STD Testing Maryland
Baltimore, Annapolis, Ocean City, Rockville, Fredrick, Montgomery & more …
STD Testing in Maryland: 2024 Data, County-by-County Rates & Where to Get Tested
Maryland reported 44,840 chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis diagnoses in 2024. Baltimore City, Prince George’s County, and several Eastern Shore counties carry the heaviest burden. Here’s what the Maryland Department of Health’s newest surveillance data shows, county by county, and how to get tested quickly and privately near you.
Jump to a section
Maryland's STI picture, in plain numbers
Maryland is home to about 6.26 million people, and in 2024 the state's local health departments and labs reported 44,840 diagnoses of chlamydia, gonorrhea, or syphilis — a rate of 715.9 per 100,000 residents. That's a genuinely encouraging 13.8% drop from 2023, and it follows the same third-straight-year national decline the CDC reported for 2024. But the one-year dip sits on top of a decade of growth: even after two consecutive years of decline, Maryland's combined chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis case count in 2024 is still roughly 27% higher than it was in 2015.
The burden isn't spread evenly. Baltimore City carries an STI diagnosis rate of 1,942 per 100,000 — nearly three times the statewide rate, and the highest of any Maryland jurisdiction by a wide margin. Prince George's County reports the largest raw case counts in the state (over 7,000 chlamydia diagnoses alone). And several small, rural Eastern Shore counties — Dorchester, Wicomico, Somerset — post per-capita rates that rival or exceed the state's big cities, a pattern that mirrors what's happening nationally in rural America.
The most urgent trendline in the data isn't chlamydia or gonorrhea — it's congenital syphilis. Maryland diagnosed 61 infants with congenital syphilis in 2024, up from just 18 in 2015, a 239% increase in a single decade. Each case is, by definition, preventable with timely prenatal screening and treatment. The state's own care-cascade data show why it keeps happening: of 176 congenital syphilis cases diagnosed between 2022 and 2024, fewer than one in three mothers received timely prenatal care, and only about one in eighteen received adequate, timely treatment before delivery.
Racial disparities run through nearly every condition tracked in this report. Non-Hispanic Black Marylanders are diagnosed with chlamydia at roughly six times the rate of white Marylanders, gonorrhea at roughly nine times the rate, and primary/secondary syphilis at roughly four times the rate — disparities that track closely with decades of documented gaps in healthcare access, insurance coverage, and structural racism rather than any difference in individual behavior.
A decade of Maryland STI trends: three distinct phases
Maryland's surveillance data breaks cleanly into three periods, and the shape is broadly consistent with what CDC has documented nationally.
Phase 1 · The pre-pandemic climb (2015–2019)
Every major bacterial STI climbed steadily through the back half of the 2010s. Chlamydia diagnoses rose from 27,450 in 2015 to a peak of 37,779 in 2019 (+37.6%). Gonorrhea nearly doubled, from 6,858 to 11,598 (+69.1%). Primary and secondary syphilis rose from 509 to 868 cases (+70.5%). The steepest single jump was in sexually acquired syphilis overall, which nearly doubled between 2017 and 2018 alone (1,256 → 2,507 diagnoses) as the state's syphilis resurgence, concentrated among men, accelerated.
Phase 2 · The pandemic disruption (2020–2021)
Chlamydia diagnoses fell 14.2% from 2019 to 2020 as screening access collapsed — the same pattern CDC documented nationally, reflecting closed clinics and deferred wellness visits rather than a true drop in infections. Notably, Maryland's gonorrhea and syphilis numbers didn't follow the same script: gonorrhea diagnoses actually rose slightly through 2020 (11,598 → 12,052), and primary/secondary syphilis held almost flat (868 → 873). Because these infections more often cause symptoms that drive someone to seek care even during a lockdown, their case counts likely tracked real transmission more closely than chlamydia's did. 2021 is a genuine data gap for Maryland: a network security incident during the state's surveillance-system migration left that year's numbers incomplete, so any 2020-to-2021 comparison should be read with real caution.
Phase 3 · Rebound, then a real decline (2022–2024)
As access to care normalized, diagnoses climbed back — gonorrhea hit a decade high of 12,802 cases in 2023, and congenital syphilis peaked the same year at 69 cases. Then 2024 brought the first broad-based decline across every tracked condition: chlamydia down 14.2%, gonorrhea down 14.1%, primary and secondary syphilis down 11.8%, and congenital syphilis down 11.6%. It's one year of data, and Maryland's own report is careful not to over-read a single-year drop, but it's the first time since the pandemic that every major indicator moved the same direction at once.
