New Analysis Reveals the 50 Metropolitan Areas with the Highest STI Rates in the US
A recent analysis of data from the CDC has identified the 50 metropolitan areas in the United States with the highest rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
While the transmission of HIV has shown some decline, the rates of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis have skyrocketed, particularly among the gay male population.
In 2022, approximately 1 in 130 individuals in the US were diagnosed with an STI. However, in certain locations, the prevalence was significantly higher.
Cities with the Highest STI Rates
According to research conducted by health research firm Innerbody, the city with the highest STI rates is Philadelphia. Shockingly, 1 in 65 residents of the city of brotherly love received an STI diagnosis in 2022.
Other cities with high STI rates include Memphis (TN), Jackson (MI), and New Orleans (LA), rounding out the top three spots. St. Louis (MO) follows closely in the fifth position.
Remarkably, San Francisco (CA) ranks eighth among the cities with the highest STI rates, particularly within the gay community.
On the other hand, for individuals seeking cities with lower STI rates, Provo (Utah) is ranked 100th out of the 50 metropolitan areas assessed. Provo stands out due to its high Mormon population, with only 300 out of every 100,000 residents diagnosed with an STI, significantly lower compared to the average of 751 and the rate of 1,504 per 100,000 residents in Philadelphia.
Complete Ranking of the Top 50 US Metropolitan Areas
Philadelphia, PA (1,504 STD Cases per 100,000 residents)
Memphis, TN (1,498)
Jackson, MS (1,490)
New Orleans, LA (1,450)
St. Louis, MO (1,423)
Baton Rouge, LA (1,332)
Montgomery, AL (1,323)
San Francisco, CA (1,285)
Detroit, MI (1,267)
Washington, DC (1,266)
Little Rock, AR (1,252)
Norfolk, VA (1,252)
Portland, OR (1,244)
Mobile, AL (1,234)
Cleveland, OH (1,228)
Miami, FL (1,221)
Minneapolis, MN (1,201)
Laredo, TX (1,184)
San Antonio, TX (1,178)
Milwaukee, WI (1,172)
Columbia, SC (1,166)
Richmond, VA (1,154)
Fort Lauderdale, FL (1,100)
Lexington, KY (1,068)
Augusta, GA (1,060 STD Cases per 100,000 residents)
Tampa, FL (1,060)
Nashville, TN (1,045)
Charlotte, NC (1,044)
Oakland, CA (1,027)
Corpus Christi, TX (1,019)
Knoxville, TN (1,009)
Indianapolis, IN (1,003)
Greensboro, NC (1,002)
Orlando, FL (1,000)
Tucson, AZ (996)
New York, NY (979)
Atlanta, GA (977)
Phoenix, AZ (970)
Austin, TX (969)
Albuquerque, NM (959)
Bakersfield, CA (953)
Kansas City, MO (952)
Des Moines, IA (942)
Houston, TX (940)
Los Angeles, CA (924)
Fresno, CA (918)
Oklahoma, OK (900)
Toledo, OH (889)
Wichita, KS (864)
Dallas, TX (861)
The southern states account for a disproportionately high number of top-ranking cities, with seventeen of the top 25 cities located in the southern region of the country. This regional trend has previously been identified in relation to HIV transmission as well.
Baltimore’s Data is Missing
Notably absent from the list is Baltimore, Maryland, which occupied the fourth position in the previous year’s ranking. As a result, the CDC redirected $1 million in funding to Baltimore in an effort to combat its high STI rates. The reason why the city was unable to provide its 2022 data remains unknown.
Efforts to Reduce STI Rates
To address the rising STI rates, Innerbody highlights guidance from the US Department of Health and Human Services. The guidance encourages collaboration between local health departments, pharmacies, and clinics to facilitate easy access to STD testing and treatment. It also suggests exploring the potential of telehealth and telemedicine, as well as promoting express clinics that provide instant testing without requiring a full examination.
In 2020, STI rates dropped due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the 2022 figures indicate a resurgence to pre-pandemic levels, with 710,000 new cases of gonorrhea, 1.6 million cases of chlamydia, and a 28.6% increase in syphilis rates within a year.
It is important for gay men to undergo sexual health check-ups at least once a year, regardless of experiencing symptoms. Those with multiple partners should get tested every three months to ensure early detection and prompt treatment.
