Sexual health is a crucial aspect of overall well-being, yet it remains a largely overlooked topic in dating and hookup culture. We surveyed people from across the country to gain a deeper understanding of how Americans navigate their sexual health.
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are viruses, bacteria, fungi, or parasites people can get through sexual contact. In recent years, many medical institutions and experts, including the Centers for Disease Control, have used the term STIs in place of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) because their goal is to treat infections before they develop into diseases.
States with the Most STI Infections in America
Every year, millions of Americans test positive for STIs. By analyzing U.S. Census Bureau data, we found the states with the highest rates of STIs. Mississippi has the highest rate at 1,187 diagnoses per 100,000 people. Following Mississippi are Louisiana (1,145), Alaska (1,066), South Dakota (993), and Georgia (975).
The states with the lowest reported rates of STIs include Vermont (225), New Hampshire (255), Maine (276), West Virginia (335), and Wyoming (365).
“What do Vermont and Wyoming have in common that make them more immune from the spread STIs? I’d argue it has to do more with population stats than safe sex practices,” said Amber Brooks, Editor-in-Chief for DatingNews.com. “More populated areas with big cities create more opportunities for sexual exploration — and that unfortunately leads to a higher risk of STI outbreaks.”
51% of Americans Are Concerned About Contracting an STI
Our nationwide survey found that 81% of adults 18 years and older are sexually active. More than half of survey respondents (56%) have avoided sexual activity due to concerns over contracting an STI, with 51% concerned about contracting an STI. Men (56%) surveyed are slightly more concerned than women (45%).
Nearly 1 in 5 (18%) survey respondents have been diagnosed with an STI. The most common diagnoses include chlamydia (36%), gonorrhea (30%), and genital herpes (24%).
Among those who have had an STI, 55% say they contracted the infection from a cheating partner. In fact, 13% say their partner has lied to them about their STI status, and 45% do not discuss testing with their partner before becoming sexually active.
Men are more likely to not talk about testing with a partner (51%) compared to women (39%). Among survey respondents, 2 in 3 said they do not require new partners to get tested before starting a sexual relationship.
STI Testing Habits Among Americans
Despite sexual health being an important aspect of overall health, more than 1 in 3 Americans surveyed have never been tested for STIs. More than half (51%) of Baby Boomers have never gotten STI testing done. Behind them, the second least tested generation is millennials (33%).
Respondents note some of the difficulties of getting tested include embarrassment (25%), lack of time (22%), and cost (19%).
Among Americans who have been tested for STIs, 25% said they go when they have symptoms, 24% go before starting new sexual relationships, 34% go once every one or more years, and 17% go every three to four months.
The top ways Americans are protecting themselves from STIs include limiting the number of sexual partners (63%), using condoms (59%), and regular testing (27%).
Methodology
In July 2024, we surveyed 989 Americans about their sexual health habits. Participant ages ranged from 18 to 79 with an average age of 37. Respondents were 49% men, 48% women, and 3% nonbinary and/or chose not to disclose. For media inquiries, contact media@datingnews.com.
