Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis are on the rise in the US state of South Dakota. In fact, the STD rates have reached near historic numbers in the state, and prevention efforts by the South Dakota Department of Health haven’t been able to reverse this trend of rising STD rates statewide.
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STDs are personal health issues and a cause of grave concern among public health officials in South Dakota. Chlamydia and gonorrhea rates in Minnehaha County are the highest in the entire state.
It is worth noting that according to the state health department, STDs are the most commonly reported infectious diseases in this state, and the cases are showing an unprecedented rise of late. Reportedly, gonorrhea rates have increased five times over the past decade. In contrast, chlamydia rates have doubled since 2003, and the syphilis rate has recorded a ten-fold increase over the last decade. In 2015, South Dakota ranked 19th in gonorrhea rates, 22nd in chlamydia rates, and 27th in syphilis among the 50 US states.
Another issue of concern for the health department is the sudden rise in the cases of congenital syphilis. The department has been channeling efforts to address this issue and helped treat around 75% of the cases it discovered in 2019.
As per the state’s STD surveillance report 2015-2016, more than 60% of South Dakota’s male syphilis cases were due to male-to-male sexual contact, and 37% of high schoolers were identified to be at risk of contracting STDs.
Prevention efforts include regular screening, monogamy, abstinence, and condoms. STD prevention and treatment are possible if only you choose to get yourself checked for an STI (sexually transmitted infection) and seek treatment immediately if tested positive. STDs are generally asymptomatic and don’t show any symptoms until they have progressed to advanced stages when there’s no turning back. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), testing is essential for high-risk groups of the population, including those less than 25 years of age, men who have sex with men (MSM), and women of childbearing age.
640 E Sioux Ave, Pierre, South Dakota 57501
35.01 mile
Tel: 6059455560
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1323 BIA Rte 4, Fort Thompson, South Dakota 57339
24 mile
Tel: (605) 245-1500
Tel: (605) 245-2384
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125 SD Hwy 249, Fort Thompson, South Dakota 57339
25.58 mile
Tel: (605) 245-2700
Tel: (866) 423-6811
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1714 Abbey Rd, Pierre, South Dakota 57501
35.27 mile
Tel: (605) 224-8841
Tel: (605) 224-6852
Appointment Required: Yes
245 S Main St, Winner, South Dakota 57580
41.16 mile
Tel: (605) 842-7166
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 South Dakota. 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 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.
It is recommended to get tested for STDs if you have had unprotected sexual contact, multiple sexual partners, or if you are experiencing symptoms associated with STDs. Additionally, regular testing is recommended as part of routine sexual health care, even in the absence of symptoms, especially for individuals who are sexually active.
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.
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.
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.
Test Advisor
Get informed about the different STD testing options and the prices for each test.
South Dakota STD Data
South Dakota infection rates are rapidly rising. Despite state and local efforts, STD cases sharply rose in the first three months of 2018. However, the state has been recording high rates of STDs for the past ten years. According to the state’s 2015-2016 STD surveillance report, the number of gonorrhea cases rose from 1,055 in 2015 to 1,269 in 2016, chlamydia cases increased from 3,877 in 2015 to 4,331 in 2016, while syphilis recorded a drop from 48 cases in 2015 to 40 cases in 2016.
Chlamydia is currently the most frequently reported infectious disease in South Dakota, but this is also not a novel discovery as chlamydia’s historical trend has been upward in this state. During 2012-2016 all 66 counties of South Dakota reported chlamydia cases. The number of chlamydia cases ranged from 1,313 in 1995 to 4,331 in 2016, marking a whopping 230% rise over a 22-year period.
Since 1974, South Dakota has observed a rise in gonorrhea cases, with 2,254 cases reported that year. During the 1990s, there was a sharp decline in gonorrhea rates, with fewer than 200 cases reported annually throughout the decade. In 2006, South Dakota had the country’s 39th highest gonorrhea rate, with 47.3 cases diagnosed per 100,000 people. However, by 2015, this number increased significantly, and the state was ranked 19th. By 2016, the state’s gonorrhea prevalence rate almost tripled to 147.1 cases diagnosed per 100,000 people, the highest in 35 years.
South Dakota has observed a resurgence in syphilis cases, which reached a peak in 2014 with 76 early syphilis cases and three congenital syphilis cases reported in a year. Between 2012 and 2016, the state’s overall syphilis case count was five congenital, over 130 primary, 85 secondary, 51 early-latent, and 72 late-latent syphilis cases. In 2011, the state reported the lowest primary/secondary syphilis rate in the US, with zero cases reported. However, South Dakota’s syphilis count showed a dramatic increase in 2014, with the state touching 14th highest rate with 6.3 cases identified per 100,000 people.
In November 2021, there were 511 cases of syphilis reported in South Dakota, which is over ten times higher compared to statistics from the past three years and 1,011% higher than the average year-to-date five-year average of 46. Chlamydia and gonorrhea cases are rising as well, but not as much as syphilis.
The state health profile, formulated by the Centers For Diseases and Control, CDC in 2015 indicates that the total number of newly diagnosed cases of HIV in South Dakota was 23. The numbers are a lot less than the numbers from the other states; therefore, South Dakota has been ranked as 45th among the 50 U.S states based on the numbers of HIV.
South Dakota HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report, 2017 has shown that newly diagnosed cases have faced an upward trend. The total number of newly diagnosed cases in South Dakota in 2017 was 47, almost double the number in 2015. According to the same data, 594 people were living with HIV in the state by 2017, the majority of which were Black Americans.
According to another report by AIDSVu, in 2019, 652 people were living with HIV in the state. The number of new diagnoses during the same year was 33, which is reduced compared to two years ago. The virus disproportionately affects certain racial and ethnic groups such as Black Americans and Gay or Bisexual males, and transgender females.