A useful way to read the recent decline
2024's numbers are still well above 2015 levels for every condition except congenital syphilis, which remains far above its 2015 baseline regardless of the recent dip. A one-year decline is genuinely good news, but it hasn't undone a decade of growth — and public health officials generally want to see two or three consecutive years of decline before calling a trend reversed.
Which Maryland counties have the highest STD rates?
STI diagnoses cluster heavily around Baltimore City and Prince George's County, but several small Eastern Shore jurisdictions post per-capita rates just as high once you adjust for population. Here are the five highest-rate jurisdictions in Maryland for combined chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis diagnoses in 2024.
Baltimore City Highest in MD
Population ~568,000. Baltimore City's rate is nearly 3x the statewide average across every condition tracked: chlamydia (1,170.6/100k), gonorrhea (570.9/100k), primary & secondary syphilis (45.8/100k), and a congenital syphilis rate of 404 per 100,000 live births — more than four times the state rate. The city is also a federally designated Ending the HIV Epidemic priority jurisdiction.
Dorchester County
Population ~33,000. A rural Eastern Shore county with the second-highest overall STI rate in the state, driven largely by chlamydia (769.5/100k) and gonorrhea (313.8/100k) — both well above the statewide averages, despite the county's small size and limited testing infrastructure.
Prince George's County
Population ~967,000. Maryland's largest raw case burden: 7,040 chlamydia diagnoses (22.9% of the entire state's total), 2,658 gonorrhea diagnoses, and 14 congenital syphilis cases — the second-most of any county after Baltimore City. See the neighboring Montgomery County trend for regional context.
Wicomico County
Population ~106,000. Home to Salisbury, the Lower Eastern Shore's largest city. Chlamydia rate of 799.4/100k is the second-highest of any Maryland jurisdiction, trailing only Baltimore City.
Charles County
Population ~174,000. Southern Maryland's largest jurisdiction by STI rate, with a chlamydia rate (577.2/100k) well above the state average and one of the higher gonorrhea rates in the state (184.6/100k).
Rural counties, real risk
It's tempting to assume STDs are a big-city problem, but Maryland's Eastern Shore tells a different story: Dorchester, Wicomico, and Somerset counties all post per-capita rates that rival or beat many suburban jurisdictions with ten times the population. Smaller counties often have fewer dedicated sexual health clinics, longer travel distances to testing, and more small-town stigma around getting tested — all of which can delay diagnosis and treatment.
STD rates by county: all 24 Maryland jurisdictions
Every county and Baltimore City, ranked by population, with 2024 diagnosis counts and rates per 100,000 residents (congenital syphilis is per 100,000 live births). Search your county below.
| County | Population | Chlamydia (rate) | Gonorrhea (rate) | P&S Syphilis (rate) | Congenital Syphilis (rate) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allegany | 67,097 | 185 (275.7) | 27 (40.2) | 4 (6.0) | 0 (0.0) |
| Anne Arundel | 602,350 | 2,043 (339.2) | 585 (97.1) | 48 (8.0) | 1 (15.3) |
| Baltimore City | 568,271 | 6,652 (1,170.6) | 3,244 (570.9) | 260 (45.8) | 28 (404.0) |
| Baltimore County | 852,425 | 4,027 (472.4) | 1,346 (157.9) | 114 (13.4) | 7 (79.1) |
| Calvert | 94,913 | 194 (204.4) | 32 (33.7) | 1 (1.1) | 0 (0.0) |
| Caroline | 34,248 | 135 (394.2) | 39 (113.9) | 2 (5.8) | 0 (0.0) |
| Carroll | 177,108 | 210 (118.6) | 44 (24.8) | 6 (3.4) | 0 (0.0) |
| Cecil | 106,305 | 256 (240.8) | 69 (64.9) | 4 (3.8) | 0 (0.0) |
| Charles | 174,478 | 1,007 (577.2) | 322 (184.6) | 16 (9.2) | 1 (57.8) |
| Dorchester | 33,138 | 255 (769.5) | 104 (313.8) | 1 (3.0) | 0 (0.0) |
| Frederick | 299,317 | 714 (238.5) | 199 (66.5) | 3 (1.0) | 0 (0.0) |
| Garrett | 28,393 | 45 (158.5) | 10 (35.2) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) |
| Harford | 265,514 | 725 (273.1) | 174 (65.5) | 22 (8.3) | 3 (114.2) |
| Howard | 339,668 | 1,032 (303.8) | 285 (83.9) | 23 (6.8) | 0 (0.0) |
