Corine Walker
Staff Writer
April is the month, many health care providers and community based organizations come around to inform people about STD’s and prevention efforts throughout the month. Getting tested is the main way of spreading awareness, young and old.
20 million new STD’s occur every year as well as many new HIV infections. Those with Sexually transmitted diseases are more likely to have HIV other than those who are STD free.
The most common STDs are chlamydia, herpes, and gonorrhea. Chlamydia is the most common for women. While some STDs can be cured with antibiotics, some infections are life time diseases such as HIV/ AIDs.
Being diagnosed with Genital herpes make it 3 times the risk of being infected with HIV.
Many Americans who are infected, do not know until after they are tested. 1 in 5 Americans are infected with HIV and do not know. Sometimes there will be no sign or symptom of the infection. It’s up to you to take care of yourself, have safe sex and make sure your partner is STD free and gets tested as well.
The new Obama Care has made it easier for Americans to get help. The care will make sure patients get regularly screened for STDs and HIV as they do for high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
You can visit community clinics, pharmacy stores and Planned Parenthood to get tested and treated for STDs and HIV. It’s very easy, just a urine test and/ or a swab around the inside of your mouth. The results for HIV usually takes up to 30 minutes, as for other STDs, you would have to wait up to a week for results.
