Raleigh and the greater Wake County area reports the second highest number of new HIV cases in the state year-over-year, behind Mecklenburg County. One of the most simple and effective methods for lowering STDs in Raleigh is to get tested and treated, if medically appropriate. According to the CDC, all STDS can be treated and many can be cured, but in order to get treatment, a diagnosis is needed.⁵Once you’re aware of your sexual health status, you can dedicate more of your time and energy to enjoying the natural beauty in Raleigh at the JC Raulston Arboretum.

What keeps you from getting tested? Don’t let a stigma stand in the way of getting the answers you need about your sexual health. With STDtest.com, a dedicated team of Care Advisors is available 7 days a week from 6 am to 10 pm CT to answer any questions you have and to guide you through each step of the process. Often, the most common symptoms of an STD are no symptoms at all, so getting tested is often the only way to know if you are positive for a sexually transmitted condition. A positive result can lead to treatment or even a cure, in the case of chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and trichomoniasis. An STD left untreated, however, can lead to more severe medical complications, like infertility.⁴

STD Test Statistics in Raleigh, NC

The most commonly reported sexually transmitted disease year-over-year in Raleigh and the greater Wake County area is chlamydia, with 4,773 new infections reported in 2015 compared to 4,556 in 2014. From 2014 to 2015, the reported numbers of this STD in the metropolitan statistical area increased by 4.5%. Gonorrhea is another sexually transmitted disease with rising numbers in the greater Raleigh area, with 1,337 new infections reported in 2015 compared to 1,265 in 2014. The latest numbers were released by the 2015 Wake State of the County report. From 2011 to 2015, the highest number of gonorrhea cases was reported in 2015.^2&3

All cases of syphilis (primary, secondary and tertiary) are increasing in Raleigh and Wake County, with an alarming jump from 2013 to 2014. In 2013, 64 new infections were reported compared to 177 in 2014, followed by a decline, with 165 in 2015. One sexually transmitted disease currently on the decline is the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), which saw numbers drop from 153 in 2014 to 186 in 2013, compared to reports from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. Getting tested periodically or yearly and connected to the appropriate medical care, if needed, to keep the number of new STD infections from increasing in the Raleigh and Wake County area.^2-3

STD Testing and Sexual Education in Raleigh

According to the Wake County Public School system, sexual education wasn’t required in classrooms by state law until after 2009, with the passing of North Carolina House Bill 88. While this bill calls for human development and sexuality education in this area, it does not offer a comprehensive approach. Meaning, abstinence outside of marriage is the expected behavior of all children in school and that abstaining from sex should be the primary method of STD, HIV/AIDS and unintended teen pregnancy. This approach, based on more traditional values, can be more of hindrance than a help when it comes to lowering STD rates. More education about the risks and ways to stop the transmission of STDs with contraceptives rather than less helps to improve the chances of a young person getting tested and treated for an STD rather than suffering more severe complications down the line.^5&6

It is especially important to provide young people with all of the information needed when it comes to sexual health as they account for nearly 10 million of the 20 million sexually transmitted diseases reported each year are by adolescents and young adults age 15-24. Safe sex can mean the difference between a healthy young adult and a young person at risk.^3&7

STD Testing and Demographics in Raleigh

The demographic distribution of sexually transmitted disease in the Raleigh and greater Wake County area is typically determined by the specific infection. Syphilis, for example, is an emerging medical issue in the Wake County community, as reported by the 2015 State of the County Health Report. 92% of all reported cases from 2013 and 2014 are attributed to the male population, with the majority of those infected between the ages of 20-29 (36%). Many of those diagnosed with early syphilis already reported to be HIV positive (52% of new cases). The racial/ethnic group most affected by the spread of syphilis in Wake County is the African American population, who reported 56% of new syphilis infections between 2013 and 2014.³

The rise of syphilis can be problematic for a community because of the implications of an untreated case. All stages of syphilis, left untreated, can lead to more severe medical complications, including ocular syphilis, neurosyphilis and congenital syphilis, a particularly serious condition passed from mother to child that can result in birth defects or even fetal death.⁸Staying vigilant, knowing the risks and getting tested and treated, if medically appropriate, is essential for improving the communal health of Raleigh and the greater reaches of Wake County.

Your Best Raleigh STD Testing Option

Spend more time on what you enjoy in Raleigh, like a fun-filled afternoon with family and friends at Pullen Park, rather than feeling stressed and concerned over your STD status. Getting started with STDtest.com is simple. You’ll start by answering a few brief questions online or by phone regarding to receive your doctor-recommended panel of tests, based on your personal history and symptoms. Next, you’ll choose the testing option that works best for you. All across the country, you can select a lab near you for a brief visit (usually 30 minutes or less) to collect your samples, no appointment needed. If available in your area, In-Home Collection brings the lab to you. Often with only an hours’ notice, a trained Lab Collection Specialist can be at your home, office or any location you choose to collect your blood or urine sample.

For both options, tests results are usually available in three business days or less. Our medical team is available for a follow up consult to discuss your diagnosis, answer any remaining questions or even to prescribe treatment, if medically appropriate and if allowed by state law. Get tested. It’s for your better health.

References:

1 United States Census Bureau Quick Facts – Raleigh and Wake County, NC
2 2014 North Carolina HIV/STD Surveillance Report
3 2015 State of the County Health Report Wake County, NC
4 The Lowdown on How to Prevent STDS
5 Wake County Public School System K-12 Healthful Living and PE
6 North Carolina HB 88v7
7 Sexually Transmitted Infections Among Young Americans
8 Syphilis – CDC Fact Sheet