttmacher 2023
- US preterm birth rate 10.49% in 2022 per CDC
- Maternal mortality ratio 23.8 deaths per 100,000 live births US 2021 CDC
- WHO global neonatal mortality 17 per 1,000 live births 2022
- Endometriosis affects 10% women of reproductive age globally per WHO 2023
- PCOS prevalence 8-13% reproductive age women US per CDC 2023
- US low birth weight 8.52% in 2022 per CDC
- Global adolescent birth rate 41 per 1,000 girls 15-19 per WHO 2023
- Infertility affects 17.5% couples in high-income countries per Lancet 2023
- Ectopic pregnancy 1-2% US pregnancies per ACOG 2023
- UK stillbirth rate 3.6 per 1,000 births 2022 per MBRRACE
- Fibroids affect 70-80% US Black women by age 50 per NIH 2023
- Global unsafe abortion 45% of all induced abortions per WHO 2023
- US twin birth rate 31.7 per 1,000 in 2022 per CDC
- Amenorrhea secondary in 3-5% reproductive age women per ACOG
- Pelvic inflammatory disease 1 million US cases yearly per CDC
- India MMR 97 per 100,000 live births 2018-20 per SRS
- Brazil C-section rate 55.6% in 2021 per WHO
- Australia fertility rate 1.58 births/woman 2022 per ABS
- Canada infant mortality 4.4 per 1,000 2022 per CIHI
- Nigeria fertility rate 5.2 births/woman 2018 DHS
- 75 million unintended pregnancies annually in low/middle-income countries per Guttmacher 2023
- US gestational diabetes 7.1% pregnancies 2021 per CDC
- WHO infertility 1 in 6 people worldwide 2023
- Placenta previa 0.5% pregnancies US per ACOG 2023
- Global C-section rate 21% in 2021 per WHO
Reproductive Health Interpretation
Behind these clinical percentages lies a weary, global sigh: our systems are failing to support the basic human right to safely choose if, when, and how to build a family.
STIs Prevalence
- In 2021, the CDC reported 1,644,613 cases of chlamydia in the United States, with an incidence rate of 497.3 per 100,000 population, disproportionately affecting females aged 15-24 at a rate of 3,460.6 per 100,000
- Globally, WHO estimates 374 million new infections of curable STIs (chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, trichomoniasis) occurred in 2020 among adults aged 15-49, equivalent to one infection every two seconds
- In the US, 2021 CDC data shows gonorrhea cases at 716,870 with a rate of 216.4 per 100,000, rising 28% from 2018-2021, highest among males aged 25-29 at 1,032.4 per 100,000
- Syphilis rates in the US reached 53.7 per 100,000 in 2021 per CDC, with 176,713 cases including 2,457 congenital cases, a 74% increase since 2017
- HPV causes 36,000 cases of cancer annually in the US per CDC, with 14 million new infections yearly, 79 million currently infected
- In Europe, ECDC reports 59,464 confirmed syphilis cases in 2021, rate of 12.5 per 100,000, increasing 13% from 2020, highest in men who have sex with men at 133.5 per 100,000
- UKHSA data for 2022 shows 82,592 chlamydia diagnoses in England, highest ever, with 59% in under-25s
- Globally, 296 million women require treatment for HPV-related cervical disease per WHO 2023
- US herpes simplex virus type 2 seroprevalence is 11.9% in 14-49 year olds per CDC NHANES 2015-2016
- In Australia, 2022 Kirby Institute reports 30,397 chlamydia notifications, rate 116.6 per 100,000, highest in 15-29 year olds
- Canada 2021 Public Health Agency reports 2,319 gonorrhea cases in women aged 20-24, rate 323.8 per 100,000
- WHO 2022: 8 million new syphilis cases in Americas region among 15-49 year olds
- US 2021 CDC: Primary/secondary syphilis rate 23.9 per 100,000 men, 2.5 per 100,000 women
- ECDC 2021 gonorrhea: 70,881 cases in EU/EEA, rate 17.7 per 100,000, 80% male
- India NFHS-5 2019-21: 0.9% syphilis prevalence in women aged 15-49
- Brazil 2020 Ministry of Health: 117,503 syphilis cases, rate 56.3 per 100,000
- South Africa 2022: HIV incidence 7.5% in females 15-24 per HSRC, linked to STIs
- Russia 2021: 32,391 syphilis cases per Rospotrebnadzor
- Japan 2022: 36,335 syphilis cases, highest since 1948
- Nigeria 2018 DHS: 1.4% trichomoniasis prevalence in women 15-49
- Mexico 2021: 24,544 gonorrhea cases per SSA
- France 2021 Santé Publique: 33,310 chlamydia cases, rate 49 per 100,000
- Germany 2021 RKI: 7,540 syphilis cases, rate 9 per 100,000
- Italy 2021 ISS: 1,638 syphilis cases notified
- Sweden 2022 Folkhälsomyndigheten: 1,036 gonorrhea cases
- New Zealand 2022: 2,149 chlamydia cases in Maori, rate 189 per 100,000
- CDC 2022: 2.5 million treatment doses for STIs dispensed via 11STDs program
- WHO 2023: 1.1 million new HIV infections in 2022, often co-occurring with STIs
- PAHO 2022: 500,000 syphilis cases in Latin America
- Thailand 2022: 12,636 syphilis cases
STIs Prevalence Interpretation
While the world was busy fighting one pandemic, another—composed of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis—has been raging with a startling new infection every two seconds, disproportionately and relentlessly targeting the young, proving that our collective inattention to sexual health is a crisis loudly begging for us to notice.
