Vermont boasts the lowest rates of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in the U.S. The most common STDs in the state include chlamydia, syphilis, and gonorrhea.
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Do you know what STDs are? These are basically germs that can quickly spread from person to person via sexual or skin-to-skin contact. Viruses can cause these infections, for instance, HIV, or bacteria, e.g., chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis. Or else, STDs could be caused by parasites, e.g., trichomoniasis. No matter what kind of STD or infection you have contracted, it will make you vulnerable to a host of other life-threatening ailments and can impact your fertility.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that around 20 million new STDs infections are reported annually. A majority of these cases are identified among people aged 15 to 24. That's not a healthy trend because it can have long-lasting, adverse health consequences for the individual.
In America, two of the most commonly reported infectious diseases are chlamydia and gonorrhea. Both pose a considerable risk to male/female reproductive health and cause infertility/impotence if left untreated. So, testing is the only way to detect and treat STIs (sexually transmitted infections) before these turn into diseases and lead to other more chronic infections.
STDs are treatable infections, but the problem is that most of them are asymptomatic, which means the infected individual doesn't get any symptoms until the disease has done considerable damage. You can consider them the silent killers. That's why the CDC recommends that every sexually active individual should undergo STDs screening regularly to remain aware of their sexual health status. They should also encourage their partners to get tested to enjoy a healthy and happy life.
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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 Vermont. 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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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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Vermont STD Data
The Vermont Health Department continuously monitors reportable bacterial infections, including chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis. The department is responsible for providing support services to Vermonters, mainly assisting newly diagnosed individuals to understand their condition and treatment demands better. Moreover, the department notifies sex partners of those diagnosed with an STD on a free and voluntary basis. Furthermore, the Vermont Health Department links the patients' partners to STD testing and treatment.
Vermont's HIV/STD/Hepatitis Program funds and supports different programs designed to help people at risk for STDs. Through this initiative, the state intends to spread awareness among people regarding how to protect themselves against STDs and prevent their spread.
In addition to this, the program ensures at-risk communities can access STD testing and helps infected individuals adhere to treatment options that reduce infection symptoms and the risk of transmission and improve their overall health. The team achieves these tasks by collaborating with medical services providers across the state to ensure they offer appropriate STDs testing facilities and deliver the best possible treatment to patients diagnosed with STDs.
Another important initiative is started by the CDC. The organization offers funding to the Vermont State Health Department to implement initiatives geared towards reducing STDs prevalence in the state via advanced control measures. CDC's focus is on encouraging scalable, high-impact, sustainable, and cost-effective STDs prevention solutions.
The Health Vermont by the government of Vermont has specialized programs for the treatment and care of HIV patients. The Health Department of Vermont has partnered with CDC and Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to facilitate the HIV patients in the state. The program offers primary medical care and support facilities like case management, medical nutrition therapy, and outpatient ambulatory care.
AIDS Project, Southern Vermont is another initiative to reduce the newly diagnosed cases of HIV and improve the quality of life for people living with HIV in Vermont. The project offers both preventive services as well as services for people already diagnosed. For HIV patients, this project offers case management services, healthy living food programs, financial assistance, and access to health insurance for uninsured or underinsured patients.
The University of Vermont Medical Center has four comprehensive care clinics in different locations of the state. These clinics across the state offer services like free HIV testing, prevention counseling, confidential services, and state-of-the-art medical care facilities.
Reportedly, Vermont has the second-to-lowest or lowest most rates of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and primary/secondary syphilis in the country as per the 2019 statistics. However, Vermont has been observing a surprising spike in the rates of infectious diseases, particularly the three common STDs, according to the Vermont Department of Health.
In 2008, the state recorded 34 gonorrhea cases, and in 2018 the number increased to 274. A similar trend was noticed in chlamydial infections as from 954 cases in 2006, the state's infection rate crossed 2,000 by 2018.
In fact, the state's number of chlamydia cases jumped from 1,690 cases in 2016 to over 1,850 cases in 2017. What's most concerning is that these numbers only indicate confirmed cases, which means an individual went to get screened and received a positive result. These numbers do not include people unaware of their sexual health status and haven't gotten tested for STDs yet.
According to the state's health department, the overall national rates of STDs also do not provide a clear picture as these are only one-fifth of the total cases out there. So, while Vermont's number has remained steady at 2,000 infections, the situation could be much worse, and the actual number of cases may exceed 10,000.
In 2018, the state's population-adjusted chlamydia infection rate was 297.5, which was indeed low enough for the state to appear at number 49 among the 50 U.S. states. It was -43% lower than the overall U.S. rate.
Still, Vermont's chlamydia rates are higher than West Virginia, the state that came at number 50. Over the past six years, Vermont's chlamydia rate has been increasing. Today, it is 8% higher than the rate reported in 2012 but way lower than the number of cases in 2014 and 2015 when the state reported 357 and 303 chlamydia cases, respectively.
Concerning gonorrhea prevalence, the state boasts the single lowest rate in the 50 U.S. states with just 32.5 cases/100,000 population. This is -81% lower than the overall national gonorrhea rates and -90% lower than the topmost affected state Mississippi.
