In the USA, New Mexico ranks fourth in the number of chlamydia cases per 100,000 people (651.6), while the national average is 528. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) most recent statistics regarding the rate of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis, indicate that STDs have been on the rise in the Southwestern state of New Mexico.
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STD and STI (sexually transmitted infection) are often used interchangeably, while both are not the same things. STD is a term used for the disease itself, whereas STI is the infection. The most at-risk age group for STD transmission is under 25 sexually active people. Therefore, it makes sense to get tested for STDs between the ages 13 and 25. But, this doesn't mean older adults do not require testing.
CDC recommends that everyone from 13-year-olds to 65-year-olds must make STDs testing a part of their routine health care. Those who practice safe sex or are in monogamous relationships do not need to get tested too often, though. Conversely, people who have unprotected sex should make it their priority to get tested, especially before getting intimate with a new partner.
It is a misconception that if there aren't any symptoms, there is no underlying disease. The truth is that most STDs do not show any physical symptoms, even for years. Sometimes, the disease may take ten years to show any signs, which often happens in the case of HIV. Similarly, up to 95% of females having chlamydial infection don't experience any sign or symptom of the disease. The average among males is 90%.
Hence, it is difficult to identify if you or your partner has an STD unless you choose to get tested. Unawareness about the importance of early testing is the primary cause behind the continuously rising cases of STDs and HIV. High-risk groups, which include men who have sex with men (MSM), those who have multiple sex partners, may develop gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia, and hepatitis C.
Baby boomers, which refers to people born between 1945 and 1965, are also at a higher risk of STDs and may develop liver disorders or cancer if they have an STD. The reason being that back in the time, there was no knowledge of the virus, and testing was not a part of anyone's health care routine.
Pregnant women are also among the high-risk groups. CDC recommends that all pregnant women should be tested for STDs, particularly syphilis, at their first prenatal visit. Any ignorance in this regard will cause serious, even life-threatening consequences for the unborn child, such as premature birth or death after birth.
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Appointment Required: Yes
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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 New Mexico. 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.
Standard STD testing can detect common sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, herpes, and hepatitis B and C. Additional tests may be required for less common STDs or specific situations.
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.
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.
Yes. Certain companies offer at-home testing kits wherein you are the one that will collect the specimens necessary for the test at the comfort of your own home. Sure, it might sometimes be subject to errors due to the potential contamination of the sample from collection to transportation, but it does offer a great deal of privacy and convenience for patients who would prefer to have their identities hidden in fear that their community will judge them.
Similar to what was previously mentioned, herpes infections are known for their recurring tendencies – causing outbreaks now and then and thus causing an intermittent spike in the patient’s viral load for specific instances. In addition to that, other STDs also take time to proliferate and produce a sufficient viral load that could warrant a positive and, more importantly, accurate diagnosis and detection from the tests being administered. As such, detecting an STD a few days following exposure is often complex and unpredictable – leading physicians to follow a certain timeframe instead for testing STDs instead of blindly testing immediately following exposure. Physical exams, however, may supplement inaccurate laboratory diagnoses, especially in cases where the test is prone to false results.
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New Mexico STD Data
In the past five years, New Mexico has seen an alarmingly high number of STDs cases. Between 2015 and 2016, there was a 61% increase in the number of syphilis cases, gonorrheal infection rate climbed 40%, which is the country's 14th highest rate, and chlamydia cases rose 4%, as per the NMDOH. In 2016, the state was at number 11 in the country with over 470 primary and secondary syphilis cases.
From 2016 to 2017, there was a 3.5% increase in the cases of chlamydia, which was the 4th highest rate for chlamydia infection in the country. During the same period, New Mexico observed a 28% increase in gonorrheal infection rates, which is less than the rates in 2015-16. But, the state ranked 10th in the country for most gonorrhea cases. Primary and secondary syphilis cases increased by 2.2% during 2016-2017. Around 60% of all reported chlamydia cases and 38% of all gonorrhea cases were among 15-24-year-old people.
