Part of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, Irving is another place to discover in West Texas that’s full of wonder. Irving plays gracious host to business people around the globe with it’s famed convention center, but this Texas town is not quite as buttoned up as it seems. Sexually transmitted diseases like gonorrhea and syphilis are currently on the rise in Irving and the greater Dallas County area, home to nearly 2.6 million residents.1&2
Staying informed and getting tested is vitally important when it comes to stopping the spread in this city. As part of a mega metropolis, Irving citizens can be at a higher risk of contracting STDs, purely by their proximity to a large and diverse population. If you’ve avoided getting tested because it scheduling an appointment with your primary care physician can mean weeks of waiting or because the crowded waiting rooms at free clinics can feel intimidating, take advantage of a new and different option. STDtest.com provides the same exemplary standard of care and FDA-approved tests, with more convenient testing options and results delivered usually within three business days or less.
Locals know that Irving is more the hustle and bustle of conference centers. Irving residents relax and unwind along the Campion Trails or taking it easy in Centennial Park. While getting tested for sexually transmitted diseases can seem stressful, intimidating or embarrassing, it doesn’t need to be. Our 4 step process is fast, efficient and affordable, and the privacy information of our patients is protected with medical industry-best technology. With same-day, walk-in options available at a network of labs across the country, as well as at-home testing options available in certain parts of the country, convenience is key. With sexually transmitted diseases continuing to increase in the Irving and greater Dallas County area, it’s a simple action to take for gaining control of your sexual health.
Irving reported 56 new cases of HIV in 2014, contributing to the Dallas County total of 887.3 This county ranks 2nd in the state of Texas for the highest number of HIV infections, a number which can improve with consistent prevention, testing and linkage to care in Irving and the greater reaches of Dallas County. With the proper treatment, HIV viral load can be almost entirely suppressed, making it a livable disease and offering bright futures to those testing positive.4 In fact, all STDs can be treated and many cured,5 which can help to alleviate the stress associated with getting tested.
Chlamydia is the disease with the most significant reported presence in Irving and Dallas County, posting 14,744 new infections in 2014. This is a decrease from the year before, which reported 14,975 total chlamydia infections in the county. Gonorrhea is currently on the rise in Dallas County, with 4,968 new infections reported in 2014 compared to 4,853 in 2013. Between 2010 and 2014, the highest number of infections in the area was 5,156 in 2011. Primary and secondary syphilis, as well as all syphilis cases (early latent, late latent and late stage) continue to see increasing numbers in Irving and Dallas County. From 2010 to 2014, the highest reported number of primary and secondary syphilis occurred in 2014 with 284 infections. The lowest year for reported P&S syphilis infections was 2011 with 181 new infections. Compared to the rest of the state, Dallas County reported 284 of 1,580 cumulative diagnoses in 2014.2
HIV infection numbers and rates continue an upward trend, according to the latest reports released by the Texas Department of State Health Services. In 2014, 887 new diagnoses in Dallas County were reported, compared to 790 the previous year. Not only is Dallas County the #2 county in the state for the number of reported HIV infections, it ranks 2nd as well for the number of AIDS infections. Dallas County also ranks 4th and 5th respectively for the rates of AIDS and HIV infections in the Texas statistical area.3 Getting tested and treated for these commonly reported sexually transmitted infections is integral for improving the health of communities like Irving across Texas and across the country.
Sexual education in Irving, Dallas County and across the state of Texas relies on an “Abstinence-Only” or “Abstinence-Stress” methodologies, a pedagogical stance that might be hindering the sexual health of young people across the state. In 2015, a school in Crane, Texas reported a chlamydia outbreak affecting 7% of all students at the local high school. The institution in question did not provide any sexual education curriculum to its students.6 In Texas, it is not mandated by the state legislature to include any sexual education whatsoever public school curriculum, according to a report from the Guttmacher Institute detailing state-by-state requirements and regulations for this topic.7
Regarding to curriculum released by the Irving Independent School District, Human Sexuality is taught to children of all grade levels, with a stress on abstinence as the most effective form of contraception, as well as, “Present[ing] abstinence as the preferred choice of behavior for unmarried persons of school age.”8 With sexually transmitted diseases affecting nearly 10 million young people across the United States, this “preferred” choice of behavior as outlined by the school district might not mirror what is occurring in reality.9 Providing young people the facts about the risks of STDs and how they can get tested and treated is essential for bettering the sexual health of this at-risk age group.
Let’s further analyze how youth is affected by the spread of sexually transmitted disease in Irving and Dallas County. The age group most affected by chlamydia infections was the 15-24 year old population, accounting for 64.2% of all 2014 infections. 15-24 year olds saw the highest numbers of gonorrhea incidence, with 2,596 infections. The highest reported primary and secondary syphilis infections was in 25-34 year-olds, with 35.2% of cumulative infections for the year. Those aged 25-34 make up the demographic group reporting HIV infections with the most frequency in Dallas County, Texas.10&11
In Irving and Dallas County, the racial demographic group most affected by chlamydia were African Americans, reporting 34% of 2014 infections. Gonorrhea impacted the African American racial/ethnic demographic the most, with 48.6% of infections reported attributed to this population. 47.1% of all primary and syphilis infections were reported in African Americans, and 45.9% of all new HIV diagnoses were reported in African Americans as well. Spreading the word about getting tested to these at-risk populations and to community members who may be lacking testing resources is key for helping to lower STD rates and improve the health of the population.10&11
Spend your free time in Irving trying something new and adventurous, like kayaking along Lake Carolyn rather than letting the stress of your unknown STD status. Getting started with STDtest.com is simple. By answering a brief medical intake questionnaire, you’ll receive a doctor-recommended STD testing panel customized to your personal history and symptoms. Next, you’ll choose a testing option. You can select a local lab most convenient for you from a national network of thousands, where you’ll get your test samples collected. If available in your area, you can get tested at home, work or anywhere you you choose with In-Home Collection.
For both options, results are usually available in three business days or less. The medical team is available for consult to discuss your diagnosis, answer any follow up questions and even to prescribe follow treatment, if medically appropriate or if allowed by state law. Get tested. It’s for your better health.