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Building STI awareness is about Talk. Test. Treat.

Switzer

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, sexually transmitted infections are on the rise with rates of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis increasing for the first time since 2006. Sexually active young people between the ages of 15 to 24 are at the greatest risk for infection, representing nearly half of the 20 million new STI cases each year. The good news is that STIs are preventable.

Talk, Test, Treat is a national campaign launched last month by the CDC to increase STI awareness, and supported by San Juan Basin Health. To break it down:

Talk: STIs are something we all need to be talking about for our benefit as well as those around us. Speaking honestly with your partner about sexual health and STIs is crucial, especially before having sex. Also, speaking with your health care provider is important, regarding what STI tests you should get and how often. Additionally, parents can talk to their children about STIs in an age-appropriate manner.

Test: Getting tested is the only way to know for sure if you have an STI because some infections may be present without any symptoms. Undetected HPV or hepatitis B infections can lead to cancer if not treated. Speak to your provider about what STI tests to get and how frequently to get them. Additionally, the CDC’s website provides a comprehensive list of STI testing and screening recommendations.

Treat: If you test positive for an STI, work with your doctor to find the best treatment. Also, it is important to abstain from sexual activity until you (and your partner, if necessary) have completed treatment. This means, of course, sharing positive test results with any partners you may have had contact with so that they can be properly treated as well. Routine checkups for both men and women are a vital component to sexual health. These will not only help to prevent STIs but are also a great time to check up on your overall health. For women, yearly annual exams can help protect and preserve your fertility health. Although Pap smears are needed every three years it is recommended that women see their provider annually to address any questions or concerns.

Anyone who is sexually active is at risk of contracting and spreading STIs. Short of abstaining from sex, the next best way to prevent STIs is to Talk, Test and Treat, and SJBH can help with all three. The SJBH Sexual Health Clinic is here is help you with answers to any questions and tools and information to help protect you from contracting and spreading STIs. Our clinic is available for anyone to get tested, educated and treated, if needed.

For more information, visit the CDC’s website at cdc.gov/std, or to schedule an appointment at SJBH, call 335-2013.

Tiffany Switzer, MS, is the clinic manager at San Juan Basin Health Department.



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