Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, and Syphilis are the most common sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) diagnosed in the US. In Maryland, the rates of these STDs have been rising steadily within the past five years. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) statewide analysis for the year 2018 suggests that Maryland ranks 12th for the number of chlamydia and primary and secondary (P&S) syphilis cases, 9th for congenital syphilis, and 24th for gonorrhea cases.
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820 Bestgate Rd Ste 1D, Annapolis, Maryland 21401
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6201 Greenbelt RdSuite M3, College Park, Maryland 20740
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11055 Little Patuxent PkwySuite 202, Columbia, Maryland 21044
Tel: 4107400063
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14201 Laurel Park DriveSuite 107, Laurel, Maryland 20707
Tel: 3014909444
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4120 Patterson Ave, Baltimore, Maryland 21215
Tel: (410) 764-2266
Appointment Required: Yes
Anne Arundel County resident. Please call for HIV testing hours. Free condoms available.
1950 Drew St, Annapolis, Maryland 21401
Tel: (410) 222-7247
Appointment Required: Yes
Sexual and gender minorities.
2530 N Charles St, 3rd Fl, Baltimore, Maryland 21218
Tel: (410) 777-8145
Tel: (410) 777-8135
Appointment Required: No
Work in the community offering on the spot HIV testing, Linkage to care and access to local services.
10 W Eager St, Ste 250, Baltimore, Maryland 21201
Tel: (410) 230-0936
Appointment Required: No
4302 St Barnabas Rd, Ste D, Temple Hills, Maryland 20748
Tel: (301) 423-1071
Appointment Required: Yes
Use our confidential STD symptom checker to get an idea of what STDs/STIs your symptoms align with and what STD tests are recommended to you.
Start Symptom CheckerWhich Method of STD Testing is Suitable for Me?
Every sexually active individual must protect their sexual health. Regular STD testing is the only way to care for your sexual health. However, sometimes it becomes confusing to select the right testing method as there are so many options available. For your convenience, we have gathered information about all available STD testing methods in Maryland. Check them out to find out which option is suitable for you.
| Testing Method | Waiting Times | Speed of Results | Positive Consultation |
|---|---|---|---|
Private Testing (Walk-In Clinic) | 10-20 Minutes with No Wait | 24-72 Hours | Free With Positive Result |
At-Home STD Testing | No Wait | 5-11 Days | Free With Positive Result |
Doctor Visit with Insurance | Call for Appointment | 7-10 Days | Co-Pay Required |
Doctor Visit without Insurance | Call for Appointment | 7-10 Days | Out-of-Pocket Cost Required |
Public Clinic | Limited Hours and Long Lines | 7-14 Days | No |
Learn more in our ultimate guide to STD testing.
It can be, but it does not necessarily have to be. What many people need to understand is that laboratory tests would most often than not be relatively pricey due to the technology that is being utilized behind these diagnostic techniques. However, opting for specific laboratories that offer more convenient testing procedures and discounted prices for diagnostic tests would help ensure that the price will not be much of an issue in providing you with the conclusive diagnosis of your condition. It might take some independent scanning to find the right testing center for you in the most acceptable price range, but it is not as impossible as many people make it out to be.
Considering that a wide variety of testing kits and laboratory procedures can be performed to determine conclusively whether you have a particular STD or not, the time that it will take for your results to return will also be subject to the same inconsistency. Although there are specific laboratories that could produce your results even by the end of the day (albeit, it is extremely rare for institutions to do so unless necessary), most would often take a few days to a week before the results are either delivered or posted online through your secure personal profile (in the case of online transactions). In addition to that, the capability of the laboratory performing the test may also contribute to the overall timeframe of result delivery – causing delays in cases where there are several requests or understaffed to provide expedited results.
For more information, skip to the FAQs section on this page.
Test Advisor
Know all about STD testing options, and the costs of different STD tests.
Many reasons are responsible for the sustained rise in STD cases. The most prominent ones include lack of awareness about protective measures to avoid sexually transmitted infections (STIs) that later convert into STDs and delayed testing.
STDs and STIs come at a high cost for all vulnerable sections of the population, especially women and babies. In Maryland, there were 29 newborn babies diagnosed with syphilis in 2018, while the state's infection rate for infants is the 9th highest in the US. These are tragic figures, but the pandemic doesn't impact infants only.
There were a record number of cases reported in all main STDs in Maryland, while the rate of congenital syphilis was highest in newborns. CDC states that an improvement in the nation's overall health and addressing issues like infertility, congenital disabilities, infant deaths, and HIV rely on curbing STDs.
STIs are chronic infections that often lead to lifelong health conditions, such as inflammation and scarring of the reproductive organs, infertility, pelvic inflammatory disease, and complicated pregnancy, to name a few. Timely screening and treatment, particularly in women of childbearing age, is important.
