There is no shortage of majestic natural wonder in Anchorage, Alaska. Everywhere you look it seems, there’s another stunning national park or amazing trail to explore, like Kincaid Park and Tony Knowles Coastal Trail. This major Alaskan city is home to nearly 300,000 residents1 and certain sexually transmitted diseases in the area are on the rise, like gonorrhea and syphilis. Getting tested and seeking treatment, if medically appropriate, is a simple and effective way of lowering the rates of STD in the Anchorage/Mat-Su Valley (Matanuska-Susitna) metropolitan statistical area.2
Scheduling an appointment with your primary care doctor can mean waiting weeks before you get in, and the waiting room at a free clinic can be crowded. STDtest.com offers a new options that stands apart from the rest by being tailored to your schedule and testing needs.
You never have to feel alone when you’re at risk for an STD in Alaska’s largest city. While going in for an STD test can feel stressful, embarrassing or even shameful, it doesn’t have to be. Our dedicated team of is available 24/7 to answer any questions on your mind and to guide you each step of the way. Knowing the risks for STDs is an important factor in getting tested and getting treated. Anyone sexually active who has never been tested, anyone who recently had unprotected sex, anyone with multiple sexual partners within the last year, anyone in a relationship with an STD-positive partner or anyone knowingly exposed to an STD should be tested as soon as possible.
Certain populations at risk, like sexually active young women under the age of 25, are recommended by the CDC to get screened for chlamydia each year. Other high-risk groups, such as gay, bisexual and men who have sex with men and certain racial/ethnic groups should be screened periodically to be assured of their status. According to the CDC, all STDs can be treated and many cured (in the case of chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis and syphilis). Those without a cure, like HIV, certain forms of viral hepatitis and genital herpes can be managed with the right medication for a greatly improved quality of life. However, without a diagnosis, patients can’t be linked to the care they need in Anchorage.3-6
In the Anchorage and Mat-Su metropolitan statistical area, some sexually transmitted diseases are on the rise while other commonly reported sexually transmitted infections continue to decline. With an increase of 31.2% between 2013 and 2014, new gonorrhea infections in the Anchorage area continue on an upward trend. Between 2012 and 2013, this sexually transmitted infection saw a marked increase, with 63 cases and 141 cases reported respectively, or an 55.3% increase. Also on the rise all across the state of Alaska is the prevalence of primary and secondary syphilis, with 40 infections reported in 2014 compared to 32 in 2013. Syphilis infections left untreated can lead to serious medical issues, including ocular syphilis (syphilis bacteria in the eye), neurosyphilis (syphilis bacteria in the brain) and congenital syphilis, a severe condition passed from mother to child.2&7
Two sexually transmitted that reported a decreasing number of infections in 2015 according to reports released by the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services are the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and chlamydia. The number of new HIV infections in 2015 compared to the number reported in 2014 is 12 compared to 32, a 62.5% year-over-year decrease. Chlamydia is the most commonly reported sexually transmitted infection in Anchorage, Alaska and across in the United States. While chlamydia numbers in Anchorage are currently on the decline, with 725 reported in 2014 compared to 786 in 2013, Alaska is ranked the 1st state in the nation for the highest rate of chlamydia infection, based on the number of cases per 100,000 residents.2
Sexual education in Alaska takes a less-than-comprehensive approach. Comprehensive sexual education relies on a multi-faceted approach when it comes to sex ed curriculum, focusing on topics including but not limited to abstinence, other preventive methods for avoiding sexually transmitted diseases, HIV/AIDS and unintended pregnancy. Traditionally, Alaska has not mandated any form of sexual education in public school and the latest legislation passed speaks to a more limited approach in public institutions of learning. House Bill 156 discusses a parent’s right to define what sort of sexual education their child receives in school, and mentions their right to opt-out of any education offered.10-12
This lack of education on the various topics pertaining to the best possible sexual health and knowing how to prevent common sexually transmitted infections can prove more harmful than helpful. Knowing the risks and how they can prevented can make the difference between an STD treated and cured and an STD left undiagnosed. Young women are particularly susceptible to chlamydia all across the country, a condition that can be cured with antibiotics. However, left untreated, it can cause infertility. Young people ages 15-24 account for nearly 50% of the close to 20 million sexually transmitted infections estimated each year in the United States. Having access to the knowledge and information helps not just with making healthy decisions when it comes to their sexual health, but it also helps to remove stigma with getting tested, diagnosed and treated.13
In the greater Alaska area, the demographic distribution of HIV/AIDS sees similar trends to those taking place in metropolitan areas all across the country. For example, the number of men reporting HIV infections is much higher than the number of women, with 12 and 4 respectively in 2015. The racial/ethnic group reporting the highest prevalence of HIV cases is the American Indian/Alaskan Native population, with 9 new cases reported in 2015. The age demographic with the most new HIV diagnoses in the Anchorage and throughout the state of Alaska are the 45+ year-olds, reporting 10 new infections. The group at the most significant risk for contracting the virus is the MSM group (men who have sex with men), reporting 45.4% of total new cases.14
Identifying the populations most at risk and educating them about their available resources for STD testing, in addition to making different testing options available in areas where medical centers aren’t as easily accessible, is an important aim of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy in the United States. All across America and around the world, the ideal goal is for 90 percent of all positive individuals to know their status, 90 percent of positive patients to get linked to treatment and 90 percent to achieve viral suppression by 2020. Frequent testing and linkage to care is the best way to reach this ambitious goal.15&16
Why feel stressed and anxious about your unknown STD status when you could be enjoying best of what life in Anchorage has to offer, like a blissful afternoon hiking Flattop Mountain or exploring nearby glaciers? Getting started with STDtest.com is simple. Choose the tests that make sense for you. You can then select a lab in your area from a national network of thousands for a short visit (usually 15 minutes or less) to collect your test samples, no appointment needed.
For both choices, test results are usually available in 24 to 48 hours. Our medical team is available for follow up to discuss your diagnosis, answer any questions you have and even to prescribe treatment, if medically appropriate and if allowed by state law. Get tested. It’s for your better health.