STDs Are on The Rise in These US Cities

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are nothing new. They have been around since the dawn of man, with historical documentation dating back to at least 1550 BCE and epidemics mentioned in the Old Testament, around the 7th century BCE. Before modern medicine, there was little to no understanding of what they were, and a lack of awareness and almost no treatment didn't bode well. Yet, even today, with major advances in modern medicine and more insight, they continue to be a major health concern and certain STDs are on the rise in these U.S. cities.

According to the World Health Organization, more than one million curable STIs, or sexually transmitted infections, are transmitted every day worldwide. In the US alone, there are millions of new infections each year. Although modern medical professionals know more about STDs than previous generations did, the spread of these diseases is still prominent. One concerning trend is the rise of STDs among older generations. Most STDs are preventable, but those who are past their child-bearing years may not be as concerned about the risks of infection or how to protect themselves.

For those who are younger and still plan on having children, STDs can be incredibly harmful to their future health. Certain STDs, such as chlamydia, can even impact a person's fertility when left untreated. In women, chlamydia can cause pelvic inflammatory disease if the STD spreads to the womb. Pelvic inflammatory disease can make it difficult for a woman to get pregnant and increase her chances of having an ectopic pregnancy. (After this article, check out The 25 Unhealthiest Cities in America.)

Methodology:

To compile a list of where STDs are on the rise in these U.S. cities, 24/7 Tempo reviewed data on chlamydia incidence from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Metropolitan statistical areas were ranked based on the change in the number of diagnosed cases of chlamydia – the most common STI, and an indicator of overall STI prevalence – per 100,000 residents from 2017 to 2022. Data on population came from the U.S. Census Bureau's Population and Housing Unit Estimates program.

Data was aggregated from the county level to the metropolitan statistical area level using boundary definitions from the Census Bureau. Supplemental data on the percentage of adults 25 years and over with at least a high school diploma came from the U.S. Census Bureau's 2022 American Community Survey and are one-year estimates. Data on the percentage of adults 18 and over who report came from the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps program and is based on data for 2021.

50. York-Hanover, PA

Chlamydia cases, 2022: 381.3 per 100,000 residents (+56.0 from 2017)
Adults reporting excessive drinking: 17.5%
Adults with at least a high school diploma: 92.0%
Total population: 461,049

49. Columbus, GA-AL

Chlamydia cases, 2022: 819.6 per 100,000 residents (+57.7 from 2017)
Adults reporting excessive drinking: 15.4%
Adults with at least a high school diploma: 88.9%
Total population: 323,826

48. Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin, TN

Chlamydia cases, 2022: 530.9 per 100,000 residents (+60.8 from 2017)
Adults reporting excessive drinking: 17.2%
Adults with at least a high school diploma: 92.4%
Total population: 2,071,019

47. Fayetteville, NC

Chlamydia cases, 2022: 1,109.9 per 100,000 residents (+62.8 from 2017)
Adults reporting excessive drinking: 18.6%
Adults with at least a high school diploma: 91.0%
Total population: 390,472

46. Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA

Chlamydia cases, 2022: 648.0 per 100,000 residents (+67.8 from 2017)
Adults reporting excessive drinking: 16.1%
Adults with at least a high school diploma: 91.5%
Total population: 6,238,676

45. Lancaster, PA

Chlamydia cases, 2022: 257.6 per 100,000 residents (+70.5 from 2017)
Adults reporting excessive drinking: 17.2%
Adults with at least a high school diploma: 87.9%
Total population: 556,660

44. Merced, CA

Chlamydia cases, 2022: 457.6 per 100,000 residents (+71.0 from 2017)
Adults reporting excessive drinking: 17.4%
Adults with at least a high school diploma: 74.3%
Total population: 290,210

43. Victoria, TX

Chlamydia cases, 2022: 571.3 per 100,000 residents (+72.3 from 2017)
Adults reporting excessive drinking: 17.5%
Adults with at least a high school diploma: 83.1%
Total population: 98,194

42. Texarkana, TX-AR

Chlamydia cases, 2022: 739.5 per 100,000 residents (+74.9 from 2017)
Adults reporting excessive drinking: 16.2%
Adults with at least a high school diploma: 90.1%
Total population: 146,185

41. Evansville, IN

Chlamydia cases, 2022: 586.5 per 100,000 residents (+76.0 from 2017)
Adults reporting excessive drinking: 17.3%
Adults with at least a high school diploma: 92.0%
Total population: 269,892

40. Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA

Chlamydia cases, 2022: 730.6 per 100,000 residents (+77.1 from 2017)
Adults reporting excessive drinking: 18.7%
Adults with at least a high school diploma: 83.2%
Total population: 200,383

