Wyoming is not among the worst affected US states regarding the prevalence of common, reportable sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including chlamydia, syphilis, and gonorrhea. The state has the 6th-lowest chlamydia rate with 374.4 cases/100,000 people, the 4th-lowest gonorrhea rate with 53.7 cases/100,000 people, and the 8th-lowest primary/secondary syphilis rate with 4 cases/100,000 population in 2018-2019.
Board Approved
Medically reviewed by one or more members of the editorial boardExplore Nearby Options
STDs are comparatively common infections that anyone can contract regardless of their age. These infections are transmitted through numerous ways, such as via sexual intercourse, skin to skin contact, and blood transfusion. STDs are caused by bacteria, viruses, or parasites and can be spread through vaginal, oral, or oral sex. Most STDs are asymptomatic, so infected individuals may not show any symptoms. Around 75% of women and 50% of men infected with chlamydia or gonorrhea won't show any symptoms.
That's one of the main reasons why the STDs rates are on the rise in America, particularly the previously safe states like Wyoming. People are unaware of their condition and continue spreading the infection to their partners. Untreated STDs can lead to devastating, lifelong health problems, including male/female infertility and congenital disabilities in unborn babies. According to CDC estimates, nearly 20 million new STD infections are reported each year, and this drastic rise is because people consider testing for STDs an unnecessary procedure.
The only way to check your sexual health and STDs is through regular testing/screening. Wyoming offers hordes of STDs testing facilities, so make sure you make it a mandatory part of your annual health inspection if you are sexually active.
940 E 3rd St, Ste 101, Casper, Wyoming 82601
51.88 mile
Tel: 3075774285
Today's best offer is: $10 off any order. Discount will be applied automatically.
Services for homeless living in a shelter, transitional housing, half-way house, treatment program, street or car.
1514 E 12th St, Ste 201, Casper, Wyoming 82601
52.01 mile
Tel: (307) 235-6116
Appointment Required: No
Free hepatitis B and C screening for qualifying high risk individuals with an HIV test. Free hepatitis A and B vaccines for qualifying individuals. Free condoms available.
475 S Spruce St, Casper, Wyoming 82601
52.01 mile
Tel: (307) 235-9340
Tel: (307) 237-2036
Appointment Required: Yes
1522 E A St, Casper, Wyoming 82601
52.01 mile
Tel: (307) 234-6161
Appointment Required: Yes
5840 E 2nd St, Ste 200, Casper, Wyoming 82609
52.01 mile
Tel: (307) 315-6133
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 Wyoming. 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.
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.
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.
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.
Test Advisor
Get informed about the different STD testing options and the prices for each test.
Wyoming STD Data
Since 2015 Wyoming has been reporting higher rates of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis than reports from the previous years, according to recent data released by the State Department of Health. According to the report, there is a considerable rise in the number of cases of all notable STDs and young people aged 15 to 24 account for most of the infections. This is an alarming trend because an increase in STDs will cause a sharp rise in other infections such as HIV because untreated STDs expose people to HIV.
Wyoming is following the overall national trend, as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding increasing STD rates. Reportedly, Wyoming's number of STDs cases rose by 36% from 2017 and 2018. The largest rise was noted in gonorrhea cases that recorded a 529% increase between 2013 and 2018. On the whole, chlamydia was identified as the state's most frequently diagnosed notifiable communicable disease. In 2018, the state Department of Health reported that gonorrhea rates rose 50% between 2016 and 2017, the highest increment in the past five years.
Natrona County was the most badly impacted region in the state as there were 415 chlamydia cases and 76 gonorrhea cases reported in 2017, whereas in 2016, the state reported 326 chlamydia and 70 gonorrhea cases. Overall, there were 44 reported gonorrhea cases in Wyoming in 2012, while the number of cases crossed 400 in 2017. Natrona Country tops the list of rapidly rising STDs cases in the state, probably due to a more transient population in this area and a high prevalence of illegal drug use.
Compared to the state's gonorrhea infection rates back in 2014, the current rates were 1.5 times higher in 2015 and chlamydia rates increased by 3% during this period, stated the State Department of Health. Apart from Natrona, another county with the highest infection rate was Laramie, Fremont, Albany, Campbell, and Carbon counties. In 2018-2019, the state reported 1,788 chlamydia cases, 12 syphilis cases, and 197 gonorrhea cases.