But, the fact cannot be ignored that rates of gonorrhea infection have been rising since 2015 and doubled between 2012 and 2017. In 2012 and 2013, the state reported over 15 cases/100,000 people, and in 2014, there were over 13 cases/100,000 people. The state witnessed a sharp rise in 2015, with 24.8 gonorrheal infections reported per 100,000 people, followed by 20.1 cases in 2016 and 32.5 cases in 2017.
In Vermont, the number of primary/secondary syphilis cases has remained relatively low, with 2.1 cases reported per 100,000 people. That's the 2nd lowest rate in the USA and well below the national rate (-78%). It is around -90% lower than Nevada's syphilis infection rate. It is important to note that Nevada is the national leader in syphilis infection.
However, in the past few years, syphilis rates have increased in Vermont. The state has recorded a whopping 110% increase between 2012 and 2018. Where Vermont reported just one primary/secondary syphilis case per 100,000 people in 2012, by 2017, this increased to 2.1 cases/100,000 people.
Considering data from Vermont Health Department, health care centers across the states have been receiving HIV-positive patients, anywhere between 500 to 600, 70 % of whom haven’t been previously diagnosed. This has been a cause of particular concern for the health authorities as the numbers are slightly noticeable considering the state's small population.
According to the HIV Surveillance report,2014 by the Vermont Department of Health, a total of 665 adults and adolescents were known to be living with HIV/AIDS in the state. The rate of HIV-positive patients per 100,000 population was 106. Of the people living with HIV, 60%ofthe people lived in Vermont at the time of their diagnosis.
In the State health profile by CDC, 2015, the total number of new diagnoses in the state was 11, making Vermont rank at 50th of the 50 U.S. states. Considering the data from 2017, the total number of people living with HIV in Vermont was 678, with 18 cases reported during the same year. There was an 83% viral suppression among the people living with HIV in Vermont, and 43% of the newly diagnosed cases were those of gay or bisexual men. AIDSVu data, 2018, shows that during 2018 18 people were newly diagnosed with HIV/AIDS making the total number of people living with HIV in Vermont to 711.
In Vermont, there has been an unprecedented increase in STI diagnoses among people between 60 and 70s. This means people falling under this age group have responded to the statewide campaigns for people to get tested for STDs, whether they have symptoms or not.
It is worth noting that the overall STDs incidence is relatively low in Vermont, and the data regarding ethnic disparities in STDs is scarce. But, as per the CDC, the state has seen improvement in cases of congenital syphilis over the years as there were no reported cases between 2011 and 2015. This indicates more pregnant females are getting tested for syphilis and getting appropriate treatment before giving birth.
Burlington metro area is the worst affected region in Vermont as far as chlamydia infection rates are concerned since 2 in 5 cases were reported here between 2017-2018. On the other hand, the Claremont-Lebanon area, which includes New Hampshire counties, accounted for 13% of all chlamydia cases reported in Vermont. Washington country reported 365 cases, Chittenden country reported 359 cases, and Orange country reported 325 cases per 100,000 people in 2017-2018.
In Vermont, Burlington accounted for over half of all gonorrhea cases in 2017. Chittenden reported the most cases (34), followed by Grand Isle with 29 cases, and Franklin county reported over 26 cases in 2017.
Regarding primary and secondary syphilis, one out of three cases were diagnosed in the Burlington area, whereas Claremont-Lebanon has 22% of all cases.
The disparities in the state's chlamydia rates between white women and women of color are significant since, in 2017, the rate of STD infection among black women was at least five times higher than that of white women. The highest rates of chlamydia were reported among people aged 20-24, and young females within this age group make up around half of all reported cases in Vermont.
Data from the AIDSVu report indicates that in 2018 there were a total of 711 people living with HIV in Vermont. The numbers according to the HIV surveillance report were 665 in 2014. The numbers have risen slowly, which is mainly a cause of concern. The total number of new diagnoses in 2018 was 18, and the new diagnosis rate per 100,000 was 3.
The rate of HIV per 100,000 in 2018 was 130. Out of the total people living with HIV, 81.4% were males, and 18.6% were females. 73.8% of the people living with HIV in Vermont were white Americans, 10.1% were Black or African Americans, and 8.9% were Hispanic or Latino.
46% of the people living with HIV were aged 55 and above, 28.7% belonged to the age group 45 to 54 years, and 14.5% were 35 to 44 years. Of the total numbers, 7.6% were 25 to 35 years, and 3.2% were between 13 to 24 years.
According to the reports from AIDSVu, the total number of HIV-related mortalities in Vermont during 2018 was 11. The rate of HIV-related death per 100,000 population was 2. Considering the modes of transmission, the same report indicates that 72.5% of the males contracted HIV through male to male sexual contact, 5.9% of males having HIV contracted the virus from heterosexual contact, while 8.5% transmission of the virus in male categories was due to contaminated injection use. The most popular transmission mode in females was heterosexual contact (61.7%), and 33.8% of the HIV transmission was due to contaminated injection use.
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!
