Health Dept: Get yourself tested - News - Penn Yan Chronicle-Express

BELMONT — April is Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Awareness Month.

Sexually transmitted diseases, now identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as sexually transmitted infections (STIs) continue to rise each year. For the fourth year in a row, diagnoses of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis all increased sharply. There have been more than 200,000 cases than last year to be exact. This is not taking into account the many cases that continue to go undiagnosed and unreported. It is also important to consider several additional STIs such as human papillomavirus (HPV), herpes virus, and trichomoniasis which are not routinely reported.

This year, Allegany County Department of Health has chosen the CDC’s campaign GYT: Get Yourself Tested. The GYT campaign is an empowering social movement to encourage young people to get tested and treated, as needed, for STIs and HIV. Although many STIs can have serious consequences if untreated, many people don't have symptoms meaning most people don't know they are infected. Getting tested is a part of being sexually responsible and those engaging in sexual activity should talk to their healthcare providers about testing.

Important STI Data & Prevention Information:

There are 20 million new STI cases in the United States every year.

Young people ages 15–24, gay, bisexual, and men who have sex with men continue to be at greatest risk for infection.

The medical costs for these new cases are $16 billion.

Adding the new cases each year with existing infection, there are an estimated 110 million total STIs among Americans.

Experts estimate 75 pecent or more of all sexually active people will have a human papillomavirus (HPV) infection at some point in their lives.

Untreated STIs can lead to serious, long-term complications for both males and females.

The good news? STIs are preventable! There are steps sexually active people can take to minimize the negative, long-term consequences of these infections.

Effective strategies for reducing STI risk include: abstinence; vaccinations for Hepatitis B and HPV; reducing number of sexual partners; mutual monogamy; talking with your partner; correct use of condoms and getting tested.

Testing Guidelines:

All adults and adolescents from ages 13 to 64 should be tested at least once for HIV.

Annual chlamydia and gonorrhea screening of all sexually active men & women younger than 25 years, as well as older men & women with risk factors such as new or multiple sex partners, or a sex partner who has a sexually transmitted infection.

Syphilis, HIV, chlamydia, and hepatitis B screening for all pregnant women, and gonorrhea screening for at-risk pregnant women starting early in pregnancy, with repeat testing as needed, to protect the health of mothers and their infants.

Screening at least once a year for syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea for all sexually active gay, bisexual, and men who have sex with men (MSM). MSM who have multiple or anonymous partners should be screened more frequently for STIs (i.e., at 3-to-6 month intervals).

Anyone who has unsafe sex or shares injection drug equipment should get tested for HIV at least once a year. Sexually active gay and bisexual men may benefit from more frequent testing (e.g., every 3 to 6 months)

For more information or to make an appointment to be tested, call the Allegany County Department of Health Family Planning Clinic at (585)-268-9250.

For more information on STD Awareness Month go to https://ift.tt/2FzLjOV

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