8 Texas cities have among the highest STD rates in the country, study says. See the full list
Eight Texas cities landed in the top 100 cities in the U.S. with the highest sexually transmitted disease infection rates, according to a recent study.
Innerbody, a healthcare research group, used the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to determine the list of cities with high rates of STDs.
San Antonio ranked No. 22 on the list, followed by Killeen at No. 32. Fort Worth was ranked No. 38.
The remaining Texas cities to make the list were Amarillo (No. 47), Dallas (No. 61), Austin (No. 62), Houston (No. 64) and El Paso (No. 69).
While there’s been a slight dip in STD rates across the country, the South continues to see infection levels that raise concern, according to the study.
Here’s a closer look at what the study found about Texas and where the eight Texas cities rank:
No. 22 San Antonio: With 1,182 cases per 100,000 people, San Antonio reported:
- 396 HIV cases
- 14,191 chlamydia cases
- 6,622 gonorrhea cases
- 578 syphilis cases
No. 32 Killeen: With 1,076 cases per 100,000 people, Killeen reported:
- 64 HIV cases
- 3,579 chlamydia cases
- 1,439 gonorrhea cases
- 63 syphilis cases
No. 38 Fort Worth: With 996 cases per 100,000 people, Fort Worth reported:
- 347 HIV cases
- 10,807 chlamydia cases
- 4,601 gonorrhea cases
- 459 syphilis cases
No. 47 Amarillo: With 898 cases per 100,000 people, Amarillo reported:
- 6 HIV cases
- 676 chlamydia cases
- 321 gonorrhea cases
- 7 syphilis cases
No. 61 Dallas: With 817 cases per 100,000 people, Dallas reported:
- 1,128 HIV cases
- 29,697 chlamydia cases
- 13,600 gonorrhea cases
- 441 syphilis cases
No. 62 Austin: With 816 cases per 100,000 people, Austin reported:
- 335 HIV cases
- 13,296 chlamydia cases
- 6,025 gonorrhea cases
- 529 syphilis cases
No. 64 Houston: With 791 cases per 100,000 people, Houston reported:
- 1,443 HIV cases
- 35,887 chlamydia cases
- 14,393 gonorrhea cases
- 1,211 syphilis cases
No. 69 El Paso: With 769 cases per 100,000 people, El Paso reported:
- 129 HIV cases
- 5,074 chlamydia cases
- 1,341 gonorrhea cases
- 143 syphilis cases
Main findings of the STD study
Innerbody’s study found Southern states continue to struggle with high STD rates, even as some cities have shown improvements.
Despite the overall infection rate in the U.S. dropping by nearly 2% in 2023 compared to from 2022, sexually transmitted infections remain a pressing public health issue.
Notably, Detroit has now surged to the top as the city with the highest STD infection rate, moving up from No. 9 last year. The South still accounts for over 60% of the top 25 metro areas with the highest STD rates.
On a national level, gonorrhea infections decreased by 7% from 2022 to 2023, while chlamydia rates held steady and syphilis infections continued to rise, though at a slower pace than before.
Moreover, Black, Hispanic, and Indigenous populations continue to be disproportionately affected by STD rates, highlighting ongoing health disparities.
How the study found the cities with the highest STD rates
Innerbody Research used the CDC’s most recent 2023 data to compile statistics on HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia.
The research group created a thorough ranking of metro areas with the highest STD rates by evaluating these figures city by city.
It’s worth noting that herpes was not mentioned because it wasn’t part of the CDC’s release, so the focus was only on the four infections mentioned above.
The CDC and the United States Census Bureau provided all estimated metropolitan and state population data.
Top 10 cities with the highest STD rates
According to Innerbody, these 10 cities have the highest prevalence of STDs:
- Detroit, Mich.
- Philadelphia, Pa.
- Montgomery, Ala.
- Memphis, Tenn.
- Baltimore, Md.
- New Orleans, La.
- Washington, DC
- St. Louis, Mo.
- Baton Rouge, La.
- San Francisco, Calif.
What are the most common symptoms of an STD?
Many STDs can quietly take hold without causing any noticeable symptoms at first, but there are some common signs that might indicate an infection.
According to the CDC, when symptoms do appear, common indicators can include:
Unusual Discharge: If you notice a change in color, consistency, or smell in your genital discharge, it could be a sign of an infection. Pay attention to anything that seems off or different from normal.
Burning Sensation During Urination: If it suddenly feels like you’re peeing fire, that’s not normal. This symptom is commonly linked to infections like chlamydia and gonorrhea.
Sores, Bumps, or Lesions: Any unexpected sores, bumps, or blisters on or around your genitals, mouth or rectum could be a sign of an STD like herpes or syphilis. Don’t ignore them, even if they don’t hurt.
Itching or Irritation: If you’re experiencing constant itching or irritation in your genital area, it could be a red flag for an infection.
- Lower Abdominal Pain or Discomfort: This is especially common in women and can be a sign of an infection affecting the reproductive organs, such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).
If any of these symptoms sound familiar, it’s a good idea to get tested. For more details on what to watch for, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website.
How can I get free STD testing in Dallas-Fort Worth?
If you’re in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and concerned about your sexual health, there are several resources available to help you get tested for free or at a low cost. Here are some options:
- Tarrant County Public Health: Offers affordable STD testing services in Fort Worth and Arlington
- Dallas County Health & Human Services: Offers the Sexual Health Mobile Medical Unit, which provides free or low-cost STD testing
- Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas: Known for accessible sexual health services, including STD screenings
- AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) Dallas: Free testing for HIV and other STDs
For a complete list of free testing sites, visit gettested.cdc.gov.
