Peak “Sharing Economy” – Syphilis Rates Soar To Record Highs

"What's mine is yours, for a fee," is the mantra of the new normal "sharing economy," as various segments of our heretofore under-utilized assets are 'rented' out for the enjoyment of others. However, as The LA Times reports, perhaps we are sharing just a little too much. As we previously noted, sexually transmitted diseases are on the rise across the nation, but the problem is particularly acute in Los Angeles County with health officials pointing the finger at casual sex arranged through social media as "the perfect storm."

Not only does the county have the most cases, it also has some of the highest rates of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis in California and the nation.

Some public health experts have blamed the heavy use of online dating apps, arguing that they lead to more casual sex among people 25 and younger, who are the most likely to be infected and also the least inclined to seek testing.

STDs spread in large part because people don't get tested enough, so undiagnosed infections are unknowingly transmitted from one person to another.

As technology improves, Gaydos thinks people will eventually be able to pick up an STD test from a drugstore and get results immediately, much like a pregnancy test. "But in the meantime, they need to be tested."

Dozens of organizations now offer STD tests that can be ordered online and mailed to homes. The customer provides a sample, sends it back to a lab and receives results within a few days.

But as these tests become more popular, experts warn that they may not always be accurate.

"We don't know — they could be doing [the testing] in their garage, they could be doing this on their kitchen table," said Dr. Charlotte Gaydos, an STD expert and professor at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.