ATLANTA - The percentage of young sexually active U.S. women ages 16-25
screened for chlamydia increased from 25 percent to 43 percent during 2000-2006,
officials said.
However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Weekly Report said
that the number of women screened for the sexually transmitted disease of
chlamydia declined slightly in 2007 to 41.6 percent.
The highest regional rate of chlamydia screening in 2007 was in the Northeast at
45.5 percent and the lowest was in the South at 37.3 percent. By state, in 2007,
Hawaii had the highest rate of screening at 57.8 percent and Utah had the lowest
at 20.8 percent.
"The findings demonstrate that despite increases in the first half of the
decade, chlamydia screening rates remain substantially lower than other critical
women's health services, such as Pap tests," the report said.
"Further monitoring is needed to determine whether the decreased screening rate
in 2007 represents a trend or is due to increases in the number of plans
reporting screening data that year. Low chlamydia screening rates are
particularly concerning due to the severe health consequences that can result
from untreated chlamydia -- pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy and
infertility."
Source : United Press International