| Kent | 19,557 | 54 (276.1) | 7 (35.8) | 2 (10.2) | 0 (0.0) |
| Montgomery | 1,082,273 | 3,863 (356.9) | 1,206 (111.4) | 99 (9.1) | 4 (36.7) |
| Prince George's | 966,629 | 7,040 (728.3) | 2,658 (275.0) | 111 (11.5) | 14 (132.3) |
| Queen Anne's | 53,688 | 80 (149.0) | 20 (37.3) | 1 (1.9) | 1 (179.2) |
| Saint Mary's | 116,469 | 331 (284.2) | 91 (78.1) | 2 (1.7) | 1 (75.9) |
| Somerset | 25,241 | 147 (582.4) | 34 (134.7) | 2 (7.9) | 0 (0.0) |
| Talbot | 38,244 | 106 (277.2) | 20 (52.3) | 3 (7.8) | 0 (0.0) |
| Washington | 157,228 | 646 (410.9) | 255 (162.2) | 32 (20.4) | 1 (62.9) |
| Wicomico | 106,329 | 850 (799.4) | 196 (184.3) | 16 (15.0) | 0 (0.0) |
| Worcester | 54,337 | 147 (270.5) | 34 (62.6) | 2 (3.7) | 0 (0.0) |
| Maryland total | 6,263,220 | 30,744 (490.9) | 11,001 (175.6) | 774 (12.4) | 61 (92.8) |
Chlamydia: Maryland's most common reportable STD
Chlamydia is caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis and remains, by a wide margin, the most frequently diagnosed STI in Maryland — 30,744 cases in 2024, more than 2.5 times the combined total of every other tracked infection. It's also easy to miss: most infections cause no symptoms at all, which is exactly why routine screening (not waiting for symptoms) matters.
Because chlamydia is silent in most people, untreated infections can persist for months and cause real harm: pelvic inflammatory disease and a higher risk of infertility or ectopic pregnancy in women, and epididymitis in men. It's also easily cured with a short course of antibiotics — which is exactly why the CDC recommends annual chlamydia screening for all sexually active women under 25, and for anyone with new or multiple partners.
Gonorrhea: Maryland's second most common STD, and a growing resistance concern
Gonorrhea, caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae, was diagnosed 11,001 times in Maryland in 2024, down 14.1% from 2023's decade-high of 12,802. Unlike chlamydia, gonorrhea more often causes noticeable symptoms — discharge, burning during urination — particularly in men, which is part of why its case trend tracked more closely with actual transmission through the pandemic.
A national concern worth watching locally
Gonorrhea has developed resistance to nearly every antibiotic class ever used against it, and CDC surveillance has flagged early signs of reduced susceptibility to ceftriaxone — currently the only recommended first-line treatment — in parts of the country. Maryland hasn't reported a local resistance crisis, but it's a reason providers increasingly stress test-of-cure follow-up and complete treatment courses rather than assuming a single dose resolves every case.
Syphilis in Maryland: two overlapping epidemics
Maryland recorded 3,095 total syphilis diagnoses in 2024 (all stages, including congenital), down 7.6% from 2023. Syphilis, caused by Treponema pallidum, moves through distinct stages — primary, secondary, latent, and late — and nearly half of Maryland's 2024 diagnoses (44.4%) were caught only at the late or unknown-duration stage, meaning the infection had likely gone unnoticed and untreated for a long time before diagnosis.
Primary & secondary syphilis (the infectious stages)
The male predominance in primary and secondary syphilis (79.3% of cases) reflects transmission concentrated substantially among men, consistent with national trends showing men who have sex with men bearing a disproportionate share of syphilis diagnoses. But a second, quieter epidemic runs alongside this one — rising syphilis among women of childbearing age — and that second epidemic is what's driving the congenital syphilis numbers covered next.
Congenital syphilis: Maryland's most preventable crisis
When a pregnant person has untreated syphilis, it can pass to the baby at any stage of pregnancy — causing stillbirth, infant death, or lifelong disability including blindness, deafness, and bone deformities. Every case is preventable with timely prenatal screening and treatment at least 30 days before delivery. Maryland diagnosed 61 congenital syphilis cases in 2024 — down from a peak of 69 in 2023, but still more than three times the 18 cases reported in 2015.
