HOUSTON — Many people are doing it, but nobody wants to talk about it. Sex. It's a natural part of life that can create new life but can also have consequences. "We had 2.5 million roughly people diagnosed with STIs in the last year," said Dr. Robin Hardwicke, an HIV medicine specialist with UT Physicians. Nationwide, syphilis cases increased nearly 80% between 2018 and 2022. In July, a syphilis outbreak in Harris County sparked a community outreach response by the Houston Health Department.