3 NC cities have among the highest STD rates in the country, study says. See the full list
Three North Carolina metro areas landed in the top 100 cities in the U.S. with the highest STD infection rates, according to a recent study.
Innerbody, a healthcare research group, used data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to determine the list of cities with high rates of STDs.
Greensboro ranked No. 30 on the list, followed closely by Charlotte at No. 37. Raleigh was ranked lower on the list at No. 67.
No. 30 Greensboro: With 1,086 cases per 100,000 people, Greensboro reported:
206 HIV cases
9,297 chlamydia cases
3,901 gonorrhea cases
413 syphilis cases
No. 37 Charlotte: With 1,014 cases per 100,000 people, Charlotte reported:
407 HIV cases
16,440 chlamydia cases
7,238 gonorrhea cases
692 syphilis cases
No. 67 Raleigh: With 770 cases per 100,000 people, Raleigh reported:
248 HIV cases
11,013 chlamydia cases
4,297 gonorrhea cases
448 syphilis cases
Read the full study at innerbody.com.
Main findings from STD study
Here are the key takeaways from the study:
The South continues to struggle with high infection rates in its metro areas, though there is evidence of positive change. Fourteen of the top 25 cities with the highest infection rates are located in the South.
The overall infection rate dropped by 2% from 2023 to 2024, but infection rates remain at record-high levels.
Black people continue to experience high infection rates. Black people make up 12.6% of the U.S. population but suffer 32.4% of the cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and primary and secondary syphilis.
How the study found cities with highest STD rates
The data in Innerbody’s report is from the CDC’s most recent releases (from 2023) on statistics for HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia. Since herpes was not included in the CDC’s data release, it was not part of Innerbody’s study.
You can access the CDC’s data releases online.
Additional data on population estimates in US metropolitan areas and states was gathered from the US Census Bureau reports.
Top 10 cities with highest STI rates
Here are the top 10 cities with the highest STI rates, according to Innerbody:
Detroit, MI
Philadelphia, PA
Montgomery, AL
Memphis, TN
Baltimore, MD
New Orleans, LA
Washington, DC
St. Louis, MO
Baton Rouge, LA
San Francisco, CA
What to know about STD testing
The CDC advises getting tested for STDs to know your status, which is a key step in preventing the spread of infections. Knowing your results allows you to take measures to protect yourself and others.
Make sure to ask your healthcare provider about STD testing, as it’s the only way to ensure you’re getting the right tests, and encourage your partner to do the same.
Many STDs are easily diagnosed and treated. If either you or your partner tests positive, both of you should be treated at the same time to prevent re-infection.
How to get a free at-home STD test in Charlotte
The Mecklenburg County Health Department is offering free at-home test kits through its vendor, Let’s Get Checked, a company that specializes in at-home healthcare solutions.
Visit health.mecknc.gov/hiv-sti/Free-Testing-Kit to get your free kit. You’ll need to create an account and enter your shipping information.
How to get a free at-home STD test in Wake County
Wake County is providing free, at-home kits to test for common STIs like chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis, The News & Observer reported.
Test kits can be picked up at these Wake County Public Health locations from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Public Health Center (inside the pharmacy), 10 Sunnybrook Road in Raleigh
Departure Regional Center, 5809 Departure Drive in Raleigh
Eastern Regional Center, 1002 Dogwood Drive in Zebulon
Northern Regional Center, 350 E. Holding Ave. in Wake Forest
Southern Regional Center, 130 N. Judd Parkway NE in Fuquay-Varina
You do not need an appointment or to provide personal information to pick up your at-home test.
Once home, you activate the kit on the supplier’s website, collect blood and urine samples and mail them using a pre-paid envelope. Results arrive two to five days after the samples arrive.
How to prevent STDs
The only way to completely prevent getting an STD is through abstinence, according to UNC Campus Health.
Other methods, such as condoms and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), can be used to prevent STDs.
This story was originally published March 20, 2025 at 3:08 PM with the headline "3 NC cities have among the highest STD rates in the country, study says. See the full list."