The care cascade: where prevention breaks down
Maryland's 2022–2024 congenital syphilis cascade data show exactly where the safety net fails. Of 176 total cases diagnosed over those three years:
Fewer than 6% of mothers whose babies were diagnosed with congenital syphilis received adequate, timely treatment during pregnancy — meaning the overwhelming majority of these cases trace back to a missed or delayed prenatal test, not a failure of the treatment itself (a single dose of penicillin is highly effective). Non-Hispanic Black infants bear the largest share of these cases: 52.5% of all congenital syphilis diagnoses, at a rate of 170.3 per 100,000 live births — 3.6 times the rate among white infants (46.9). Baltimore City's congenital syphilis rate, 404 per 100,000 live births, is more than four times the state average.
Pregnant, or planning to be?
A syphilis test is quick, confidential, and the single most effective way to prevent congenital syphilis. Don't wait for your next prenatal visit if it's weeks away.
Get Tested for STDs NowHIV in Maryland
Maryland reported 714 new HIV diagnoses statewide in 2023, according to the Maryland Department of Health's most recent full-year HIV epidemiological profile. Baltimore City alone accounted for 166 of those diagnoses — the single highest count of any jurisdiction in the state — with Baltimore County reporting 87. Baltimore City is formally designated a federal Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) priority jurisdiction, part of a national initiative targeting the roughly 50 counties where more than half of new U.S. HIV diagnoses occur, with a goal of a 90% reduction in new infections by 2030. The Baltimore EMA's Ryan White Program runs a "Getting to Zero" model specifically to close gaps in viral suppression and care retention for people most affected, including people who report male-to-male sexual contact, people who inject drugs, and youth.
Because chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis infections make HIV transmission substantially more likely if exposure occurs, regular STI screening and HIV testing go hand in hand — which is exactly why most Maryland testing locations offer both in the same visit.
Demographic disparities in Maryland's STI burden
Across every condition Maryland tracks, three patterns repeat: young adults carry a disproportionate share of chlamydia and gonorrhea, sex-at-birth splits differently by condition, and Black Marylanders are diagnosed at multiples of the rate seen among white Marylanders — a gap that public health researchers consistently attribute to disparities in healthcare access, insurance coverage, and where testing infrastructure is located, not to any difference in individual behavior.
Rate per 100,000, by race/ethnicity — Chlamydia
Black Marylanders: 6.2x the white rate
Rate per 100,000, by race/ethnicity — Gonorrhea
Black Marylanders: 8.6x the white rate
By age
Young adults ages 15–24 account for 61.2% of chlamydia diagnoses and 43.0% of gonorrhea diagnoses statewide, even though this age group is a much smaller share of Maryland's total population — consistent with higher partner turnover, lower consistent condom use, and, often, less comfort or access when it comes to routine sexual health screening. Syphilis skews slightly older: people in their 30s account for the largest share of both sexually acquired and primary/secondary syphilis diagnoses.
By sex assigned at birth
The pattern flips by condition. Chlamydia diagnoses skew female (63.2% of cases) — partly a true biological pattern, and partly because routine chlamydia screening is more consistently recommended and performed for women. Gonorrhea (63.8%) and primary/secondary syphilis (79.3%) both skew male, consistent with the male-concentrated transmission networks driving Maryland's syphilis resurgence.
Where to get STD testing in Maryland
Every county in Maryland has a local health department that offers STI testing, and many run dedicated sexual health clinics at low or no cost, particularly for the core panel (chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and HIV). Beyond your local health department, you generally have four practical options:
- Your primary care provider or OB/GYN — usually the most convenient option if you already have one, and testing is typically covered as a preventive service under most ACA-compliant insurance plans and Maryland Medical Assistance (Medicaid).
- Planned Parenthood and Title X-funded clinics — sliding-scale or free testing regardless of insurance status, with locations across the state.
- Urgent care or walk-in clinics — faster than scheduling a primary care visit, though typically at full out-of-pocket cost without insurance.
- At-home test kits — mailed discreetly, collected privately, and processed at a certified lab. A practical option if you want fast, confidential results without an in-person visit.
Find a testing location near you
Enter your Maryland ZIP code to find nearby testing centers and current discount offers.
STD testing in Maryland: frequently asked questions
Where can I get tested for STDs in Maryland?
Every Maryland county has a local health department offering STI testing, often at low or no cost. You can also get tested through your primary care provider or OB/GYN, a Planned Parenthood or Title X clinic, an urgent care center, or a mailed at-home test kit. Enter your ZIP code above to find options near you.
Is STD testing free in Maryland?