In Maryland, congenital syphilis is among the most concerning issues because undiagnosed and untreated pregnant females are at a higher risk of stillbirth and miscarriage. Similarly, for untreated newborns, congenital syphilis can cause detrimental health concerns. It can affect their skin, eyes, bones, ears, brain, and heart, and can cause developmental problems and even death soon after birth. Maryland was featured in the top seven US states for the highest rates of congenital syphilis between 2012 and 2017, which makes timely testing for pregnant women even more crucial.
Compared to older adults, young people, especially young females, are more vulnerable to chlamydial infections in Maryland. Nevertheless, all sexually active individuals are at risk of contracting chlamydia. Therefore, CDC recommends annual testing and screening of chlamydia in sexually active individuals aged 25 or above. Those who have multiple sex partners, men who have sex with men, and those who already have an STI should get tested at least once a year.
Maryland comprises 24 jurisdictions, including Baltimore City and 23 counties, each having an independent local health department. The state has introduced several initiatives to address the rising rate of STDs in Maryland. For instance, the Baltimore City Health Department's HIV/STD Prevention Program was launched to focus on activities and efforts to prevent the spread of STDs across Baltimore City.
Two categorical STD clinics are operated under this program. The clinics offer testing, diagnosis, and treatment services for commonly occurring STDs, family planning services, hepatitis B immunization via the Vaccine for Children's program, and Ryan White primary care services for HIV patients. Through this program, over 30,000 patients are treated annually. The program also supports health education services to community groups and schools, but this service is strictly offered upon request.
The Center for STI Prevention (CSTIP) is responsible for performing STI surveillance in Maryland. The CSTIP monitors disease trends and early detection of outbreaks. It also implements evidence-based practices to manage resources effectively and identify common risk factors and disparities among the impacted communities. Moreover, CSTIP offers technical, epidemiological, and programmatic consultation services to local health care providers, health departments, and organizations across the state to increase public awareness and reduce transmission of STIs. It also monitors reported chlamydia, syphilis, and gonorrhea cases.
Reinfection is very common in people who have been diagnosed or treated for chlamydia and gonorrhea. In Maryland, HIV and syphilis cases are given comprehensive follow-up services, also called Partner Services. This includes additional testing and treatment and notifying partners of the individuals regarding the risk of exposure and the need for testing. However, the follow-up service isn't offered for gonorrhea and chlamydia cases because the number of cases is too high to provide partner services.
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The total number of STDs (chlamydia, gonorrhea, and P&S syphilis) cases reported in Maryland showed a 53% increase from 2009 to 2018, according to the Maryland Department of Health's Center for STI Prevention's annual report. The P&S syphilis infection rate increased from 5.5 cases/100,000 people in 2009 to 12.2 cases/100,000 people in 2018, recording a 222% increase overall.
According to the CDC's 2018 STDs surveillance report, the prevalence of the three main STDs described above has increased drastically in Maryland. The most impacted area is the Baltimore metropolitan area. InnerBody reported that Baltimore had 2,004 STD cases per 100,000 people in 2018, 207 HIV cases, 7,636 chlamydia diagnoses, 4,231 gonorrhea cases, and 210 syphilis cases in 2018. Furthermore, the state's congenital syphilis cases increased at a rate of 39.7/100,000 people, which was the 9th highest in the US as per 2018-2019 estimations.
In 2018, the rate of syphilis' most infectious stages rose significantly among adults in Maryland. Reportedly, the number of cases increased to 737 at the rate of 12.3/100,000 people. It was the country's 12th worst rate. The number of chlamydia cases in Maryland also increased considerably in comparison to 2017. The state recorded 35,483 total cases of chlamydia in 2018, at a rate of 586 cases/100,000 residents. It was the 12th worst rate countrywide. Gonorrhea rate dropped to 10,300 cases in 2018, at a rate of 170 cases/100,000 Marylanders. It was the nation's 24th highest rate.
Baltimore metro area is the worst affected zone in Maryland. In 2018, there were over 17,400 cases of STDs in Baltimore, Columbia, and Towson combined. Out of these, 1,392 were syphilis and 5,998 gonorrhea cases. Statewide, there were 2,536 cases of STDs in 2018, while in 2017, 2,059 cases were diagnosed. Overall, the number of gonorrhea cases went down in Maryland during 2018, with around 10,305 cases. Comparatively, in 2017, the state reported 10,970 cases.
Maryland ranked 12th in chlamydia cases, which means the state reported over 586 cases per 100,000 residents. Women aged 35 or above were disproportionately affected by chlamydia, whereas males above 35-years reported a higher number of chlamydia cases. The highest number of chlamydial infection was reported among females aged 20 to 24, with 4,525 cases/100,000 population.
