STI Awareness Week (4/10-4/16)

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

• There are 20 million new STI cases in the U.S. every year
• The medical costs for these new cases are $16 billion
• In 2018, there were 1,758,668 cases of Chlamydia, 583,405 cases of Gonorrhea and 115,045 cases of all stages of syphilis reported in the United States.

Get Tested

Sexually transmitted diseases (STD) and sexually transmitted infections (STI) mean the same thing, and that is a disease that is spread through sexual activity (remember that includes all types of sex – vaginal, anal, and oral). Anyone who is sexually active is at risk for getting and spreading an STI.

At District Health Department #10 (DHD#10) you can get confidential STI testing- that means you do not need a parent or guardian’s consent, but we encourage you to inform a parent or guardian if you think you need STI testing. STI testing at DHD#10 is available at low or no-cost; cost is based on your income. Services at DHD#10 are LGTBQ friendly.

People with multiple sexual partners, those who think they may have been exposed to a STI, those who’ve had unprotected sex with a partner whose health status was unknown, or anyone who has symptoms of an STI should get tested. If you think you have an STI, first off, don’t panic. You should make an appointment to get tested right away and hold off on all sexual activity until you get tested. To make an appointment call 888-217-3904, option #2.

Upon result of your test, a nurse can discuss safe sex, treatment options, birth control, how to talk to your partner, and more. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask!

Quick Links

DHD #10 Sexual Health
DHD #10 Sexual Health Services – Teens
DHD #10 Get an STI Test/Treatment
Free Mail-Order Condoms