39. Omaha, NE-IA

Chlamydia cases, 2022: 621.4 per 100,000 residents (+78.0 from 2017)
Adults reporting excessive drinking: 21.5%
Adults with at least a high school diploma: 93.2%
Total population: 976,309

38. Odessa, TX

Chlamydia cases, 2022: 660.6 per 100,000 residents (+78.3 from 2017)
Adults reporting excessive drinking: 18.4%
Adults with at least a high school diploma: 75.6%
Total population: 161,057

37. Terre Haute, IN

Chlamydia cases, 2022: 514.2 per 100,000 residents (+78.8 from 2017)
Adults reporting excessive drinking: 16.3%
Adults with at least a high school diploma: 90.8%
Total population: 168,596

36. Dothan, AL

Chlamydia cases, 2022: 630.9 per 100,000 residents (+79.8 from 2017)
Adults reporting excessive drinking: 13.8%
Adults with at least a high school diploma: 86.4%
Total population: 152,477

35. Gainesville, FL

Chlamydia cases, 2022: 833.2 per 100,000 residents (+80.0 from 2017)
Adults reporting excessive drinking: 17.9%
Adults with at least a high school diploma: 92.4%
Total population: 348,296

34. Walla Walla, WA

Chlamydia cases, 2022: 412.3 per 100,000 residents (+81.8 from 2017)
Adults reporting excessive drinking: 18.2%
Adults with at least a high school diploma: 91.1%
Total population: 61,853

33. Columbia, SC

Chlamydia cases, 2022: 824.3 per 100,000 residents (+83.2 from 2017)
Adults reporting excessive drinking: 18.4%
Adults with at least a high school diploma: 92.2%
Total population: 848,112

32. Topeka, KS

Chlamydia cases, 2022: 660.6 per 100,000 residents (+83.4 from 2017)
Adults reporting excessive drinking: 17.1%
Adults with at least a high school diploma: 93.2%
Total population: 231,897

31. Charleston-North Charleston, SC

Chlamydia cases, 2022: 669.7 per 100,000 residents (+88.3 from 2017)
Adults reporting excessive drinking: 21.9%
Adults with at least a high school diploma: 92.8%
Total population: 830,352

30. Yakima, WA

Chlamydia cases, 2022: 753.3 per 100,000 residents (+89.8 from 2017)
Adults reporting excessive drinking: 16.0%
Adults with at least a high school diploma: 80.3%
Total population: 257,019

29. Harrisonburg, VA

Chlamydia cases, 2022: 555.8 per 100,000 residents (+91.7 from 2017)
Adults reporting excessive drinking: 17.8%
Adults with at least a high school diploma: 86.7%
Total population: 136,564

28. Gainesville, GA

Chlamydia cases, 2022: 443.0 per 100,000 residents (+97.2 from 2017)
Adults reporting excessive drinking: 16.8%
Adults with at least a high school diploma: 80.8%
Total population: 212,621

27. Spartanburg, SC

Chlamydia cases, 2022: 691.5 per 100,000 residents (+100.4 from 2017)
Adults reporting excessive drinking: 15.9%
Adults with at least a high school diploma: 88.5%
Total population: 372,687

26. Fargo, ND-MN

Chlamydia cases, 2022: 549.9 per 100,000 residents (+100.7 from 2017)
Adults reporting excessive drinking: 22.0%
Adults with at least a high school diploma: 96.0%
Total population: 258,573

25. Valdosta, GA

Chlamydia cases, 2022: 906.1 per 100,000 residents (+102.6 from 2017)
Adults reporting excessive drinking: 15.7%
Adults with at least a high school diploma: 88.5%
Total population: 149,646

24. Erie, PA

Chlamydia cases, 2022: 465.0 per 100,000 residents (+108.2 from 2017)
Adults reporting excessive drinking: 18.2%
Adults with at least a high school diploma: 93.2%
Total population: 268,840

23. Lafayette, LA

Chlamydia cases, 2022: 674.0 per 100,000 residents (+109.3 from 2017)
Adults reporting excessive drinking: 20.0%
Adults with at least a high school diploma: 85.4%
Total population: 412,641

22. Memphis, TN-MS-AR

Chlamydia cases, 2022: 980.2 per 100,000 residents (+110.2 from 2017)
Adults reporting excessive drinking: 15.2%
Adults with at least a high school diploma: 90.4%
Total population: 1,338,667

21. Grand Island, NE

Chlamydia cases, 2022: 499.2 per 100,000 residents (+110.9 from 2017)
Adults reporting excessive drinking: 17.5%
Adults with at least a high school diploma: 88.7%
Total population: 76,320

20. Jonesboro, AR

Chlamydia cases, 2022: 787.0 per 100,000 residents (+115.1 from 2017)
Adults reporting excessive drinking: 14.2%
Adults with at least a high school diploma: 90.1%
Total population: 135,316