As the name suggests, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a virus that generally spreads through sexual contact, blood transfusion, and breast milk. If an individual contracts HIV, it will remain in the body for life.
The virus attacks the body's immune system, so it becomes for your body to combat infections. If left untreated, the virus can take an advanced form called AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome). This is the last stage of the infection. There's no cure for HIV, but it is possible to manage the infection and live a healthy, happy, and long life through advanced treatment options.
Between 2014 and 2018, nearly 74 new HIV cases were reported in Wyoming, out of which the rate of newly diagnosed infection significantly increased in 2017 and 2018. Out of the 74 reported HIV cases, nearly 30% or 22 cases were reported when the infection had reached Stage 3. That's when AIDS develops in the body. This indicates that almost a third of the total new diagnoses made during this period were late testers.
It is important to get regularly screened for the prevalence of HIV/AIDS because late testing often results in missed opportunities for HIV treatment and prevention of its spreading to other uninfected individuals. But the first line of action is to get tested because that's the only way to identify whether you are infected or not.
According to Wyoming state HIV profile 2009-2010, the estimated reported AIDs cases in 2010 were 282, and the estimated number of people living with HIV in the state was 112.
By 31 December 2018, the number of people living with HIV increased to 332. Of those 332 cases, males accounted for around 80% of cases, and more than half of HIV-infected individuals were classified as HIV Stage 3 patients (52%). Reportedly, men who have sex with men (MSM) reported the greatest number of cases among males with 63%, followed by those who were MSM and injected drugs with 15% of all cases in Wyoming. Heterosexual sex was identified as the most common risk factor among females with a 48% prevalence rate.
In Wyoming, Natrona County accounted for the largest number of new HIV diagnoses from 2014 to 2018 (23%). The second most affected region in the state was Laramie County (21%), while Campbell County ranked third in the overall new diagnoses rate with 10% of all reported cases.
It must be noted that as many as 9 Wyoming counties didn't report any new HIV cases between 2014 and 2018, while the infection rate was highest in Goshen County during this period with 8.9 cases per 100,000 people, reflecting the fact that the county houses the Wyoming Department of Corrections intake facility. This department conducts testing on all new inmates.
Teton County recorded the second-highest infection rate with just 7.5 cases/100,000 population, followed by Natrona and Hot Springs counties, as each reported more than four cases/100,000 people.
Wyoming's KnoWyo program is one of the key initiatives from the government to offer low-cost or free STD testing facilities to at-risk populations and low-income groups. Another important feature of this program is distributing free condoms to ensure protection is available to people across the state. It was launched after the CDC partnered with the Wyoming Department of Health. KnoWyo offers free vouchers for no-cost STD, HIV, and Hepatitis screening to Wyoming residents statewide.
The Patient Reporting Investigation Surveillance Manager (PRISM) is another initiative from the State of Wyoming, Department of Health, Public Health Division, Public Health Sciences Section, Communicable Disease Unit. It is an infectious disease data and case management system used for statewide reporting/case management/follow-up of communicable STDs, Viral Hepatitis, including HCV and HBC throughout the state. It also performs surveillance of HIV testing in healthcare clinics and allows providers/clinical staff to submit their disease reports and patient data into a secure data system immediately. This cuts down on reporting time and paperwork and offers a technologically advanced and confidential platform to report surveillance data.
It is important to note that Wyoming doesn't make HIV/AIDS or sexually transmitted disease (STD)-prevention education necessary for students. It also doesn't limit what can be taught if an institution decides to offer this education. Schools are required to offer developmentally appropriate sexuality education concepts and health education programs.
The benchmarks are included in the Wyoming Health Content and Performance Standards, but the state doesn't recommend a particular Sex-ed curriculum. School districts can organize a healthy advisory council comprising educators, parents, administrators, students, minority groups representatives, medical professionals, and other community members to develop policies and approve a Sex-ed curriculum.
