This page is general health information, not medical advice. It cannot tell you whether you have an infection. A clinician can, and the testing options on this site are a good place to start.

Numbers about sexually transmitted infections can feel heavy. They are also useful. They show where testing matters most, how Georgia compares with the rest of the country, and why routine screening is a normal part of health care.

This guide walks through the most recent published figures for Atlanta's two counties, Fulton and DeKalb, and for Georgia as a whole. Every number comes with its year and its source. It also explains how to read STD rates, what changed from 2023 to 2024, and where to get free or low-cost testing in the city.

Key takeaways

Georgia DPH's OASIS data tool lists Fulton County's 2023 chlamydia rate at 978.7 cases per 100,000 people. The CDC's 2023 rate for Georgia overall was 646.4.
Fulton County's 2023 gonorrhea rate was 569.4 per 100,000 (Georgia DPH OASIS), about double the CDC's statewide figure of 274.8.
Primary and secondary syphilis was 39.2 per 100,000 in Fulton County and 24.5 in DeKalb County in 2023 (Georgia DPH OASIS). The CDC's statewide rate was 20.0.
For 2024, Georgia DPH reports fewer chlamydia, gonorrhea and primary and secondary syphilis cases statewide than the CDC counted for 2023.
A rate reflects both infections and how much testing is done. A higher rate does not mean any one person is at higher risk.
Free STI and HIV testing is available in Atlanta, and the CDC's gettested.cdc.gov can help you find more sites.

In this guide

Atlanta STD rates at a glance
STD rates by state and by city: where Atlanta fits
Year-on-year change in Georgia
What shapes STD rates
HIV and syphilis in more detail
Georgia rules that affect testing
Free and low-cost testing in Atlanta
Sources

Atlanta STD rates at a glance

Atlanta sits mostly in Fulton County, with a portion in DeKalb County, according to the City of Atlanta Department of City Planning GIS. Public health data are reported by county, so the Fulton and DeKalb figures are the closest picture of the city.

A rate is the number of reported cases for every 100,000 people who live in the area. Rates let you compare places of different sizes. The table below uses 2023, the latest year for which county data are available from the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH).

Chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis, 2023

Infection (2023)	Fulton County	DeKalb County	Georgia (CDC)
Chlamydia, rate per 100,000	978.7 (10,599 cases)	854.9 (6,569 cases)	646.4 (71,294 cases)
Gonorrhea, rate per 100,000	569.4 (6,167 cases)	430.8 (3,310 cases)	274.8 (30,307 cases)
Primary and secondary syphilis, rate per 100,000	39.2 (425 cases)	24.5 (188 cases)	20.0 (2,210 cases)

Sources: county figures from the Georgia DPH OASIS STD data table tool (2023, all ages, races and sexes). Statewide figures from the CDC's 2023 STI Surveillance Report State Ranking Tables (Tables 28, 19 and 9).

Georgia DPH's OASIS tool does not publish a combined syphilis rate. The county syphilis rates above add together the separate primary and secondary rates it lists. In Fulton County that is 113 primary and 312 secondary cases. In DeKalb County it is 43 primary and 145 secondary cases.

What these numbers do and do not say

These are reported cases. They count infections that someone was tested for and that a lab or clinician reported to the state. Georgia DPH notes that its OASIS data reflect lab-reported cases among Georgia residents.

That means the figures describe how many infections were found, not how many exist. They also say nothing about any individual's risk. Anyone who is sexually active, of any gender or orientation, can get an STI, and testing is how people find out.

STD rates by state and by city: where Atlanta fits

People often look up STD rates by state to see how their home compares. The CDC publishes state rankings each year in its STI Surveillance Report. For 2023, the CDC's state tables list Georgia at 646.4 chlamydia cases, 274.8 gonorrhea cases and 20.0 primary and secondary syphilis cases per 100,000 people.

