Lubbock, a northwestern beacon in the Lone Star state, is home to plenty of country pluck, like one its most famous exports, the inimitable Buddy Holly. As the 11th largest city in Texas, it’s a modest metropolitan area offering the charms of country life and the tempting trappings of lively city life. The Lubbock metro belongs to the county of the same name and the population of the combined areas reaching nearly 300,000 residents.1 Lubbock County continues to see sexually transmitted on the rise, namely HIV, chlamydia and gonorrhea.2&3
Knowing the risks for contracting STDs, getting tested and linked to treatment, if medically appropriate, is key for lowering the rising rates in Lubbock, as well across the state and all around the country. Sometimes, scheduling an appointment for screening with your primary care physician means waiting weeks before getting in, and the waiting rooms at free clinics can potentially be crowded. STDtest.com presents a different option, featuring the same exemplary standards of privacy and patient care, while additionally being fast, convenient and affordable. Read on to learn more.
Life in Lubbock is entrenched in country flair, not to mention there’s plenty of fun to be had at Joyland Amusement Park. Something to be taken seriously in this Texas city and county area is the continued increase of sexually transmitted infections, infections that can be prevented, tested and treated for. STD testing should be stress-free, that’s why we offer a service with same-day, walk-in appointment option delivered in three business days or less. A dedicated team of Care Advisors is also available to address any questions or concerns you might have 7 days a week from 6 AM – 10 PM CST.
Lubbock County ranks 5th in the state for counties with the highest rate of gonorrhea infection, 10th in the state for rate of chlamydia infections, as well as 12th in the state for the number of chlamydia infections. With statistics like these, residents of the area who at risk should take control of their sexual health, get tested and determine their status. According to the CDC, all STDs can be treated and many can be cured, including chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and trichomoniasis.4 Left untreated, STDs can evolve into more serious health issues, like infertility.5
The sexually transmitted disease reported with the highest frequency in Lubbock County in 2014 was chlamydia, with 1,980 total infections. This is an increase compared to year-over-year numbers, with 1,824 new infections reported in 2013. Another STD on the rise in the Lubbock area is gonorrhea, with 737 new cases reported in 2014 compared to 714 in 2013. From 2010 to 2014, the highest number of gonorrhea infections in Lubbock County was the final year of reporting, 2014. With the 5th highest county rankings for this STD, testing and treatment is essential for lowering numbers and rates.2
One sexually transmitted disease currently on the decline in this metropolitan statistical area is primary and secondary syphilis. In 2013, 15 new infections were reported compared to 7 in 2014. From 2010 to 2014, the highest year of reported infections was 2012 and the lowest was 2014, with 18 and 7 diagnoses respectively. New HIV numbers continue to rise in Lubbock, with an increase of 10 new cases reported between 2013 and 2014. Preventive measures like STI vaccination and HIV PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) are crucial in lowering the rate of infection. Knowing the facts about prevention, testing and what treatment, if any, looks like for different sexually transmitted diseases.2&3
According to the Guttmacher Report on state trends in HIV and sexual education, the state of Texas does not mandate any form of sex ed in any of its Independent School Districts. State codes mandate that if sexual education topics are introduced in schools, abstinence as the sole and most effective form of STD and unintended pregnancy prevention.6 This pedagogical approach doesn’t seem to observe the statistic that 10 million young Americans between the ages of 15 and 24 are estimated to contract sexually transmitted diseases annually, a figure disproportionate to their nationwide population.7
An effort towards comprehensive education in the Lubbock area is being ushered in by Texas Tech University Human Development Professor Elizabeth Trejos Castillo in partnership with schools in the Lubbock-Cooper Independent School District. Professor Castillo developed “Normalizing Sexual Development” curriculum. This is considered “Abstinence-Plus” curriculum, which still places an emphasis on abstinence as the primary preventive method of teen pregnancy and STDs, however, it incorporates other important topics like contraception into the conversation.8 Initiating these important discussions is key in encouraging young people at risk to get tested for STIs, which will in turn make for healthier futures.
Across the state of Texas, young people bear a statistical weight when it comes to the distribution of sexually transmitted disease in communities all around the state, including Lubbock. In 2014, the 15-24 age group accounted for 66.2% of all chlamydia infections, as well as 56.9% of all gonorrhea infections in the state of Texas. HIV and primary and secondary syphilis reports from the Texas Department of State Health Services tend to skew older, corresponding to the demographic breakdown of age groups and sexually transmitted diseases. 20-29 year olds comprise the majority of HIV diagnoses, and 20-29 year olds constitute the majority of primary and secondary syphilis infections.2&3
The racial/ethnic group most affected by the spread of chlamydia in the state are Hispanics, reporting 35.5% of all infections in 2014, followed by African Americans with 23.5%. African Americans reported 38.7% of all gonorrhea infections in the statistical population. The racial/ethnic group in 2014 that reported the highest number of primary and secondary syphilis infections was the African American population, with 579 infections compared to a cumulative total of 1,580. The population most impacted by new HIV diagnoses in Texas are African Americans, accounting for a 50.8/100,000 rate of infection statewide. Spreading the word about getting tested and treated for sexually transmitted diseases, especially within groups that are at high risk or have limited access to medical resources and care, is essential for lowering the rates of disease in Lubbock, Texas and all across the country.2&3
Dedicate more of your free time to a Lubbock attraction you love most, like catching a game at Dan Law Field at Rip Griffin Park or a concert at the City Bank Coliseum, rather than worrying and weighing the decision about getting tested for STDs. STDtest.com provides a fast, convenient, discreet and private service for those who need it most. To get started, answer a brief medical questionnaire online or by phone to receive your personalized panel of doctor-recommended tests. After that, select a lab most convenient for you from a national network of thousands for a brief visit (usually 30 minutes or less) to collect your test samples. After your test samples are collected, results are usually available in three business days or less. The medical team is available for a follow up consult to answer any of your questions or even to prescribe treatment, if medically appropriate and if allowed by state law. Get tested. It’s for your better health.