In Wyoming, the Communicable Disease Unit is responsible for assessing and investigating HIV/AIDS cases annually. The unit focuses explicitly on identifying out-of-care patients and re-engages them to get assistance and treatment. The HIV Care Continuum was created after the unit completed an investigation in 2018. It is important to note that Wyoming has a high percentage of out-of-care cases. With the state's efforts, almost 91% of those retained in care reported a suppressed viral load in 2018.
The Wyoming Department of Health's Communicable Disease Treatment Program is a great initiative that offers people living with HIV/AIDS access to comprehensive supportive services, including health care. The program serves as a last resort for under-insured, uninsured, and low-income people living with HIV who don't have access to medical treatment.
The United States Department of Health and Human Services, the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, and Health Resources Services Administration are three federal entities responsible for providing grants for Wyoming's statewide HIV/AIDS prevention initiatives.
The state's HIV/AIDS prevention programs offer miscellaneous services to infected individuals, including testing and diagnostics, medical care, medications, case management services, etc.
The Wyoming AIDS Education and Training Center (WyAETC) has collaborated with the Casper-Natrona County Health Department to educate health providers about HIV infection and how to deal with it. It tackles a broad range of issues faced by people living with HIV, from diagnosis to treatment and psychological issues. The Casper-Natrona County Health Department has funded this program since 2007, and regular updates are provided to the Wyoming Department of Health Communicable Diseases Program.
As strange as it may sound, in Wyoming, females account for the largest share of reported chlamydia infections, revealed Wyoming state's STDs combined profile. This trend continued from 2013 to 2017. in 2017, around 65% of all chlamydia cases were diagnosed among females. And, the highest percentage was in females aged 15-24 years that had twice the infection rate than 25-34-year-olds.
As per the data released by the state's Communicable Disease Program, gonorrhea outbreaks reached an alarmingly high rate in several counties during the past five years, including Natrona, Laramie, Campbell, and Fremont counties. The gonorrhea rate comparatively increased fivefold, with 11.5/100,000 people in 2013 to close to 72/100,000 people in 2017. However, this rate is still lower than the overall national rate of gonorrhea infection.
The most common risk factors were identified to be a decline in condom usage, anonymous and multiple partners, and injecting drugs. Gonorrhea transmission occurred most frequently among females as in 2017, the rates were higher in females aged 15-24, particularly among those with heterosexual sex. The next high-risk age group was 25-34-year-olds.
Syphilis rates are on the whole low in Wyoming. Men who have sex with men, HIV-positive individuals, pregnant ladies, and symptomatic individuals were declared the most at-risk population in the state. Around 47 cases of primary/secondary/early-latent syphilis and 35 cases of late-latent syphilis were reported in Wyoming during 2013-2014.
Wyoming's teen birth rate ranked 16th in the US, with 49.2 births per 1000 females aged 15-19. The national rate was 49.2 births per 1000 15-19-year-olds back in 2017-18. in 2008, 648 live births were reported among the same age group females in the state. Back then, Wyoming's teen pregnancy rate was 24th in the USA, with 65 pregnancies per 1000 females aged 15-19.
Wyoming state has a relatively low number of HIV/AIDS cases on the whole, but the fact cannot be ignored that more minorities are affected by the virus. As per the 2018 statistics from AIDSVu, close to 80% of all HIV diagnoses were reported among males, while females accounted for 21.3% of all new cases in Wyoming. This corroborates with the national trend among the HIV-related gender variation prevailing nationwide.
Ethnicity-wise, the White population accounted for the highest number of HIV cases in Wyoming with over 68% of all cases, followed by Hispanic/Latinx with over 17% cases. African-Americans reported nearly 6.3% of all HIV diagnoses in 2018.
Age-wise, the most impacted group of the population was people aged 55 or above as this group reported close to 34% of all HIV cases, followed by the 45-54 age group with 25.9% and the third most affected group was 35-44 with 21% of all cases. The least impacted group was 13-24, with 2.9% of all infections, and people between ages 25-34 accounted for 17% of all HIV cases in Wyoming.
White males aged between 25 and 34 years were the most affected population in 2018, while most new HIV infections were diagnosed among non-Hispanic Whites at 91%. The average infection rate among non-Hispanic blacks from 2014-2018 was 27.6%, higher than any other race/ethnicity in the state. However, during 2016-2018, there weren't any cases reported among non-Hispanic blacks.
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!