In South Dakota, STDs are widely prevalent across all age spectrums. Between 2012 and 2016, as per the state’s health department’s STD surveillance report, four chlamydia cases were diagnosed in children aged ten or below. More cases were identified in people aged between 60 and 70 years than before, perhaps because this age group has reported a sharp increase in the use of medications for sexual activity.
Regarding gonorrhea, the peak age was 22 years between 2012-2016, and females accounted for almost 61% of all cases in the state. The median age of infected females was 24 years, and the median male age was 26 years. On the other hand, females reportedly accounted for over 70% of all chlamydia cases in South Dakota during this period. The peak age for chlamydial infection was 19 years for females, with the median age being 21 years. The media male case age was 23 years for chlamydia.
It is worth noting that South Dakota reported the 45th lowest male-to-female chlamydia incidence rate in the country between 2012 and 2016. However, American Indians accounted for 40.5% of all chlamydia cases in the state, followed by over 39% for whites and 4.8% for blacks.
In fact, the state’s American Indian chlamydia rate of 2,130 cases/100,000 people was the second-highest in the USA. Between 2012 and 2015, American Indians accounted for 62% of all gonorrhea cases, 24.6% of cases were diagnosed in whites, and 9.9% in blacks. In 2015, South Dakota’s American Indian gonorrhea prevalence rate was highest in the USA with 827 cases/100,000 people compared to the national American Indian gonorrhea cases rate of 179 cases/100,000 population.
Unlike chlamydia and gonorrhea, males in South Dakota accounted for the majority (67.1%) of primary/secondary syphilis cases during 2012-2015. The peak infection age for syphilis was 22 years. the media male age was identified as 33 years and medial female age was 28 years. At least 49% of cases were identified in American Indians, over 41% in whites, and 5.7% in Blacks.
According to a report by AIDSVu, the total number of people living with HIV in South Dakota in 2019 was 652. The rate of people living with HIV per 100,000 population in 2019 was 90. Of the total people living with HIV in the state, 70.9 % were male residents of South Dakota, while 29.1 % were female individuals.
Considering the data from the same report, the total number of newly diagnosed cases of HIV in the state in 2019 was 33. The rate of new diagnosis per 100,000 populations was 5. Of the total number of people living with HIV in the state, 49.2% were White Americans, 22.7% were Black or African Americans, and 9.0% belonged to Hispanic or Latin backgrounds.
The report from AIDSVu also shows that 34.4 % of the HIV positive people were 55 years of age or above. 26.2% of the total people living with HIV were between the ages of 45 to 54 years, 25.0% were 35 to 44 years, and 12 % and 2.5% belonged to the age groups of 25 to 3 years and 13 to 24 years, respectively.
The same report also indicates that the total number of HIV related mortalities in South Dakota in 2019 was 9, while the rate of HIV related death per 100,000 population in the state was calculated to be 1. Of the total mortalities, 77.8% were males, while 22.2% were females.
Considering the modes of transmission of the virus, the most popular mode of transmission of HIV in male residents of South Dakota was male to male or gay sexual contact accounting for 58.4% of the total spread. 16.5% of the males contracted the disease from heterosexual contact, while 10.4% of the individuals reported transmission of the virus through contaminated injection or syringe use. In females, most individuals contracted the virus through heterosexual contact, 76.8%, while 20 % of the females acquired the virus through injection or contaminated syringe use mostly for drugs.
The South Dakota Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Control Program is designed to prevent and reduce the incidence of STDs, including chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and HIV. Through this program, statewide consultation and technical support are provided along with advanced screening and surveillance services.
Moreover, the program provides partner services, health care provider education, partner notification service for reportable STDs, and case management facilities. STD intervention, control, and prevention are ensured through a cooperative effort involving private physicians, local/state health department personnel, other health care providers, and community members at large. The Disease Intervention Specialist or DIS is a crucial player in this regard.
The South Dakota HIV/AIDS Prevention Program is initiated with the primary goal and ambition of achieving the National HIV/AIDS Strategy, which entails curbing the rise of all common STDs. This program aims to reduce the number of people infected with STIs, increase access to care, improve health outcomes for people living with HIV or other STDs, and reduce prevailing health-related disparities.
The South Dakota Ryan White Part B CARE Program offers support to DIS and partner services of the South Dakota Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Control Program. An annual federal grant funds it with the sole purpose of assisting STD infected, low-income individuals so that they could fulfil their health care needs.
South Dakota offers free STD testing facilities at designated STD clinics throughout the state. Every county has twelve public clinics and three private clinics. Free testing for herpes, gonorrhea, chlamydia, HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis is offered at these clinics. Same day testing facility is offered with results delivered within 48 hours.
South Dakota Department of Health has a prevention planning initiative that involves several organizations and members of the community to design a state prevention plan for HIV. The prevention plan involves taking on board members of all communities, rural and urban residents, women at risk, people living with HIV, African Americans, Native Americans, injection drug users, people with disabilities, substance abusers, and youth to define a comprehensive course of action.
Heartland Health Resource Centers Services provides HIV/AIDS-related services to people living with the disease. The organization provides individual and family therapy services to HIV positive clients, HIV testing and diagnostic services, and financial assistance programs to uninsured or underinsured individuals. Other services such a case management and transportation to and from the doctor's clinics.
The City of Sioux Falls origination is working using the federal guidelines to support people living with HIV in the state, both medically and non-medically. The organization uses funds from the Ryan White Part B program to help HIV positive individuals in the state.
The program helps individuals with HIV/AIDS find services they need, such as medical care, health insurance assistance, Financial assistance medications, food/nutritional assistance, housing, health services, transportation, and other types of services.
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!
