On STD Awareness Month, GetTested.Com Views Most Googled STDs Per State 

Due to the stigma surrounding STDs, people often turn to the internet for answers instead of seeking proper medical attention.�GetTested.com�mapped out the 'Most Googled STDs Per State' to find out what Americans wanted to know about their sexual health.�

The at-home STD testing startup makes screening as easy as googling, saving individuals from embarrassing and time-consuming appointments.

Google can provide answers to life's most pressing questions. However, when it comes to queries about health, the search engine can cause unnecessary anxiety without getting people any closer to receiving the treatment they need.

In honor of STD Awareness Month,�GetTested.com�encourages individuals to take a more effective step towards protecting their sexual health by testing for STDs instead of googling them. �

Using Google Trends Data from the past five years, at-home STD testing startup�GetTested.com�mapped out the Most Googled STDs Per State. The startup compared America's search patterns for�common STDs, including chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, HIV, herpes, HPV, hepatitis C, trichomoniasis, ureaplasma, and mycoplasma.

GetTested found herpes was the most googled STD in 47 states, while HIV was searched more in Oregon, Maryland, Virginia, and Washington D.C.

A study by the Pew Research Center found 72 percent of Americans search for health information online. A contributing factor to the popularity of herpes in Google searches may be its prevalence. According to the CDC, 1 in 6 Americans have been diagnosed with herpes, making it one of the most common STDs in the country.

"People feel like they can Google anything without shame. Unfortunately, due to stigma related to STDs many Americans choose to turn to the internet for information instead of seeking medical attention," says Hannah Dela Cruz, spokesperson for GetTested.com. "By bringing private and convenient testing straight to consumers, we hope to encourage Americans to stop googling and GetTested."

Launched in September 2016, GetTested.com is a service delivering at-home STD test kits nationwide. It makes screening for seven of the most common STDs easy and convenient. Gender-specific lab kits screen for 10 of the most common STDs, eliminating uncertainty and allowing individuals to take charge of their sexual health.

Kits can be ordered online for a flat rate of $199, and are delivered in discreet, unmarked packaging. Samples can be collected within 15 minutes and mailed directly to a CLIA certified and CAP accredited laboratory for testing. Results are made available within three to five days and are accessible through a HIPAA-compliant portal.

To view the infographic which includes cities that searched for specific STDs the most, visit http://bit.ly/2nfwaL8.