Alabama Among The Highest States With STD Rate

According to Bespoke Surgical -- Bespoke Surgical is based on the foundation of sexual wellness and its associated pillars: prevention, restoration, & reconstruction. Wellness advocates navigate their clients through primary sexual health.

“Diagnosing and treating STDs has always been an integral part of my practice at Bespoke Surgical,” says Dr. Evan Goldstein. “It is imperative, especially in these socially responsive times, to understand your status and make sure you’re consistent. Besides the appropriate testing and treatment algorithms, I advise my clients on preventative measures and medication one can utilize and take, respectively, prior to or just after completion of sexual play. After careful evaluation of the current situation with Covid-19, my position is consistent; we should rather continue to treat COVID-19 as we would any other STD. This means getting tested routinely – depending on your own risk exposures, as well as your partner(s). It shows responsibility and moral accountability when you keep in touch with everyone you’re engaging with not only about risk, but especially if you start to experience symptoms and/or if you test positive for Covid-19 after recently engaging in sexual activity. This notification allows you to take all precautions to avoid spreading the virus to others, just like any other STD in our communities."

Approximately 20 million new sexually transmitted infections occur every year, according to the CDC. How might we understand these numbers, and where do they come from?

According to the data, the three states with the highest STD infection rates are Alaska, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Each of these states has a total of over 1,000 cases of infection per 100,000 residents. The states with the lowest STD infection rates are Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and West Virginia, each with less than 400 cases per 100,000 residents. Where does your state fall on the list?

Clearly, Americans are searching for all kinds of STDs in high numbers on Google, and the infection rate for the combined total of just three diseases alone hovers between 0.50% and 1% in most states. What contributes to a high STD infection rate?

According to the CDC, the STD infection rate has continued to rise in the United States for years. They attribute this to multiple factors:

• Social issues such as drug use, poverty, stigma, and unstable housing, which can reduce access to STD prevention and care
• Decreased condom use among vulnerable groups
• Cuts to STD programs at the state and local level