Boise is a burgeoning city out west with enviable views and plenty to do. Getting in touch with your wild side could mean a visit to the World Center for Birds of Prey or taking on the rapids of Salmon River. With the rise of chlamydia and gonorrhea in the Boise and Ada county area,1 knowing your sexual health status is especially important. If you’re concerned about crowded waiting rooms at a free clinic or waiting weeks to get in at your primary care physician’s practice, STDTest.com offers an alternative that is fast and convenient. Get the same FDA-approved tests at CLIA-certified lab facilities, with same-day testing options and results delivered within two days or less.
Anyone who is at risk of acquiring a sexually transmitted disease should get tested yearly or periodically, depending on the situation at hand. For example, if you started a new relationship with someone positive for a sexually transmitted disease or you had unprotected, getting tested as soon as possible is important. If you have never been tested before, you’ve had more than one partner in the last year or you’re experiencing STD symptoms, it’s also a good idea to get tested in the near future. If you are a member of a high risk group, such as adolescents under the age of 25 or men who have sex with men (MSM), getting tested year to assure a clean bill of sexual health is recommended.
Spend the time you would waiting on an answer about your unknown STD status by discovering more of what makes Boise great, like the Morrison Knudsen Nature Center. Just choose the right tests for you and a convenient test location. Test sample collection usually takes 15 minutes or less, and results are typically available within 24 to 48 hours.
In Boise and across Ada County, the number and rates of chlamydia and gonorrhea continue to rise. Boise is part of Idaho Public Health District 4, which offers health services and reports on diseases in the area. It is also referred to as the Central District. Other counties included in this statistical reporting area include Elmore, Boise and Valley.3 In Ada County, 1,607 new infections of chlamydia were reported in 2013 compared to 1,478 in 2012, exhibiting an 8% increase. The rate of gonorrhea in Boise and the greater Ada County area increased by 16%, with 70 new cases reported in 2012 compared to 95 in 2013. This geographical region continues to see a declining number of primary and secondary syphilis cases, as evidenced by 36 reported in 2012 followed by 16 documented by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare in 2013. This development represents a 55% decrease.1
The number of new infections reported in Ada County and across Idaho Public Health District 4 continues to decrease. In 2013, the number of new HIV infections totaled 24, lowering to 10 the following year and rising back up slightly in 2015 to 12. This reduction by half is promising, however, the total number of new HIV infections in the state of Idaho in 2014 was 19. This number sheds light on just how sparsely populated the area is and how much the sexual health of Boise makes an impact on state reporting.2 Getting tested is an effective way of gaining knowledge about your sexually transmitted disease status which can lead to treatment, if medically appropriate.
Idaho state law and the Idaho State Department of Education rely heavily on the role of parents and the church to influence and shape the health and sexual education of youth and teenagers in the area. In fact, state law does not mandate any form of sexual education in schools, further leaving teens in the dark when it comes to making smart and safe decisions about sexual behavior and the risks associated. According to a March 2016 report released by the Guttmacher Institute revealing a state-by-state breakdown of sexual education and policies, Idaho public schools make no provisions whatsoever for topics associated with sexual education, including HIV/AIDS education. If a public school does choose to incorporate lessons on sexual health or family life, parents can exercise their legal right to opt their students out.5&6
All across the United States, young adults are disproportionately affected by the spread of sexually transmitted disease. In Idaho, 70% of all chlamydia cases in 2014 were reported in members of the 15-24 age group.4 While abstinence is the only 100% effective method for preventing STDs, equipping young adults with the knowledge about how to have safe sex and how to reach out in the instance of a health issue or STD exposure is critical for lowering the rates of infected teens in Boise, Ada County and all across the Idaho. Helping to eliminate any embarrassment or shame and replacing it with confidence about their sexual health and decision-making skills could make the difference in a community like Boise.
In the Boise and Ada County area, men and women are impacted differently by the spread of sexually transmitted disease. This distribution often depends on the infection. To illustrate, chlamydia affects a larger number of women and men across the state of Idaho, with women reporting 71.6% of all new infections in 2014. In the instance of new gonorrhea infections, 55.7% were reported in men compared to 44.2% in women that same year. Men are the gender typically most affected by primary and secondary syphilis infections, reflected by the fact that all 24 diagnoses reported in 2014 were by males. HIV in Idaho affects more men than women based on reports from the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, with 100% of new 2014 infections.2
The racial/ethnic demographic group reporting the most chlamydia infections in 2014 were Caucasians, accounting for 44% of all diagnoses. Similarly, Caucasians saw the most reported cases of gonorrhea throughout the state of Idaho, with 255 out of 443 total infections. Regarding primary and secondary syphilis, the racial/ethnic demographic group demonstrating the most impact is the Caucasian population, with 79.1% of all infections. Caucasians reported the highest number of HIV infections in 2014.2 Reaching out to communities and groups that are more affected than others is an important strategy for lowering the STD rates in Boise, Ada County and Idaho as a whole. Spreading the word and encouraging testing is valuable for those who have less access to services than others.
We understand that STD testing can be stressful, but it doesn’t need to be. With a couple short steps, the answers to your sexual health questions will be answered, whether it means a single antibiotic treatment, a more involved regimen or solutions in between. Just choose the tests that are right for you, then select the lab nearest you for a brief visit (usually 15 minutes or less) to collect your test samples. No appointment is needed.
The results of your same-day testing will usually be available within 48 hours, depending on the tests and the results. The medical team will be available for follow-up consult to answer any questions you might have and even to prescribe follow up treatment, if medically appropriate and if allowed by state law. Get tested. It’s for your better health.