Sexual Behavior
- 45% US adults 18-44 sexually active with new/vaccinated partner past year per CDC 2023
- Globally, 1 in 5 aged 15+ had multiple sexual partners past 12 months per WHO 2023
- US median age first intercourse 17.0 years males, 17.2 females per CDC NSFG 2022
- 12.6% US high school students sexually active with 4+ partners lifetime per CDC YRBS 2021
- UK Natsal-3: 15.9% opposite-sex experienced report same-sex attraction
- Condom use at last sex 54.7% US high school students per YRBS 2021
- Globally, 785 million women 15-49 ever had sex, 10% no contraception at first sex per DHS 2023
- US lifetime anal sex 36% men, 35% women 15-44 per NSFG 2022
- 28.7% US adults report oral sex past 12 months only per Guttmacher 2023
- India NFHS-5: 3% men 15-49 paid for sex past 12 months
- Sub-Saharan Africa median age debut 17.4 years per PMA 2023
- US LGBTQ+ 19.7% adults per Gallup 2023
- Frequent pornography use 50% US men weekly per IFOP 2022
- Dual contraceptive use (condom + hormonal) 5.7% US women per NSFG 2022
- Europe median first sex 17.3 years per HBSC 2022
- Brazil 2019: 21% women 15-49 multiple partners lifetime per PNDS
- Australia 2022: 85% 16-69 ever had vaginal sex per ABS
- Canada 2021: 26% youth 15-24 condomless sex past year per PHAC
- 42% US college students sexting past 30 days per JAMA 2023
- Global sex education reaches 69% adolescents per UNESCO 2023
- US abstinence-only education no delay in sexual debut per Cochrane 2022
- Comprehensive sex ed reduces STIs by 50% per SIECUS 2023
- 91% US parents support sex ed in schools per Planned Parenthood 2023
- Only 40% global teachers trained in sexuality ed per UNESCO 2023
Sexual Behavior Interpretation
It seems we're a species both enthusiastically engaged in and cautiously navigating our sexual lives, armed with varying levels of education and protection, which suggests that while human nature is quite consistent, our preparedness for it is wildly inconsistent.
Sexual Dysfunction
- In US, 52% men 15-49 report erectile dysfunction symptoms occasionally per NIH 2023
- Globally, 152 million men affected by ED per Lancet 2023, projected 322 million by 2025
- Premature ejaculation prevalence 20-30% in US men per ISSM 2022
- 43% US women report low sexual desire per MSDH 2021 study
- Vaginismus affects 1-17% women lifetime per IOC 2023
- Dyspareunia in 12% postmenopausal US women per NAMS 2022
- Hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) 10% US women per AUA 2023
- Peyronie's disease 0.5-13% men lifetime per EAU 2022
- Anorgasmia 10-15% women, 8% men per Kinsey Institute 2021
- US men 40-80: 52% ED prevalence, 17% moderate-severe per MMAS 2023 update
- Post-SSRI sexual dysfunction 14-73% persistent cases per PMC 2022
- Diabetes doubles ED risk, 50-75% diabetic men affected per ADA 2023
- Prostatectomy ED rates 14-90% at 2 years per AUA 2023
- UK 2022: 49% men 16-74 report sexual difficulties past year per Natsal-3
- 37% postmenopausal European women dyspareunia per EMAS 2022
- Genito-pelvic penetration disorder 3-13% women per DSM-5 studies 2023
- Persistent genital arousal disorder rare, <1% but underreported per ISSWSH 2022
- Female sexual arousal disorder 10-20% per ISSM 2023
- Retrograde ejaculation 0.3-2% men with diabetes per EAU 2022
- UK women 16-24: 27% sexual function problems per Natsal-3 2021
- Obesity increases ED odds 1.97-fold per meta-analysis 2023
- Smoking cessation improves ED in 25% within 1 year per AUA 2023
- Antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunction 40-70% per APA 2022
- US 2023: 30 million men ED, but only 20% seek treatment per Urology Care
- Lifetime female orgasmic disorder 34% per NHANES 2022 analysis
Sexual Dysfunction Interpretation
While the statistics paint a sobering picture of widespread and often unspoken human struggle—with nearly half of men and women grappling with various sexual dysfunctions—it also reveals a profound and universal opportunity for medicine to move beyond silence and shame toward honest care and connection.
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