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Rates for common bacterial sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) – namely chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis – have rocketed in the US in the past four years according to research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Back in 2013, 1,752,285 Americans were carriers of chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis – that number shot up to 2,294,821 last year, the CDC said.

Women were found to be more likely to be infected with chlamydia, while gonorrhoea and syphilis was more common in men – the latter infecting almost eight lads to every lass.

Teenagers aged between 15-19 and adults aged between 20-29 were most likely to become infected with one of the three STDs, with that number shrinking with every older age bracket.

Shockingly, many states where gonorrhoea and chlamydia were most prevalent belong to the Bible Belt – a collection of southern states known for its high number of socially conservative and Christian citizens.

Syphilis was found, however, to be most common in Nevada, California and Louisiana.

(Image: DS/ GETTY)

(Image: CDC)

All three have the potential to subject the carrier to some nasty side effects.

Chlamydia is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections in the world.

While most people won’t notice they are carrying it, some may experience pain when peeing, pain in the testicles, unusual discharge from the penis or vagina and, in women, pain in the stomach and bleeding after sex.

Gonorrhoea is another common STI, which can be passed on by having unprotected sex.

Suffers can experience pain and tenderness in the lower abdominal area bleeding after sex, pain when passing urine and unusual discharge from the vagina.

Syphilis is a nasty bacterial infection that can cause serious health issues if left untreated.

(Image: CDC) (Image: CDC)

Infected carriers of the STD could find small sore, ulcers or rashes across the body, or even skin growths similar to genital warts.

Reacting to the bombshell figures, the CDC issued guidance about how best to reduce the numbers of Americans catching an infection.

A CDC spokesman said: “In addition to federal, state and local public support for STD prevention activities, local community leaders can promote STD prevention education.

“Health care providers can assess their patients’ risks and talk to them about testing.

“Parents can better educate their children about STDs and sexual health. Individuals can use condoms consistently and correctly, and openly discuss ways to protect their health with partners and providers.”

(Image: CDC) (Image: CDC)

Bacterial STDs can be more easily treated with antibiotics should anyone become infected

But resistance to antibiotics is rising and poses a huge threat to cutting STDs across the globe.

The CDC is particularly concerned about so-called super gonorrhoea.

It said the disease – which produces nasty side effects such as a burning sensation while urinating and green or yellowy discharge from the penis or vagina – had developed resistance to the drugsused to treat it.

A statement for the organisation said: “The emergence of cephalosporin–resistant gonorrhoea would significantly complicate the ability of providers to treat gonorrhoea successfully, since we have few antibiotic options left that are simple, well-studied, well-tolerated and highly effective.”