10 States With the Worst STD Problems

As of 2010 research, gonorrhea is up, chlamydia is diagnosed faster thanks to more accurate screening measures, and syphilis declined after experiencing a brief spike. Delving into the intricate whats and whys behind why some states in particular see surges in different STDs and STIs over others proves exceptionally complicated, but it definitely means one solid, absolute conclusion. Wherever possible, whenever possible (and appropriate — it might not go over so well as a Thanksgiving dinner topic!), teach communities about proper safe sex protocol. Doing so will hack away at these disconcerting numbers and hopefully save some lives along the way.
For consistency’s sake, all data comes courtesy of the Center for Disease Control’s 2010 Sexually Transmitted Diseases Surveillance. Please keep in mind the research does not cover STDs and STIs on the whole, so it will be presented as the top 10 per the three diseases their studies measured. Rates on other conditions might skew rankings of which states seem to experience the worst STD problems, but regardless of where one chooses to engage in sexual contact, one must always be careful. Obviously, practicing safe sex reduces the risk of more than just chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis, and everyone should receive a thorough, balanced education on the best prevention methods, recognizing symptoms, and treatment options.