One of the major entryways to all things NYC is through the LaGuardia Airport in Astoria, Queens. This thriving borough of the city is just a few miles from the larger hustle and bustle of Manhattan, yet it manages to maintain a somewhat suburban sensibility. Queens Borough is home to nearly 2.4 million residents1 and currently sees increases in commonly reported sexually transmitted diseases in the area like HIV, chlamydia and syphilis.2-5 Getting tested and treated is vital for helping to lower these rising trends in Queens and all throughout New York City. Scheduling an appointment at the doctor’s office can often mean waiting weeks before getting seen, and the waiting room at a free clinic has the potential be crowded. STDtest.com offers an alternative that is fast, convenient, discreet and affordable. Read on to learn more.
Queens is far more than just another borough surrounding Manhattan. It’s an established city furnished with neighborhoods brimming with distinctive character. The sexual health of Queens and its surrounding boroughs in New York City depends on people knowing the risks of sexually transmitted disease and that anyone at risk continues to seek out testing and treatment when appropriate. Who is at risk for STDs? This list includes but is not limited to anyone sexually active who has never been tested before, anyone who just had unprotected sex, anyone with multiple partners recently or within the last year, anyone in a relationship with an STD-positive partner, or anyone who is concerned they have been exposed to a sexually transmitted infection.
Knowing the right time to get tested is important. For some, especially those who have never been tested, getting tested right away is the best option. For others, like those who had unprotected sex over a weekend and want to get tested that following Monday, it may take longer for the infection to register on a test and a later date might be the ideal option for the most accurate results. Consulting one of our Care Advisors, who are available 7 days a week from 6 am to 10 pm, or your own doctor about the best time to get tested is recommended. According to the CDC, all STDs can be treated and many can be cured, including chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and trichomoniasis. Getting tested and linked to treatment can greatly improve the patient’s quality of life, no matter what the diagnosis. However, leaving an STD undiagnosed and untreated can lead to more serious medical consequences, including infertility.6&7
Chlamydia is the most commonly reported sexually transmitted infection not just in Queens, Manhattan and the greater New York City area, but all across the United States as well. According to the CDC’s 2014 National STD Surveillance Report, over 1.4 million new cases of chlamydia were reported in 2014, with an estimated 2.9 million cases in the country, reported or otherwise. The number of chlamydia infections in Queens rose from 11,130 in 2013 to 11,924 in 2014, a 6.6% increase. Another sexually transmitted disease currently on the rise in Queens is HIV, with 461 new infections reported in 2013 compared to 464 in 2014. AIDS in this metropolitan statistical area, however, is on the decline, with 281 new diagnoses reported to the New York City Department of Health in 2013 compared to 194 in 2014.2-5
All across New York City, the number of primary and secondary syphilis infections increased from 2013 to 2014, with 1,167 diagnoses in 2013 compared to 1,307 the following year, revealing a 10.7% increase. Conversely, new infections of gonorrhea in the greater Queens Borough area are on the decline, as indicated by the latest reports from the New York Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. In 2013,1,955 new infections were reported, compared to 1,568 the following year. The neighborhood with the highest number of gonorrhea infections in 2014 was Jamaica for the female population and West Queens for the male population.2&3
The New York City Department of Education requires that all public primary school institutions provide comprehensive sexual education that is age-appropriate and medically accurate. This approach to sex ed in schools is multi-faceted. In addition to covering abstinence as a 100% effective method of STD, HIV/AIDS and unintended pregnancy, it also introduces the various other contraceptive and safe sex methods that can be employed to avoid putting young people’s sexual health at risk. Youth all around the country account for a disproportionately high number of sexually transmitted diseases in both Queens and Manhattan, and all throughout the United States.7&8
In fact, young people ages 15-24 account for nearly 10 million of the 20 million new sexually transmitted infections annually in the U.S. Providing students with accurate information in order to make the best decisions possible is just the first step. Providing this age group with the knowledge, resources and action plan of what to do when they make a risky sexual decision is what helps to lower the transmission of STIs in the community. Starting a discussion between students, educators, parents and mentors is essential for helping to guide teenagers and young adults through this already confusing time. According to the CDC, one of the reasons this age group is at high risk is because, “Many are reluctant to disclose risk behaviors to doctors”. Focusing on the facts can help to remove the stigma surrounding these common and frequently curable conditions. 6&7
One of the most noticeable variables in the distribution of sexually transmitted diseases in the Queens area is gender. Similar to most other major metropolitan areas in the nation, chlamydia in queens sees far more cases reported to the health department by women rather than men. In 2014, 7,622 new diagnoses were reported by women, compared to 4,304 by men. The gender distribution of gonorrhea in the U.S. varies by population. In Queens in 2014, men accounted for 1,480 new gonorrhea diagnoses, compared to women with 88. The most prominent age group affected by the spread of chlamydia is the 15-24 year old age group. 20-29 year olds most commonly report infections of gonorrhea in this NYC borough.
In 2014, Queens reported 17.1% of all new HIV infections in the greater New York City area. The age group to report the highest number of infections were age 20-29. The most racial/ethnic group most affected by the new infections of this disease is the African American group with 38.6% of the new diagnoses, followed by the Hispanic group with 33.9%. Continuing to reach out, educate and make resources available for testing and treatment for groups that are at high risk for HIV and AIDS is an integral aim of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy for the United States, the government’s proposed plan for helping to lower and eventually stop the spread of the virus.
Stress less in and enjoy more in Queens, like a lazy afternoon with family and friends at the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, when you get the answers you need about your unknown STD test status. Starting with STDtest.com is simple. To begin, you’ll answer a brief medical questionnaire to get a personal doctor’s recommendation of the tests that are right for you. Next, you’ll select a testing option. You can choose a lab from a national network of thousands for a short visit (usually 30 minutes or less) to get tested, no appointment needed. If available in your area, you we can bring the lab to you with In-Home Collection. One of our trained Lab Collection Specialists can be at your door within an hour of your request to collect your test samples.
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 remaining questions and even to prescribe treatment, if medically appropriate and if allowed by state law. Get tested. It’s for your better health.