Several factors are responsible for this steady rise in the number of new STD cases per year. Apart from cutbacks in funding for prevention programs to lackluster sexual health education efforts, and constantly rising usage of dating apps are some of the key contributing factors.
In New Mexico, ethnic and racial minorities are disproportionately impacted by HIV. The overall burden of the disease has leveled in Hispanics. However, it has risen dramatically among American Indians. The disease rate is higher among African Americans despite composing a small fraction of the state’s populace. In 2014, around a fifth of all new diagnoses were in the Northwest Region. But the burden of prevalent cases is reported in the Albuquerque metropolitan area.
New Mexico has continually faced unique challenges when it comes to HIV prevention. The state reportedly had the second-highest rate of inadequate parental care, medically uninsured, and poverty-struck children in the country back in 2004-2005. Given the state’s large size and rural nature, most residents must travel long distances to access care. Due to this, access to certain services and treatment choices for the state’s residents has decreased significantly.
According to the year 2018 data from AIDSvu, there were 87.8% males and 12.2% of females living with HIV in New Mexico. Hispanics/Latinx comprised the largest group of PLWH in the state with 48%, followed by whites with 34.3%, and blacks had a relatively low rate of 6%.
In New Mexico, the 45-55 and 55+ age group is the most impacted demographic portion amounting to 27% and 36.3% of all PLWH. The 35-44 age group is the third most affected group of the population with 19% of all reported cases, and people aged 13-24 and 25-34 reported a relatively low rate of HIV infection with 2.8% and 14.6% PLWH in 2018.
The percentage of new HIV diagnoses across the state was highest among males, with 84% in 2018. Approximately 15.6% of all new cases were diagnosed in females. Moreover, Hispanics continued to register a higher rate of new cases across New Mexico, with over 53% of all new diagnoses followed by 18% for whites and 5.7% for African-Americans.
Racial and ethnic diversity has proven to be a huge challenge for New Mexico state health departments in improving HIV prevention services. In fact, it is among the most racially/ethnically diverse states in the country. Most ethnic groups differ in disease burden patterns and respond in a culturally distinct manner to prevention efforts.
The New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) has taken various effective initiatives to respond to the rising rate of STDs. There's a dedicated Disease Prevention Team (DPT) in every region. The team's main task is to provide disease management and partner services to ensure timely treatment. New midlevel providers were recruited at all high-traffic Public Health Offices (PHO) to expand the state's healthcare infrastructure's diagnosis and treatment capacity for various stages of syphilis,
The New Mexico Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) Prevention Program's main goal is to encourage a reduction in STDs and HIV incidences. Under this program, technical assistance and consultation are provided across the state. It also facilitates partner services, surveillance, screening, case management, health care provider education, and partner notification for the state's reportable STDs.
The Clinical Preventive Initiative (CPI) focuses on decreasing the burden of illness, increasing the chances of preventability of the condition, examining the quality and costs of services, and programmatic support.
The New Mexico State health department receives funding from the CDC to develop and implement scalable and cost-effective programs and policies to intensify HIV prevention efforts across the state.
Funding supports service delivery to the state’s most affected regions and communities. It also promotes evidence-based monitoring of the disease and routine program evaluation. CDC also provides funding to the New Mexico State education department for assessing health-risk behaviors among adolescents and devise HIV prevention activities. The state health department is also responsible for expanding access to youth-friendly and effective health services and education programs for delaying sexual initiation and reduce the rate of HIV infection.
Furthermore, the state has developed numerous innovative strategies and programs within the last three decades for effectively responding to HIV, reduce new infections rate, and provide quality care. Preventing HIV-related health disparities is another important goal that the state is working to achieve. New Mexico offers targeted confidential testing services across the state to identify PLWH unaware of their status.
