STIs Are Common - Especially for Teens and Young Adults
A lot of young people get STIs, often without knowing it. Baltimore and Maryland continue to see high rates of chlamydia and gonorrhea among youth, making regular testing super important. You can explore local data from the Maryland Department of Health’s STI Dashboard to see what this looks like in Baltimore.
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Most STIs Have No Symptoms
You can feel totally fine and still have an STI. The only way to know your status—and protect yourself and your partners—is to get tested regularly. National surveys show that even though risks are high, fewer than 1 in 4 sexually active teens get tested each year, so getting tested puts you ahead of the curve.

How Often Should I Get Tested?
If you’re sexually active, national guidelines recommend getting tested for chlamydia and gonorrhea at least once a year—and more often if you have new partners, multiple partners, or symptoms. Many teens don’t realize these guidelines exist, so knowing your status is a powerful way to take control of your health.

How Often Should I Get Tested?
If you’re sexually active, national guidelines recommend getting tested for chlamydia and gonorrhea at least once a year—and more often if you have new partners, multiple partners, or symptoms. Many teens don’t realize these guidelines exist, so knowing your status is a powerful way to take control of your health.

Getting Tested Protects Your Whole Community
Testing isn’t just about you—it helps reduce STI rates in your school, neighborhood, and city. Baltimore is working hard to improve sexual health for youth, and you can see how the city is doing on the Baltimore STI and HIV data dashboards, which track trends and progress over time.

Knowledge = Power
Knowing your status helps you make informed choices—about condoms, partners, PrEP, or whatever feels right for you. Testing is one of the simplest, strongest ways to protect your future health.