19. Auburn-Opelika, AL

Chlamydia cases, 2022: 535.1 per 100,000 residents (+115.6 from 2017)
Adults reporting excessive drinking: 15.8%
Adults with at least a high school diploma: 92.9%
Total population: 199,230

18. Sioux Falls, SD-MN

Chlamydia cases, 2022: 585.1 per 100,000 residents (+118.8 from 2017)
Adults reporting excessive drinking: 22.6%
Adults with at least a high school diploma: 93.9%
Total population: 299,079

17. Gulfport-Biloxi, MS

Chlamydia cases, 2022: 633.3 per 100,000 residents (+120.1 from 2017)
Adults reporting excessive drinking: 15.9%
Adults with at least a high school diploma: 89.9%
Total population: 420,054

16. Hammond, LA

Chlamydia cases, 2022: 948.1 per 100,000 residents (+126.1 from 2017)
Adults reporting excessive drinking: 18.6%
Adults with at least a high school diploma: 85.0%
Total population: 136,799

15. Alexandria, LA

Chlamydia cases, 2022: 887.5 per 100,000 residents (+126.8 from 2017)
Adults reporting excessive drinking: 16.8%
Adults with at least a high school diploma: 86.5%
Total population: 149,068

14. Beckley, WV

Chlamydia cases, 2022: 331.6 per 100,000 residents (+129.3 from 2017)
Adults reporting excessive drinking: 12.0%
Adults with at least a high school diploma: 85.1%
Total population: 112,189

13. Baton Rouge, LA

Chlamydia cases, 2022: 870.1 per 100,000 residents (+164.7 from 2017)
Adults reporting excessive drinking: 18.1%
Adults with at least a high school diploma: 89.1%
Total population: 872,347

12. Sioux City, IA-NE-SD

Chlamydia cases, 2022: 652.6 per 100,000 residents (+165.7 from 2017)
Adults reporting excessive drinking: 20.2%
Adults with at least a high school diploma: 88.3%
Total population: 143,737

11. Goldsboro, NC

Chlamydia cases, 2022: 813.1 per 100,000 residents (+166.1 from 2017)
Adults reporting excessive drinking: 15.5%
Adults with at least a high school diploma: 84.6%
Total population: 117,449

10. Barnstable Town, MA

Chlamydia cases, 2022: 260.3 per 100,000 residents (+167.6 from 2017)
Adults reporting excessive drinking: 17.7%
Adults with at least a high school diploma: 96.1%
Total population: 232,078

9. Cape Girardeau, MO-IL

Chlamydia cases, 2022: 647.0 per 100,000 residents (+181.2 from 2017)
Adults reporting excessive drinking: 17.2%
Adults with at least a high school diploma: 91.3%
Total population: 98,303

8. Manhattan, KS

Chlamydia cases, 2022: 743.7 per 100,000 residents (+190.8 from 2017)
Adults reporting excessive drinking: 22.1%
Adults with at least a high school diploma: 95.1%
Total population: 133,384

7. Macon-Bibb County, GA

Chlamydia cases, 2022: 961.7 per 100,000 residents (+203.6 from 2017)
Adults reporting excessive drinking: 14.4%
Adults with at least a high school diploma: 87.3%
Total population: 233,952

6. Dubuque, IA

Chlamydia cases, 2022: 479.2 per 100,000 residents (+205.1 from 2017)
Adults reporting excessive drinking: 21.7%
Adults with at least a high school diploma: 94.0%
Total population: 98,715

5. Decatur, IL

Chlamydia cases, 2022: 933.6 per 100,000 residents (+216.3 from 2017)
Adults reporting excessive drinking: 15.9%
Adults with at least a high school diploma: 95.2%
Total population: 101,333

4. Elmira, NY

Chlamydia cases, 2022: 562.2 per 100,000 residents (+238.9 from 2017)
Adults reporting excessive drinking: 18.4%
Adults with at least a high school diploma: 91.7%
Total population: 81,641

3. Rocky Mount, NC

Chlamydia cases, 2022: 1,024.9 per 100,000 residents (+248.2 from 2017)
Adults reporting excessive drinking: 15.2%
Adults with at least a high school diploma: 83.1%
Total population: 144,209

2. Sumter, SC

Chlamydia cases, 2022: 1,117.0 per 100,000 residents (+386.0 from 2017)
Adults reporting excessive drinking: 15.9%
Adults with at least a high school diploma: 88.2%
Total population: 103,936

1. Decatur, AL

Chlamydia cases, 2022: 778.2 per 100,000 residents (+514.3 from 2017)
Adults reporting excessive drinking: 14.4%
Adults with at least a high school diploma: 86.2%
Total population: 157,418