Louisiana Leads Country in States Where You’re Likely to Contract an STD

(KTDY) - Louisiana ranks at the top of a list that we would rather be on the bottom of.

We know that the state of Louisiana likes to party, but our partying is getting some in trouble, and putting many at risk.

A new study has revealed that people in the south are most likely to contract an STD, more so than others, and Louisiana ranks as the number one state in the country when it comes to people contracting sexually transmitted diseases.

STDs you're most likely to catch in the "Bayou State" include chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and HIV. Per the study, Louisiana suffered 1,200 STD cases per 100,000 residents, making it the state most stricken by diseases that spread through sex, skin-to-skin contact, and from mother to child during birth.

The most common STD in America is chlamydia, and sadly, in Louisiana, we have the highest rate of cases, with 1.6 million citizens contracting the virus each year..

If you're wondering which state came in second when it comes to STD cases, that would be our neighbors to the east of us, Mississippi. Alaska was third.

Experts say poor medical infrastructure and substance abuse cases in the above states are contributing factors to the high rates of STDs in each state.

Now, let's look at the states with the lowest rates for STDs, specifically the states that make up New England, with Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine falling to the bottom of the list.

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Researchers say in the study that education is key to lowering STD rates across the country, and that states with the highest rates often lack sex education in school, thus many are not aware of how to protect themselves or others during sexual intercourse.

Signs and Symptoms of Chlamydia

• Abnormal or foul-smelling vaginal discharge
• Pelvic pain
• Abdominal tenderness
• Pain during intercourse
• Irregular bleeding and fever

According to Invigor Medical's research, those between the ages of 13-24 are most likely to contract an STD, with females contracting most.

People between 25 and 35 years old come in second, and in that demographic, it's mostly males who are infected.

Parents are encouraged to talk to their kids about STDs and the dangers of them. Again, as mentioned earlier in the research, education is the key to protecting yourself and others, and if schools are educating teens, parents need to accept the role.

A conversation with your child can save your child's life.