Sexually transmitted diseases are preventable ailments that can cause harmful and costly complications, including reproductive health problems, fetal and perinatal health problems, and cancer.

In 2020, 53 cases of chlamydia per 10,000 residents were reported in our region, a 10% decrease since 2019. However, the rate has dropped almost 8% since the peak in 2010. New York's rate was lower, at 48 per 10,000 in 2020 and has followed a similar pattern as the regional rate, doubling since 2001.

The local counties with the highest number of cases per 10,000 in 2020 were Monroe (71, down 9% since 2019) and Wayne (32, down 6% from 2019). The rate in the City of Rochester was 168, a 9% decrease from the previous year and almost three-times greater than their rate of 58 in 2001. The lowest frequencies were in Yates (14, down 5% from 2019) with the next lowest in Wyoming (16, down 5% from 2019). The rate decreased in each local county from 2019 with the largest decrease in Orleans (down 30%).

Not all sexually transmitted disease cases are reported. Variations in screening procedures and community awareness can have an impact on recorded trends. There are some differences in how the state and Monroe County report data (e.g., out-of-county residents tested by a county provider, duplicate tests), which may result in some discrepancies in data reported for Rochester. Data for this indicator are expected to be released in the fourth quarter.