Sexually transmitted infections, or STIs, are common in the United States. In fact, 20% of the population has an STI. With this in mind, it is important to understand the risk factors of contracting an STI, as well as ways that you can protect yourself. Everyone has different chances of getting an STI, as factors such as where you live, what you do, who you are, and who you love all impact your risk. Luckily, many options exist for STI prevention.
STI risk varies in different locations across the United States, with certain states having higher risk than others. For example, Minnesota is the state with the highest risk; studies have shown that 1,264 people out of every 100,000 have an STI. Louisiana has the second highest risk, followed by South Dakota, Alaska, and Georgia. On the other side of the spectrum, Utah has the lowest risk, with only 428 people out of every 100,000 carrying an STI. Idaho has the second-lowest risk, followed by New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Connecticut.
Additionally, different regions of the United States have higher risks for certain infections. More specifically, the western United States is at a higher risk for syphilis, the Midwest has a higher risk for chlamydia, the northeast has a higher risk for HIV, and the south faces higher risks for gonorrhea. In general, you are more at risk if you live in the south, particularly in or near a larger metro.
Your behaviors also play a key role in your chances of getting an STI. For example, choosing to have unprotected sex increases your chances of infection. Similarly, using inadequate protection also plays a role in STI risk. Protection like condoms, topical microbicides, and vaccines can protect you from STIs, but options like nonbarrier contraceptives, female surgical sterilization, and traditional morning-after pills may not offer STI protection.
Having more than one sexual partner can also increase your risk. In fact, studies have shown that women with five or more sexual partners are eight times more likely to have an STI. Dating apps are another key factor. People who use dating apps are 1.8 times more likely to get screened for STIs and 1.3 times more likely to test positive for STIs.
Another behavior that can impact STI risk is substance abuse. Heavy drinking is associated with STIs, risky sexual behaviors, and a positive HIV status. Likewise, cocaine use is positively associated with risky sexual behaviors and positive STI diagnoses.
Ethnicity and nationality play a role as well, as individuals of different backgrounds have different risks. For example, black individuals face a higher risk of contracting gonorrhea than they do chlamydia or syphilis. Hispanic/Latino individuals face a higher risk of syphilis than gonorrhea or chlamydia, as do white individuals.
Your income is also important. According to a study, an individual is more likely to get an STI if they do not have health insurance, use public transportation, or have an income below the poverty level (as of 2025, the poverty level is $15,060 for a single-person household).
Who you engage in sexual relationships with is another main factor in determining your personal risk. STI positivity rates vary between people of different sexualities. For example, 35% of gay and bisexual cisgender men test positive for STIs, whereas only 3% of heterosexual transgender men test positive for STIs. Homosexual men and heterosexual men have different risks for certain diseases; for instance, homosexual men are more at risk of gonorrhea than heterosexual men, whereas heterosexual men are more at risk of genital herpes than homosexual men. Similar differences exist between homosexual and heterosexual women.
Fortunately, many options exist for STI prevention. One of the most effective prevention methods, after abstinence, is getting tested for STIs before having sex. Getting tested can reduce your risk by 99.8%. Another important prevention method is using internal and external condoms, which can reduce your risk by 98%.
STIs are common, and everyone has some risk of contracting an infection. However, being aware of your risk, as well as engaging in safe sex, can go a long way in preventing STIs.