Females aged between 15 and 24 accounted for the highest number of gonorrheal infections, with 44% of all reported cases. In comparison to males, females below 20 years of age had higher infection rates, while males had higher rates for the rest of the age groups. Males aged 20-24 were the most at-risk group among males as they reported 727 gonorrhea cases/100,000 people in 2018.
Between 2014 and 2015, the rate of chlamydia increased for nearly all racial groups in Maryland. African-Americans are the worst affected population group in Maryland. The black population continually reported higher chlamydia and gonorrhea infection rates with 858 cases and 361.1 cases/100,000 residents.
Syphilis is the most common STI in Maryland that is diagnosed with HIV. Around 40% of diagnoses in 2018 were co-infected with HIV. Gonorrhea and chlamydia's co-infection with HIV is relatively less common. Older adults were affected the most, as around 20% of co-infections were diagnosed in people aged 40-45. Fewer than 5% of females aged between 20-24 years were diagnosed with gonorrhea co-infected with HIV. Around 23% of chlamydia infections among men who have sex with men were chlamydia reinfections, 19% of cases among African-Americans, and 20% of cases reported in other racial groups were also chlamydia reinfections.
Similar to how other testing procedures behave, false-positive results are still evident even in STD testing. False-positive and even false-negative results are standard instances that showcase the imperfection of the test’s design – a factor that is present everywhere. However, despite certain inconsistencies in laboratory tests as such, physicians commonly use confirmatory tests that would often take another path entirely to arrive at the same conclusion – solidifying the initial test’s diagnosis while still ensuring that the second test is not following the inconsistencies of the first.
Although NAATs are well-known for their accuracy and sensitivity in detecting most STDs, it is also subject to certain inconsistencies, especially in the case of herpes infections. In Herpes, outbreaks often result in a relative increase in the patient’s viral load – leading to a timeline that usually has specific peaks at certain intervals instead of a consistent rise in viral load throughout. As such, sensitive tests such as NAATs are still unable to accurately diagnose herpes conditions, especially in cases where the patient has recently become asymptomatic and is currently between outbreaks. Other tests such as culture testing and type-specific virologic tests are often employed instead as a confirmatory diagnosis for the patient’s condition.
It would vary depending on the condition that is being tested. STDs behave differently due to the varying pathogenicity of each STD’s causative organism. In some instances, you can get accurately tested as early as two weeks following exposure, while some are intermittently inaccurate due to its recurrence (much like in the case of herpes infections). To avoid this, be sure to discuss the intricacies of the test with your physician to understand whether a particular test could provide you with a conclusive diagnosis or if it still needs another confirmatory test to establish its premise.
A nucleic acid amplification test is a laboratory procedure that professionals often perform to make detecting a particular nucleic acid or gene being targeted easier and more convenient while still ensuring that the sample being collected is relatively minimal. Nucleic acid amplification tests, or NAATs, are usually the mainstay diagnostic test for most STDs due to their ability to detect the presence of pathogenic nucleic acids and genes in the patient sample with utmost accuracy and speed. NAATs depends on their ability to replicate the target RNA and DNA to create numerous copies – resulting in an increased convenience in the detection of the desired molecules instead of trying to either blindly look for one strand in a minuscule sample or collecting a large sample that could make the patient uncomfortable throughout the process. Although NAATs are often preferred for a more conclusive diagnosis of STDs, certain exceptions such as the availability of resources and instances of intermittent viral shedding could make NAATs less desirable than other tests. Fret not, however, as your physician is knowledgeable regarding these instances and would often request the best diagnostic procedure for your instances.
It does vary on a case-to-case basis. Insurance policies are often particular with the instances that they would be covering with their program. Some may cover severe accidents, some may even consider “orphan disease,” and yes, some may also cover the expenses for performing STD diagnostic tests. However, considering that your insurance provider will have to verify the person's identity availing of the program, STD testing laboratories that employ a minimal collection of patient information may not accept insurance policies to prioritize privacy over affordability.
How Does it Work?
Most people experience feelings of hesitation when going to get tested for STD, despite knowing they might have contracted one. EasySTD was created to change that.
Visit your nearest lab or clinic, order your home testing kit online, and follow the given instructions from an STD testing provider.
After ordering your STD test, visit the testing center to get tested or take a self sample including urine, cotton swab, or finger prick with the home testing kit and mail it back.
Receive the lab-certified results of your STD test from your test provider via mail or phone within 2 to 3 days. If the test comes positive, consult your doctor immediately.
Help stop the spread of STDs by knowing your status. Get tested today!
