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April Is STD Awareness Month

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By Mobile County Health Department

M30o93H7pQ09L8X1t49cHY01Z5j4TT91fGfr April Is STD Awareness Month

Published: Mon, April 07, 2008 - 11:26 am
Last Updated: Mon, April 07, 2008 - 11:28 am

There are nearly 19 million new cases of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in the United States each year, and more than half of all people in this country will have an STD at some point in their lifetimes. However, obvious symptoms often don’t develop and many people who contract an STD are unaware they and their partners are at risk.
With these facts in mind, the American Social Health Association and the National Coalition of STD Directors recognize April as National STD Awareness Month and are emphasizing testing as a key component for sexual health.
According to Dr. Bert Eichold, Health Officer for the Mobile County Health Department, the most commonly reported bacterial STD, chlamydia, often doesn’t cause symptoms in women (and sometimes men); and when goes undetected in women, the infection can spread to the uterus or fallopian tubes and cause Pelvic Inflammatory Disease. If untreated, it can lead to chronic pelvic pain and infertility.
“We encourage anyone who is sexually active to discuss testing for HIV and other STDs with their health care provider, even if they have no symptoms,” Eichold says.
While STDs are common across all groups, young people are hit especially hard: Approximately half of all new STDs occur in youth ages 15-24 and a recent study presented by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that 1 in 4 girls and young women between the ages of 14 and 19 have at least one of the more common STDs.
CDC recommends routine chlamydia testing for women under age 26, and for women who are pregnant or have new or multiple partners. CDC also recommends routine HIV testing for those ages 13-64. While not a test for STDs, women should also have regular Pap tests.
The Mobile County Health Department’s STD Clinic offers confidential STD testing and medications at no charge from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, at its downtown site at 251 N. Bayou Street. There is a $1 registration fee and you must have a picture ID. For more information, call the STD Clinic at 690-8153.

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