The New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) HIV Prevention Program, in collaboration with partner organizations, provided over 10,000 confidential HIV tests, including pre and post-test risk-reduction counseling between 2014 and 2015. To ensure access to these services to most at-risk individuals in the urban, frontier, and rural areas, HIV testing service is offered at around 80 partner test sites. NMDOH continues to encourage and expand the use of rapid point-of-care devices. This initiative was implemented in 2008, and by 2015, around 35% of all tests were performed via rapid devices.
The New Mexico AIDS Education and Training Center is the regional partner of the South-Central AIDS Education and Training Center (AETC). The department has partnered with Project ECHO for the creation of the New Mexico AETC-HIV TeleECHO program. It is designed to support providers unfamiliar with HIV so that they become proficient in HIV prevention and treatment in a primary care setting.
In 2017, almost 90% of all reported primary/secondary syphilis cases were among males, and among male syphilis patients, 85% were MSM, while the percentage of males who had sex with females was considerably low. From 2016 to 2017, gonorrhea rates increased for both males and females. The most surprising upward trend was observed among females as the rate for females aged between 20-24 with gonorrhea was around 33.5%, while the number of cases among males increased by 23%.
In New Mexico, there has been a 107.3% rise in the number of STD cases in older adults (aged 55 or above), with 63.5 cases per 100,000 population between 2014 and 2018. As far as the diseases are concerned, there was a 181% increase in chlamydia cases, 207% in syphilis, 146.2% in HIV, and 567.9% in gonorrhea cases.
The biggest leap in STD cases in New Mexico was observed between 2015 and 2016 when almost all age groups reported an unprecedented rise. However, people between ages 25 and 29 and 30-34 had the most cases. For women, the most at-risk age group was between 25 to 29, which was 37% higher than the previous years. For males, the increase was 51%.
In 2016, New Mexico reportedly had 167 gonorrhea cases per 100,000 people. The highest burden of disease was noticed in San Juan, Cibola, Curry, Bernalillo, and Roosevelt counties, whereas the lowest rate was in Doña Ana County with 117 cases/100,000 people. Nationally, there were over 490 chlamydia cases per 100,000 people in 2016. However, in New Mexico, the number was significantly higher for the same size population (629 cases).
Whether it is an STI or STD, both can have a dramatic adverse impact on the health of people of all ages. However, the rising number of cases among older Americans is a cause of great concern. That's because, at this age, people are most vulnerable to serious and deadly illnesses like cancer and heart disease.
In 2005, about 5% of female and 12% of male high school students reportedly have had sexual intercourse before turning 13 compared to the national statistics of 9% male and 4% female high school students. In the same year, 16% of male and 11% of female high schoolers have had four or more sexual partners, while the national rate was 17% males and 12% females. The data indicates that the need to inform the youth about safe sex practices and maintain sexual health is higher. Sexual health education (sex-ed) is the key to achieve this.
There are two kinds of sex-ed options in the USA: abstinence-only programs and comprehensive sex-ed programs. The federal government funds both the programs while state legislatures have to decide what type of sex-ed they intend to provide. Out of 50 US states, 37 require sex-ed to be taught, and 26 of them favor abstinence-only sex-ed. New Mexico does not make it compulsory to offer sex-ed at all. Ironically, New Mexico has one of the country’s highest teen pregnancy rates.
In schools where sex-ed is
offered, abstinence is highlighted as the ideal form of preventing pregnancy,
and unregulated information is provided. States offering comprehensive sex-ed
programs have observed a decline in teen pregnancy rates. However, New Mexico
still does not mandate that schools are required to provide sex-ed. On the
other hand, the state mandates that schools offer AIDS-related instructions and
associated issues described in the Comprehensive Health Education Program. But
the state has imposed a condition that the instructions should stress abstinence.
The expected outcomes of such instructions include the development of refusal
skills, decision-making skills, and the ability to overcome peer pressure.
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!