It can be. Maryland's 24 local health departments and Title X-funded family planning clinics generally offer chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and HIV testing at low or no cost, especially for people without insurance. Testing through a private provider or urgent care will typically involve a copay or cost-share unless it's billed as a covered preventive service.
Do I need my parents' permission to get tested if I'm under 18?
No. Under Maryland Health-General §20-102, anyone under 18 can legally consent to their own STI testing and treatment without a parent or guardian's involvement, and the visit is confidential — providers aren't permitted to disclose it to a parent without the minor's consent.
Is my STD test result private in Maryland?
Your result isn't shared with employers, schools, or family. That said, Maryland law (COMAR 10.06.01.03) requires labs and providers to report confirmed chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis diagnoses by name to the Maryland Department of Health. This is a public health surveillance requirement — it's how the state tracks outbreaks and offers partner notification services — and that data is protected under separate public health confidentiality rules, not shared publicly or with your employer.
How soon after possible exposure should I get tested?
It depends on the infection. Chlamydia and gonorrhea NAAT tests are generally reliable starting 1–2 weeks after exposure. Syphilis can take 3–6 weeks (up to 12 in some cases) to show up on a test. Modern 4th-generation HIV tests can detect infection as early as 2–4 weeks post-exposure, with a confirmatory retest recommended at 12 weeks. If you're not sure which window applies to you, a provider can help you time your test correctly.
Which Maryland counties have the highest STD rates?
Baltimore City has by far the highest combined STD rate in Maryland (1,942 per 100,000 in 2024), followed by Dorchester County, Prince George's County, Wicomico County, and Charles County. See the full county table above for every jurisdiction.
What STDs should I ask to be tested for?
The standard "core panel" covers chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and HIV. Herpes and HPV aren't part of routine screening unless you have symptoms or specifically request them, since blood tests for herpes in people without symptoms are not generally recommended by the CDC. The CDC recommends annual STI screening for all sexually active adults, and more frequent testing (every 3–6 months) for people with multiple partners or higher-risk exposure.
Does health insurance cover STD testing in Maryland?
Most ACA-compliant plans cover STI screening as a no-cost preventive service when it matches USPSTF screening guidelines (for example, annual chlamydia/gonorrhea screening for sexually active women under 25). Maryland Medical Assistance (Medicaid) also covers STI testing and treatment. Testing during an urgent care or ER visit may still involve a copay or cost-sharing, so it's worth asking before your visit.
What's the difference between an STD and an STI?
An STI (sexually transmitted infection) refers to the virus, bacteria, or parasite itself. An STD (sexually transmitted disease) is the term used once that infection has caused a symptom or diagnosable disease. In practice the two terms are used interchangeably, including by Maryland's own health department, but "STI" is the more precise term since most infections — chlamydia especially — don't cause noticeable symptoms.
How accurate are at-home STD test kits?
FDA-cleared at-home kits for chlamydia and gonorrhea use the same NAAT lab technology as an in-clinic swab and are highly accurate when the sample is collected correctly. At-home HIV and syphilis tests that use a finger-stick blood sample are slightly less sensitive than a full lab blood draw but remain a reliable first screen. Any positive at-home result should be confirmed with a healthcare provider.
What do I do if I test positive?
Chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis are all curable with antibiotics, usually in a single course of treatment. Get connected to a provider quickly, notify recent partners so they can get tested too (Maryland's expedited partner therapy law lets a provider give you medication for a partner without that partner needing a separate visit), and avoid sex until treatment is complete and, where recommended, confirmed with a follow-up test.
Know your status — it takes 5 minutes
Confidential STD testing is available near you across Maryland, with results usually back in 1–2 days. No waiting rooms required.
Find STD Testing Near Me- Maryland Department of Health, 2024 Annual STI Epidemiological Profile (chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, congenital syphilis — reported through August 7, 2025)
- Maryland Department of Health, Maryland Annual HIV Epidemiological Profile 2023 and Maryland HIV Update, 2023 data
- HIV.gov / AHEAD, Ending the HIV Epidemic — Baltimore City jurisdiction data
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, STI Surveillance 2024 (Provisional), national context
- Maryland Code, Health-General §20-102 (minor consent for STI testing and treatment); COMAR 10.06.01.03 (STI reporting requirements)
This page is for general information and does not replace advice from a licensed healthcare provider. If you're experiencing symptoms or believe you've been exposed to an STI, talk to a provider or visit a testing center as soon as possible. If you're in emotional distress related to a diagnosis, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (call or text 988) is available 24/7.