January 2026 STD Positivity Trends: Key Insights

Dr. Elena Janssen · 2026-02-20

Hey there. Let's talk about something that's crucial for everyone's health and safety in the adult industry. Talent Testing Service (TTS) just dropped their latest data for January 2026, and it's packed with important info on STD positivity rates. Think of it as a regular health check-up for the entire community, giving us a clear picture of where we stand. It's not just numbers on a page. This data helps performers, producers, and health professionals make smarter decisions. We're going to break it down in plain English, so you can see the trends without getting lost in medical jargon. Ready to dive in? ### Chlamydia Urine Positivity Index First up, Chlamydia. The overall trend has been moving down since a peak back in November 2022, which is good news. For January 2026, the total and male rates are sitting at 1.1%. Now, the total rate inched up from 1.0%, while the male rate actually dipped from 1.2%. The female rate, however, turned up to 1.2% from 0.7%. Here's some context: historic levels have hovered around 2.0%. So, seeing all current rates below that 2.0% mark is actually within expected ranges. It's a reminder that vigilance is key, even when trends look positive. ### Gonorrhea (GC) Urine Positivity Index Moving on to Gonorrhea. The numbers here are a bit of a mixed bag for January. The total urine rate turned up slightly to 0.4% from 0.3%. Meanwhile, the male rate dipped again to 0.3% from 0.4%. The female rate went up again, this time to 0.6% from 0.3%. Despite these individual movements, all three rates this month stayed pretty close to their linear trend lines. It shows how these things can fluctuate month-to-month. ### Other Key Infections Let's look at a couple other infections tracked in the report. - **Trichomonas Vaginalis:** Two of the urine rates decreased. The total rate went down to 0.3% from 0.5%, and the female rate dropped to 0.5% from 1.0%. The male rate held steady at 0.2%. These levels are still within that general range of 0.0% to 1.5% we often see. - **Mycoplasma Genitalium:** This one saw increases across the board, just like the prior month. The female rate rose to 3.4% from 3.1%, the total to 2.8% from 2.6%, and the male to 2.3% from 2.1%. It's a trend worth watching closely. ### Throat and Rectal Swab Positivity This part gets a bit more specific, looking at Chlamydia and Gonorrhea via throat and rectal swabs. December 2022 was a peak for these, and overall trends have been downward since. For Chlamydia rectal rates in January 2026, all three turned up. The total went to 1.5% from 1.1%, the female to 1.8% from 1.5%, and the male to 1.3% from 0.7%. Chlamydia throat rates were more stable, with the total unchanged from last month's 0.5%. Gonorrhea rectal rates have shown more volatility since April 2023. In January, the female rate was unchanged at 0.5%, while the male and total rates both dropped to 0.4% from 0.5%. For Gonorrhea throat rates, the total dropped to 0.8% and the male to 0.6%, but the female rate rose to 1.0%. As one industry health consultant recently noted, *"Regular, comprehensive testing isn't just a protocol; it's the foundation of a sustainable and responsible workplace culture."* That really hits the nail on the head. So, what's the takeaway from all this data? It gives us a snapshot, a moment in time. Some rates are down, some are up, and a few are holding steady. The most important thing is that this information is out there, being used to keep people informed and safe. Staying on top of testing is the best tool we have. It's how the industry looks out for everyone involved.