Update: Sexually Transmitted Infections, Active Component, U.S. Armed Forces, 2012-2020.

This report summarizes incidence rates of the 5 most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among active component service members of the U.S. Armed Forces during 2012-2020. Infections with chlamydia were the most common, followed in decreasing order of frequency by infections with genital human papillomavirus (HPV), gonorrhea, genital herpes simplex virus (HSV), and syphilis. Compared to males, females had higher rates of all STIs except for syphilis. In general, compared to their respective counterparts, younger service members, non-Hispanic Blacks, soldiers, and enlisted members had higher incidence rates of STIs. Although rates of chlamydia and gonorrhea increased among both male and female service members during the latter half of the surveillance period, there was a notable decrease in the rates of chlamydia in both sexes from 2019 through 2020, and the rates of gonorrhea decreased slightly for both males and females during 2018-2020. Rates of syphilis increased among male service members through 2018 but decreased during 2019-2020; the rate among female service members increased between 2012 and 2014, generally leveled off through 2018, increased in 2019, and then decreased in 2020. Rates of genital HSV declined during the period from 2016 through 2020 for both male and female service members. The rates of genital HPV decreased steadily between 2012 and 2020 in males and declined between 2015 and 2020 among females. Similarities to and differences from the findings of the last MSMR update on STIs are discussed.