Home to the Bengals, the Reds and the famous Skyline Chili, Cincinnati and the greater Hamilton County is one of the many reasons that the Midwest is best. Bluff City offers plenty of off-the-beaten path gems as well, like the Cincinnati Observatory and the Contemporary Arts Center. Getting to know this city on the Mississippi, this hometown to nearly 940,000 people1 continues to see climbing rates of sexually transmitted diseases like chlamydia and gonorrhea.2&3
Getting tested is not just important to the personal health of Cincinnati residents, but can also improve the overall sexual health of the Hamilton County community and beyond. If you’re worried about scheduling a doctor’s appointment weeks in advance or you’re looking to avoid crowded waiting rooms at a free clinic, STDtest.com could be the best sexually transmitted disease testing option for you. Read on to learn more.
If you’re worried about your STD risk, it’s not worth it to hesitate. Getting an STD test can be a stressful prospect, but we can help lighten the burden by making it easy as possible for you to get the tests you need when you need them, at a day and time most convenient for you. Your test results will be available in usually three business days or less, and the medical team is available for follow up and to answer any questions you might have.
With STDs such as gonorrhea, primary and secondary (P&S) syphilis and new infections of HIV starting to show declining trends, it’s more important than ever to find out your sexual status to keep the rates moving downward. Commonly reported sexually transmitted diseases like chlamydia and gonorrhea often present without any symptoms, so often the only way to determine infection is by taking a test. Instead of feeling stressed, why not enjoy a night out with friends in thriving downtown Cincinnati? Once you choose to get tested, let us help you take care of the next steps.
Chlamydia is the most commonly reported STD in both the Cincinnati metropolitan area and the greater reaches of Hamilton County, and it is also on the rise amongst residents in the area. From 2014 to 2015, the number of infections rose from 6,447 to 6,839 new infections in the county. Of the nine major metropolitan areas in Ohio (Akron, Canton, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, Lima, Toledo and Youngstown), Cincinnati ranked 1st for the rate of infection with 2,256.7/100,000, and 2nd for the number of infections in the state behind Columbus with 6,714, as reported by the Ohio Department of Health STD Surveillance Program in 2015.3
Gonorrhea rates and number of infections are once again on the rise in Cincinnati and Hamilton County following a period of decline from 2012-2014. Again, in a comparison of the nine most populous cities in Ohio, Cincinnati claims the #1 spot for rate of infections (900.1) and is ranked 3rd behind Cleveland and Columbus for total number of new reported infections; 2,678 reported in 2015, compared to 2,250 reported the previous year.5 In the instance of primary and secondary syphilis in Cincinnati, it is similar to both chlamydia and gonorrhea in that it is ranked #1 out of the major Ohio metropolises for rate of infection. It is #2 in the state for number of cases, following Columbus.6
The number of new HIV infections in Cleveland and Hamilton County saw a decrease from 2013 to 2014, with 164 cases reported in 2013 compared to 148 the following year. The 2014 number reflects a fluctuation the trends of infection. In 2012, the county reported 148 infections, similarly to 2014. This information hopefully points to a stabilization in new reported infections in the area.7 Getting tested for HIV and the use of pre-exposure prophylaxis antiretroviral medication (PrEP) by anyone at risk are promising ways to continue lowering the number of those affected by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus in Cincinnati, Hamilton County and beyond.
Young people in Cincinnati public schools and all across Ohio are expected to learn a comprehensive form of sexual education, as mandated by Ohio state law. A comprehensive sexual education indicates a well-rounded curriculum featuring both lessons on abstinence the only 100% effective method of birth control and STD prevention, in addition to contraception, learning about and preventing sexually transmitted diseases, forming healthy relationships, recognizing unhealthy relationships and bolstering self-esteem.8&9 This form of sexual education is especially important for the young adult population in Cincinnati and Hamilton County, which sees a large number of sexually transmitted infections attributed to adolescents and young adults age 15-24.
According to reports from the Ohio Department of Health, 69.2% of all chlamydia infections were reported in this age group.3 All across the country, sexually active young women under the age of 25 are at risk for chlamydia infections and should be screened yearly, per recommendation by the CDC.10 Opening a dialogue about the risk factors and the ease of access to get tested is essential in improving the chances for diagnosis and treatment of the most common sexually transmitted diseases in the United States. For commonly reported STIs like chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis, antibiotics are all that’s needed for a full cure of the disease. Spread the word about getting tested in a way that is fast, confidential and affordable for the better health of young people in Cincinnati.
In the case of commonly reported sexually transmitted bacterial infections, Cincinnati consistently reports the highest rates of infection in the state. While young people are adversely affected, another demographic group that presents a high risk is the African American population. Across the state of Ohio, African Americans accounted for 35.2% of all chlamydia infections and 50.6% of all gonorrhea infections in 2015. In 2014 (the most recent available numbers for the following STDs), this demographic group accounted for 52% of primary and secondary syphilis cases, as well as 52% of new HIV infections in the state.2-7
In Ohio and in trends noted across the United States, Men and women are affected in different distributions, varying by infection. For example, women in Ohio are far more likely to be affected by chlamydia than men, with 71.2% of all reported infections compared to 28.8% of 56,816 cases reported in men that year. The distribution of gonorrhea by gender is less disparate than that of chlamydia, with the female population accounting for 51.1% of all cases compared to 48.9% reported in males. Both P&S syphilis and HIV are reported as more likely to affect the male population than female. Of 561 P&S cases in 2014, 484 instances were reported in males compared to 77 in females. Similarly, of the new 2014 HIV diagnoses, 813 were reported in men compared to 137 reported in women. The greatest risk group for HIV is men who have sex with men (MSM), with 68% of all HIV infections in Ohio.
Getting tested for sexually transmitted diseases slows down their spread, and as many present without any symptoms at all, a positive test can be the only indication that an individual is a carrier. The smart choice is to spread the word about STD testing.
Life in Cincinnati is far sweeter when you’re taking advantage of activities you enjoy, like visiting the Krohn Conservatory or taking in a game at the Great American Ball Park, rather than feeling stressed about how an STD could be affecting your overall health. STDtest.com takes a process that can feel burdensome and helps to lighten the load from the very outset.
To get started, simply log on or call the dedicated team of Care Advisors to answer a few brief questions. By doing so, you’ll receive a doctor-recommended panel of tests customized to your history and symptoms. Next, you’ll select a testing option. You can choose a lab from a national network of thousands for a brief visit (usually 30 minutes or less) to collect your test samples, no appointment needed. If available in your area, you can can get tested at home, work or another convenient location with In-Home Collection that same day with only an hour’s notice.
For both options, you’ll be able to access your test results usually within three business days or less. The medical team is available for any follow up 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.