“STDs in general seem to be an issue,” Cheatham said. “What we think is going on is that people are using barriers for pregnancy but nothing for STDs.”

In 2006, there were 1,794 reported cases of chlamydia in Ingham County, a more than 80 percent increase from the 988 reported cases in 2000. Reported cases of gonorrhea also increased by about 20 percent in the same time span, with 623 cases in 2006 and 531 cases in 2000.

Provisional numbers for 2007 show that Ingham County’s chlamydia rate at 635 per 100,000 people, which is about twice the statewide average of 348, while the county’s gonorrhea rate of 199 per 1,000 people was slightly more than the state’s average of 138.

“The trend started in the 2000s at about the same time the teen pregnancy rate started going down,” Cheatham said. “People have sort of yawned over it for a while, but now it seems to be getting people’s attention.”

On campus, 59 percent of students reported using condoms during their last episode of vaginal sex, which should reduce exposure to STDs, said Erica Phillipich, health educator at Olin Health Center.

Olin Health Center does not keep statistics on reported cases of STDs on campus.

“Prevention is knowing your partners and getting tested,” Phillipich said. “Condoms can definitely help, but with syphilis there’s a sore that might not be completely covered.”

Urethral and vaginal discharge, soreness, development of rashes and potential for long-term sexual deficiencies are some of the many symptoms of STDs.

Abstinence still can be an effective option, Phillipich said, as 25 percent of students on campus reported not having sex in the last year.

Sparked by increases in STDs in the gay community, national syphilis rates have been climbing for the past seven years, but rates recently began decreasing in Michigan, said Mark Miller, acting director for the Division of Health, Wellness and Disease Control at the Michigan Department of Community Health.

“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention started a syphilis prevention campaign a little while ago, and it’s been successful with the heterosexual community in Michigan,” Miller said.

Better education concerning healthy sexual habits can steer students away from STDs, Cheatham said.

“For schools and churches, even if they wish kids would be abstinent, they need to preach safe sex,” Cheatham said.