Getting out and seeing more of what makes this city great, like concerts with family and friends at the Mesa Amphitheatre, can happen when you make more free time by getting STD testing out of the way. In 2013, Maricopa County ranked 7th in the nation for the number of gonorrhea cases, and the state of Arizona continues to see staggering rises of primary and secondary syphilis. According to reports released by the Arizona Department of Health Services, the state saw a 196% increase of this sexually transmitted disease in 2014.² Syphilis, if caught early, can be treated and cured by with a regimen of antibiotics. Left untreated, however, this condition can prove to have far more serious medical consequences, including congenital syphilis, an infection passed from mother to child that can be fatal for the newborn, making screening absolutely essential for anyone at risk who is currently pregnant or planning to be.³

Getting tested for sexually transmitted diseases can be embarrassing, intimidating or even shameful, but it doesn’t need to feel that way. With STDtest.com, a dedicated team of Care Advisors is available 7 days a week from 6 am to 10 pm to answer your questions you have about the process and to guide you each step of the way. That way, your tests remain private, discreet and confidential, but you never have to feel alone. For added support, our medical team is available for follow up consults. Our doctors are licensed to practice in all 50 states. If medically appropriate and if allowed by state law, they can prescribe treatment or they can connect you with a local doctor to help complete your treatment plan.

STD Test Statistics in Mesa, AZ

Just as primary and secondary syphilis saw a dramatic increase across the country (112%) and in the state of Arizona, Mesa and the larger Maricopa County area saw a 47.9% year-over-year increase of this sexually transmitted disease, with 409 new infections reported in 2014 compared to 213 in 2013. Looking back slightly further, the total number of primary and secondary syphilis cases from 2011 to 2014 increased by 51.3%. Another sexually transmitted infection with heightened numbers of infections reported year-over-year in this metropolitan statistical area is gonorrhea, with 5,514 new cases diagnosed in 2013 compared to 4,724 in 2014, making for an 14.3% increase. This trend continues upward, considering that in 2011, there were 3,209 reported infections in Maricopa County.²

Of the most frequently reported sexually transmitted diseases in this county located in Southwestern Arizona, chlamydia stands apart as the condition cited most commonly in the population. In 2014, 19,788 new infections were reported in 2014 compared to 19,152 the year before. This elevation in the number of new chlamydia diagnoses accounts for a 3.2% year-over-year increase. In Maricopa County, the average number of new HIV infections from data ranging from 2009 to 2013 is 11.5 new diagnoses per 100,000 residents in Mesa and Maricopa County, collectively. ^2&4 Again, getting tested and treated is a simple way to start lowering increasing trends for better overall community health.

STD Testing and Sexual Education in Mesa

In the state of Arizona, HIV/AIDS education is required in all public primary public schools, including local districts in Mesa. However, sexual education is not required by law in this setting, and districts around the state can pick and choose if they want this type of curriculum in their classrooms or not. In the Mesa Public School district in particular, every parent must give written consent for their children to participate in sexual education lessons provided at school.^5&6 Including “opt-in” sex ed rather than the traditional “opt-out” model for those parents or guardians who would rather their student not participate makes it more difficult for all students to learn information to help them avoid sexually transmitted diseases, HIV/AIDS and unintended pregnancy.^5&6

According to pending state legislature, the state of Arizona could be heading towards mandating sexual education in all schools. While this would be a great step forward for the better sexual health of young people in the area, there are still strides for the Department of Education to make when it comes to how sexuality is taught in schools. According to the state’s education guidelines, homosexuality is not permitted to be portrayed in classrooms as “a positive alternative lifestyle.” Considering that 22.8% of all 39,919 sexually transmitted infections across Arizona were reported in gay, bisexual or men who have sex with men (MSM), there is likely some disconnect between negating this lifestyle choice and providing young gay men (and women) with the resources they need to protect themselves and lower the existing rates.^2,6&7

STD Testing and Demographics in Mesa

Together with Pima County, Mesa and the greater Maricopa county area accounts for nearly 64.4% of the total number of sexually transmitted infections reported in the state of Arizona as of 2014, according to the most recent reports made public by the Arizona Department of Health Services. Arizona is home to 21 nationally recognized American Indian Tribes, including the namesake Maricopa community. Compared to other metropolitan areas across the country, due to the population makeup, American Indians/Alaskan Natives report far higher numbers of sexually transmitted infections compared to other cities in the United States. This racial/ethnic group consistently sees some of the highest rates reported for chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis in both Maricopa County and across the state of Arizona.²

Age also plays a noticeable factor in the distribution of sexually transmitted diseases in Mesa, Maricopa County and throughout Arizona. In line with national trends, young people age 15-24 are the most at-risk when it comes to chlamydia, accounting for 66.7 of the the chlamydia infections reported in 2014. Regarding both syphilis and gonorrhea, 20-29 year-olds are the age group most typically reporting the highest numbers of these sexually transmitted infections. ² Recognizing and reaching out to groups at risk to encouraging testing and treatment, if medically appropriate, is essential for the overall improvement of Mesa and Maricopa County’s overall sexual and communal health.

Your Best Mesa STD Testing Option

Stress less and enjoy life more in Mesa by getting the answers you need concerning your STD status. Getting started with STDtest.com is simple. You’ll begin by answering a few quick questions about your sexual health to receive a personal test recommendation from our doctors. Next you’ll select a testing option. You can choose a local lab nearest you from a national network of thousands for a short visit (usually 30 minutes or less) to collect your test samples, no appointment needed. If available in your area, we can bring the lab to you when you select “In-Home Collection”. A trained Lab Collection Specialist can come to your front door to collect your samples within an hours’ notice.

For both options, test results are usually available in three business days or less. Our medical team is available for follow up to discuss your diagnosis, answer any remaining 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.

References:

1 U.S. Census Bureau Quick Facts – Mesa and Maricopa County, AZ
2 Arizona Department of Health Services Sexually Transmitted Diseases 2014 Report
3 CDC – Syphilis Fact Sheet
4 Arizona Health Matters – HIV/AIDS Incidence Rate (Cases/100,000 population)
5 Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 15.716 – HIV Education Guidelines
6 PROJECT M. E. S. A. GRADE 7 PERMISSION SLIP
7 SB1020 sex education programs; requirements Bill Overview