STDs are common in the United States, with one out of every five people carrying an STD. Educating yourself on your risk is the first step to preventing STDs. Your risk of an STD depends on a variety of factors, such as where you live and who you love.
In the United States, certain areas have higher risks of certain STDs. More specifically, the West has higher rates of syphilis, whereas the Midwest has higher rates of chlamydia. In general, you are more at risk for STDs if you live in the South, either in or near a larger metro area.
Who you have sex with also impacts your risk. For example, homosexual men are more likely to contract gonorrhea than heterosexual men. However, heterosexual men are more likely to contract pediculosis pubis than homosexual men. In general, STI positivity is the highest in gay and bisexual cisgender men, at 35%. STI positivity is the lowest in heterosexual transgender men, at only 3%.
Knowing risk factors is important to staying safe, but there are many other STD prevention methods. Abstinence is the best method of risk reduction, but STI testing before a sexual relationship is also highly effective, reducing risk by 99.8%. Using internal and external condoms is another effective method of protection.
Although STDs are common, there are several ways to protect yourself. Understanding the risks, as well as your options to stay safe, can go a long way in keeping you STD-free.
