Infertility

The health department reported that African-American teenagers 15 to 19 years are experiencing a more than 100 percent increase in the rate of gonorrhea infections, compared with 2004.

Among 20- to 24-year-olds the rate of gonorrhea increased by more than 90 percent since 2003.

In 2005, African-American women in San Francisco experienced 12 times the rate of gonorrhea infection than white women.

About 7 percent of San Franciscans are African-American, but more than 50 percent of gonorrhea occurs among African-Americans, according to the health department.

Pennan Barry, a medical epidemiologist with San Francisco STD Prevention and Control Services said the Department of Public Health `is concerned about this increase in gonorrhea.

We want to make sure that people who are at risk for gonorrhea are tested, and that people who test positive and their partners are treated promptly.'' A team from the department will be talking to young heterosexuals to try to find out what sort of risk factors might be contributing to the increase in gonorrhea cases.

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