The CDC's 2023 tables also count 127 congenital syphilis cases in Georgia, a rate of 100.7 per 100,000 live births. Congenital syphilis is syphilis passed from a pregnant person to a baby. It is covered in more detail below.

How Atlanta's counties compare with the state

In 2023, both Fulton and DeKalb counties had higher chlamydia, gonorrhea and primary and secondary syphilis rates than the statewide figures. Fulton County's rates were the higher of the two for all three infections.

A state rate blends together big metro areas and small rural counties. Metro counties often show higher reported rates for reasons that include more clinics, more screening and larger, more connected populations. The county numbers are a better guide for Atlanta than the state average.

STD rates by city

Searches for STD rates by city usually lead to rankings that list one number per city. Those lists can mislead. City boundaries do not match the way health departments collect data, and cities that test more will find more.

For Atlanta, the sources used here report by county and by public health district rather than by city limits. Georgia DPH's OASIS tool can be used to run county-level queries. If you need a figure for a specific neighborhood or ZIP code, ask the Fulton County Board of Health or DeKalb Public Health what they publish. The numbers above should not be read as a city-limits rate.

Year-on-year change in Georgia

The newest statewide picture comes from Georgia DPH's 2024 data snapshot on its STD Data and Statistics page. It reports case counts for 2024 without rates. The CDC's 2024 data are provisional, and the CDC holds back state rates until its final release.

The table compares the CDC's 2023 counts with Georgia DPH's 2024 counts.

Georgia, reported cases	2023 (CDC)	2024 (Georgia DPH)
Chlamydia	71,294	66,884
Gonorrhea	30,307	27,649
Primary and secondary syphilis	2,210	1,842
Congenital syphilis	127	126

Reported cases of all three common infections were lower in 2024 than in 2023. The change in congenital syphilis was one case.

Reading the change carefully

Two cautions apply. First, the two columns come from two agencies. Georgia DPH and the CDC sometimes differ by a few cases for the same year, so small differences are not meaningful. Second, a drop in reported cases can mean fewer infections, less testing, or reporting delays. The data alone cannot say which.

Fulton and DeKalb county figures for 2024 were not available in the sources used here. Check Georgia DPH's OASIS tool or the county health departments for newer county numbers as they are released.

What shapes STD rates

No single cause explains a rate. The CDC's STI Treatment Guidelines (2021) and surveillance reports point to several factors that apply in any large metro area, including Atlanta.

Many infections cause no symptoms

The CDC explains that chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis can be present without noticeable symptoms. Without testing, an infection can go unfound and untreated, and it can be passed to a partner. Routine screening is how these infections are found early.

Testing volume affects what is counted

Places with easy access to testing report more cases because more cases are found. A higher rate can partly reflect a stronger testing system. A lower rate can partly reflect fewer people being tested.

Access to care

Cost, transportation, clinic hours, insurance status and trust in the health system all affect who gets tested and treated. This is why free and sliding scale options matter, and why the local list below includes several kinds of providers.

Screening recommendations

The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends screening for chlamydia and gonorrhea in sexually active women 24 and younger and in older women at increased risk. It recommends syphilis screening for people at increased risk. It also recommends HIV screening for adolescents and adults ages 15 to 65. The CDC's guidelines add screening advice for other groups, including men who have sex with men, and for people who are pregnant. A clinician can tell you which tests fit your situation.

Prevention tools are expanding

In 2024 the CDC issued guidance on doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis, often called doxy-PEP, as one option clinicians can consider to lower the chance of certain bacterial STIs for some people. Whether it fits a particular person is a decision for that person and a clinician. Fulton County Board of Health lists DoxyPEP among the services at its 10 Park Place Health Center.

HIV and syphilis in more detail

New HIV diagnoses

Georgia DPH reports HIV figures by public health district. Fulton Public Health District (3-2) and DeKalb Public Health District (3-5) match the two counties. The rates below are for people ages 13 and older, from Georgia DPH's HIV Surveillance Summary Fact Sheet for 2023.

