Chlamydia and Gonorrhea: Shifting Age-Based Positivity Among Young Females, 2010–2017

Introduction: This study aims to determine if and how the age distribution of Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae infections in women evolved from 2010 to 2017, given changes in sexual practices over this time. Methods: All Chlamydia trachomatis/Neisseria gonorrhoeae co-testing laboratory results from females aged 12–30 years tested at Quest Diagnostics during 2010–2017 (n=17,794,680) were evaluated to assess trends in Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae positivity over time. Data were collected and analyzed in November 2018. Results: Age-based positivity shifted toward older ages from 2010 to 2017 for both Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. There was a declining trend in Chlamydia trachomatis positivity from 2010 to 2017 for the youngest age group (12–17 years; 17% decline, 8.9% to 7.4%, p