California’s state capital and its surrounding county of the same name is home to over 1.5 million residents.1 There’s plenty to see and do in this splendid Northern California city, like a family trip to the California State Railroad Museum or a culture-filled day at the Crocker Art Museum. According to the 2014 CDC National STD Surveillance Report, California ranks 4th out of 50 states for the reported number and rate of primary and secondary (P&S) syphilis infections. Additionally, the rate of this potentially very serious infection, continues to rise year-over-year in Sacramento County.2&3 Getting tested and linked to treatment is essential for keeping the county healthy. Scheduling an appointment at your primary care physician’s office can sometimes require weeks before a visit and the waiting room at a free clinic can often be crowded. STDtest.com offers a different option that is fast, convenient, confidential and affordable. Read on to learn more.
While syphilis continues to be a large issue for communities across the state of California as well as Sacramento, the capital city and its surrounding areas continue to see declining rates of commonly reported sexually transmitted diseases, namely HIV, chlamydia and gonorrhea.4-6 In the United States, California ranks 22nd for number of chlamydia cases and 15th for gonorrhea cases, at numbers and rates still exceeding the national average. Often, the most common STD symptoms are no symptoms at all, making it even easier to transmit the disease from partner to partner without anyone’s knowledge.7
For anyone at risk, getting tested periodically or yearly contributes heavily to the decrease of commonly reported STDs not just in Sacramento and the Sacramento County area, but across California and throughout the US. Anyone who very recently had unprotected sex or knows they’ve been exposed to an STI should get tested as soon as possible. Other populations at high risk for these conditions include teenagers and young adults, bisexual, gay and men who have sex with men (MSM) and certain minority group populations. For example, the CDC recommends that all sexually active women under the age of 25 get tested yearly for chlamydia.
Of the most commonly reported sexually transmitted infections in Sacramento, primary and secondary (P&S) syphilis stands out as the condition in the area that continues to be on the rise. In 2014, 139 new infections were reported compared to 115 the year before, an increase of 17.2%. The most commonly reported STI in Sacramento as well as in the state of California is chlamydia, with 7,684 new cases reported to the California Department of Public Health by Sacramento County compared to 8,017 the year before. Gonorrhea infections decreased slightly year-over-year according to the latest government-issued reports, with 2,228 gonorrhea cases published in 2014 compared to 2,223 in 2013.3,5&6
The number of new Human Immunodeficiency virus cases reported in Sacramento is on the decline, with 136 in 2013 compared to 132 reported in 2014. According to the Sacramento County 2014 HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report, this number represents a decline that started in 1992, when the number of cases peaked at 356 and continued to lower each subsequent year. The highest concentration of new infection occurs both east and south of downtown Sacramento. Getting tested is a simple and effective way to help lower the occurrence of syphilis and continue to the downward trend of chlamydia, gonorrhea and HIV infection in Sacramento.4
Sacramento and the state of California adopt a legally-mandated policy of comprehensive sexual education curriculum offered to all students in its public school system. Comprehensive sexual education incorporates an expansive approach to student learning about sexual development and family planning topics, including but not limited to facts about and methods to prevent STDs and unintended teen pregnancy, community public health resources available and the role of abstinence as a preventive measure. According to the California Comprehensive Sexual Health & HIV/AIDS Prevention Act, it is against the established legal code for any public school to teach “Abstinence-Only” sex ed curriculum.10
Conducting an open dialogue like this between educators and students is vitally important for young people in Sacramento and all across the country. Knowing the facts and getting answer to the tough, uncomfortable questions that often are associated with STDs and teen pregnancy can help teens to make healthier choices in the long run, especially when they are aware of the risks. In the United States, this young population (ages 15-24) is to have nearly half of all 20 million STIs estimated annually. Feeling supported rather than ashamed can help a young person get the testing and treatment they may need. All STDs can be treated and many can be cured, but a diagnosis is needed to get started on the road to recovery.8&11
According to reports released by the California Department of Public Health, women experience far higher rate of chlamydia than men, with 69.2% reported by women compared to 30.7% by men. The gender gap is considerably closer for men and women in regards to the number of gonorrhea infections reported, with 48.1% in women and 51.5% in men.the majority of all primary and syphilis cases are reported in men in Sacramento County, with 94.2% of cumulative infections. This is also true of HIV infections, with 86.3% reported in men as of 2013.4&12
The demographic distribution by racial/ethnic group in Sacramento County varies slightly by infection, but common trends are seen overall. The racial/ethnic group with the highest reported infections of chlamydia in 2014 is the African American population, with 20% of new infections. The group with the most substantial number of gonorrhea infections is the African American population segment, with 613 total infections. Primary and secondary syphilis impacts the Caucasian demographic group the most, with 30% of all reported infections. The highest risk group for HIV infection is men who have sex with men (MSM), accounting for 57.4% of all infections. Reaching out to these groups who are more vulnerable for these conditions and encouraging them to get tested is an important part of improving the rates of sexually transmitted disease in Sacramento County, the state of California and all across the country.
Why not spend your sun-filled free time in Sacramento engaged in what you enjoy, like relaxing at Folsom Lake or hanging out at the California Exposition, rather than feeling stressed and worried about your current STD status? Getting started with STDtest.com is simple, discreet, convenient and cost-effective. By answering a brief medical questionnaire online or by phone, you’ll receive a doctor-recommended panel of the tests right for you, based on your personal history and symptoms. Next you’ll choose a testing option. You can select a lab from a national network of thousands for a brief visit (usually 30 minutes or less) to get your test samples collected, no appointment needed. If available in your area, In-Home Collection offers professional testing at home, work or any location of your choice with only an hour’s notice.
For both options, results are usually available in three business days or less. The medical team is available for to answer any remaining questions, to discuss your diagnosis and even to prescribe treatment, if medically accurate and permitted by state law. Get tested. It’s for your better health.