Area (2023, ages 13 and older)	New HIV diagnoses	Rate per 100,000
Fulton Public Health District	466	50.5
DeKalb Public Health District	328	51.4
Georgia	2,439	26.4

The fact sheet's text gives a statewide rate of 22 for all ages. The 26.4 figure comes from the same sheet's table for ages 13 and older, which is the same group used for the two districts.

HIV is not curable, but it is treatable. The CDC says that with treatment from a clinician, people with HIV can live long, healthy lives. The CDC also says that people who take HIV treatment as prescribed and keep an undetectable viral load do not pass HIV to partners through sex. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a prevention option clinicians prescribe, and Atlanta has several PrEP programs, listed below.

Syphilis and pregnancy

Syphilis is curable with treatment from a clinician. It matters especially in pregnancy, because the CDC explains that untreated syphilis can pass to a baby. The CDC counted 127 congenital syphilis cases in Georgia in 2023, and Georgia DPH reported 126 in 2024.

Georgia's HIV/Syphilis Pregnancy Screening Act of 2015 (O.C.G.A. 31-17-4.2) sets out testing during prenatal care. The next section covers the details.

Georgia rules that affect testing

A few Georgia laws shape what happens when you get tested. Statute text can change, so confirm specifics with the clinic or the health department.

Reporting

Georgia DPH says all Georgia physicians, laboratories and other health care providers must report notifiable conditions. According to Georgia DPH's notifiable condition tables, syphilis is reported immediately. Chlamydia, gonorrhea and HIV are reported within 7 days. Reports go to public health for tracking and prevention. They are how the rates in this guide are produced.

Minors

Under O.C.G.A. 31-17-7, a minor who is or says they are affected by a venereal disease may consent to care without a parent, guardian or spouse. Providers may, but do not have to, inform a parent, guardian or spouse. The statute defines venereal disease as syphilis, gonorrhea and chancroid (O.C.G.A. 31-17-1). The Guttmacher Institute's summary says Georgia minors may consent to STI testing and treatment, and that parental notification is permitted.

The statute text does not name chlamydia or HIV, so ask the clinic about its own policy for those tests. Fulton County Board of Health says its sexual health clinics serve Fulton County residents ages 14 and up. Its Teen Health Clinic serves ages 12 to 21 and states that no teen is turned away for inability to pay.

Treating partners

The CDC's page on the legal status of expedited partner therapy (EPT) in Georgia cites Ga. Code Ann. 31-17-7.1 and Ga. Comp. R. and Regs. 511-2-8-.01. EPT lets a clinician provide treatment for a patient's partners in some situations. Georgia DPH says EPT services can be located through local public health departments.

Prenatal testing

Under O.C.G.A. 31-17-4.2, the provider who takes responsibility for prenatal care must test for HIV and syphilis unless the patient refuses. In the third trimester, the provider must offer HIV and syphilis testing at the first exam of that trimester. At delivery, the attending provider must order a test if there is no written evidence of one.

HIV and the law

Georgia's reckless conduct law (O.C.G.A. 16-5-60) makes it a felony, with up to five years, for a person living with HIV to knowingly engage in a sexual act with intent to transmit HIV, without prior disclosure, where the act carries a significant risk of transmission. The statute says significant risk is judged by current scientifically supported levels of risk. The CDC lists Georgia among at least thirteen states that have modernized or repealed HIV criminal laws since 2014. Questions about how this law applies to you are best taken to a legal aid organization or an attorney.

Free and low-cost testing in Atlanta

The figures above are a reason to make testing routine, not a reason for worry. Testing is quick, and treatment for bacterial infections is available from a clinician. For a longer walkthrough of costs, what to expect and each option, see the Atlanta STD testing guide.

Clinics in Atlanta

AID Atlanta Wellness Center, 1438 W Peachtree Street NW, Atlanta, GA 30309. AID Atlanta says free HIV tests and STI testing are offered onsite daily, with free screenings for chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis and free treatment for reactive screening results. Testing is Monday to Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with last check-in at 5:30. Walk-ins are welcome. Call (404) 870-7741 for STI testing or (404) 870-7700 for general questions. The PrEP coordinator is at (404) 870-7721.
10 Park Place Health Center (Fulton County Board of Health), 10 Park Place S.E., 5th floor, Atlanta, GA 30303. Phone (770) 520-7500. STI screening and treatment, HIV testing, PrEP and DoxyPEP are listed. Fees follow a sliding scale for people without insurance. Hours are Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., and the last walk-in appointment is at 3:00 p.m.
Adamsville Regional Health Center (Fulton County Board of Health), 3700 MLK Jr. Drive S.W., Atlanta, GA 30331. Phone (770) 520-7323. STI screening and treatment, HIV testing and PrEP are listed, with sliding scale fees. Hours are Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Board of Health says services may be walk-in or by appointment, and that appointments are recommended.
Neighborhood Union Health Center (Fulton County Board of Health), 186 Sunset Avenue N.W., Atlanta, GA 30314. Phone (770) 520-7351. STI screening and treatment and PrEP are listed, with sliding scale fees. The Board of Health's pages disagree on hours (Monday to Friday on one page, Wednesday to Friday on another), so confirm by phone before you go. HIV testing is not listed at this location.
Teen Health Clinic at Adamsville Regional Health Center, 3700 MLK Jr. Drive S.W., Atlanta, GA 30331. Phone (770) 520-7323. For ages 12 to 21, with STI exams and HIV counseling and testing. Fees are based on income and family size.
Planned Parenthood East Atlanta Health Center, 440 Moreland Avenue SE, Atlanta, GA 30316. Phone (404) 688-9300. STD testing and treatment, HIV testing and PrEP are listed. Insurance is not required, and the center accepts listed insurers and self-pay. No sliding scale is stated. Walk-ins are welcome, though appointments are the only way to be sure of service. Listed hours are Monday, Wednesday and Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Tuesday and Thursday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Call to confirm current hours.

Clinic pages do not always list current hours, prices or walk-in policies. Check with the clinic before you go. The Fulton County Board of Health has a sexual health page. DeKalb Public Health serves the DeKalb portion of Atlanta, and its website is dekalbpublichealth.com.

PrEP programs

The Fulton County Board of Health PrEP Clinic can be reached at 404-613-4708, and PrEP is offered at the 10 Park Place, Adamsville and Neighborhood Union health centers. AID Atlanta runs its own PrEP program, with check-ins at least every three months that include HIV and STD testing. Georgia DPH's HIV Prevention Program provides PrEP and PEP information and the Georgia AIDS and STI InfoLine at 1-800-551-2728.

Testing at home for HIV

Georgia DPH offers an at-home HIV self-test by online request, though its page does not state cost or eligibility. The CDC's HIV Testing page links to Together TakeMeHome, a national program offering free HIV self-tests ordered online.

Find more sites

The CDC's gettested.cdc.gov locator lists STI and HIV testing sites by ZIP code. Georgia DPH also offers a free mail-order condom program and a Find a Testing Site locator on its STD page.

What to ask a clinician

Which tests are right for my situation, and at what intervals?
When should I test again, given the timing of a possible exposure? The CDC publishes how long it can take for each infection to show up on a test, and a clinician can apply it to your case.
What will it cost, and is there a sliding scale or a free option?
What happens if a result is reactive or positive, and who will contact me?

A clinician can explain what each test can and cannot tell you. Bacterial STIs and trichomoniasis are curable with treatment prescribed by a clinician. HIV, herpes and HPV are not curable, but they are treatable or manageable with care.

STD Rates in Atlanta: What the Latest Data Shows