Saint Paul might be the smaller of the twin cities, but it still offers stunning beauty and plenty of exciting things to do, like having fun with friends at CHS Field. This metropolis is home to over 300,000 residents1 and currently sees a rise in commonly reported sexually transmitted diseases like chlamydia and primary and secondary (P&S) syphilis.2-4 Getting tested and treated, if medically appropriate, is a simple and effective way to lower the rates of these common infections in the community.
Scheduling an appointment at the doctor’s office can mean waiting weeks before getting in. The waiting room at a free clinic can feel crowded and overwhelming. STDtest.com offers a service with the same standards of privacy and protection, in a way that is tailored to your schedule. Read on to learn more.
Stress less and enjoy life more in this more eastern twin city by putting any questions you have about an STD test to rest. It’s important for certain groups in the population to get tested each year, according to the CDC. Sexually active young women under the age of 25 (or older women with risk factors) are urged by this government agency to get tested yearly for chlamydia. Young women all across the country, including in Saint Paul, are more susceptible to this sexually transmitted disease than men.5
Other groups at high risk for STDs include teenagers and young adults, gay and bisexual men as well as certain racial and ethnic groups. Getting tested, diagnosed and linked to treatment, if needed, is an important way to make an impact in the rising rates of sexually transmitted infections not just in Saint Paul, but throughout Minnesota and all across the United States. According to the CDC, all STDs can be treated and many can be cured, including chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and trichomoniasis. For STDs without a cure like HIV/AIDS, certain strains of viral hepatitis and genital herpes, a CDC-approved treatment regimen can both lessen the symptoms and greatly improve the quality of life for patients.6-9
Chlamydia is the single most reported sexually transmitted disease both in Saint Paul as well as Minneapolis. It is also the most commonly reported sexually transmitted infection all across the U.S. According to the CDC 2014 National STD Surveillance Report, over 1.4 million chlamydia infections were reported. The government agency estimates that 2.9 million chlamydia infections were contracted that year. In Saint Paul, 2,473 new chlamydia infections were reported in 2015, compared to 2,332 the year before and 2,377 in 2013. From 2013 to 2015, the number of new infections increased by 3.8% and the total number of infections in Saint Paul accounts for around 12% of the total numbers tabulated in Minnesota. Another sexually transmitted disease on the rise in Saint Paul is primary and secondary (P&S) syphilis. In 2014, 35 cases were reported to local health authorities in this area compared to 20 the year before, an year-over-year increase of 42.9%.2-4
One sexually transmitted infection currently on the decline in the Saint Paul area is gonorrhea. In 2014, 678 new infections were reported compared to 657 in 2015. In 2012, 657 total infections were reported as well to the Minnesota Department of Health. The number of gonorrhea diagnoses in Saint Paul accounts for 14% of the total number reported all across the state. The number of new reported HIV infections in Saint Paul decreased from 44 in 2014 to 30 in 2015, a 31.8% decrease year-over-year. Additionally, the city went from representing 14% of all HIV infections in the state in 2014 to 10% in 2015.2-4, 11-13 Continuing to stress testing and getting linked to treatment for anyone at risk for STDs only helps to improve the overall sexual health of the greater Saint Paul area.
The state of Minnesota and the Saint Paul Public Schools mandates comprehensive sexual education in all public schools. Minnesota Statute 121A.23 outlines the rules of compliance for all schools, and gives a general idea of what sexual education in schools should entail. As with all comprehensive sexual education programs, the curriculum delivered by educators should be age-appropriate, medically accurate and should present a variety of viewpoints and options when it comes to teaching young people how to best avoid sexually transmitted diseases, HIV.AIDs and unintended teen pregnancy. In addition to explaining the benefits of abstinence, it’s also required by law to teach other contraceptive and other methods of safe sex to young adults in school. Another integral part of sexual education curriculum is learning to develop healthy relationships and decision making skills, and an awareness of the community resources at their disposal should they need medical care or need help getting out of an unsafe or abusive relationship.14
Creating this open dialogue between students, educators, parents and mentors is an important step in providing this high-risk population all of the facts they need to make the best possible decisions. According to the CDC, one of the reasons young people ages 15-24 are at such a marked risk for the contracting and transmission of these common infections is concern for confidentiality, or a potential fear or unwillingness to disclose their sexual behaviors with a trusted medical professional. 15 Helping to remove the stigma of STDs can help more teenagers get the tests they need and the treatment that could cure them or greatly improve their everyday health.
As is the trend all across the United States, women in this metropolitan area are linked to the highest number of chlamydia infections. In 2015, 1,646 new infections were attributed to women in the area, compared to 826 to men. Generally, reports of gonorrhea infections display a less noticeable gap between infections in men and women. According to reports from the Minnesota Department of Public Health, 310 reports made to the department were concerning women, compared to 347 with men. Historically, reports of syphilis are seen in far higher number for men than women. Saint Paul is no exception. In 2015, of the 35 new diagnoses, 32 were attributed to men compared to 3 to women.4
HIV is another sexually transmitted disease that affects a greater number of men that women. In the state of Minnesota, men accounted for 225 of 294 total new HIV diagnoses reported in 2015. Of all of the new HIV infections reported in Minnesota, the Saint Paul metro area accounted for 15% of the state total. Not only are men more likely to report HIV at a greater rate than women, men who have sex with men (MSM) are one the highest risk groups for contraction of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, accounting for 69% of the diagnoses made in Minnesota in 2015. Continuing to reach out to high risk population to continuing educating and encouraging further testing and treatment is a simple way to make an impact when it comes to furthering the goals of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy for the United States.13
Enjoy more and stress less in Saint Paul when you get the answers you need about an unknown STD status. When you lift that burden, you’ll make more time for seeing a show at the RiverCentre as well as other fun and fantastic events all around the city. Getting started with STDtest.com is simple. Just pick your tests and choose a local lab from a national network of thousands for a short visit (usually 15 minutes or less) to collect your test samples.
For both options, test results are available in usually three business days or less. Our medical team is available for follow up to answer any remaining questions, discuss your diagnosis and the treatment options to choose from. Get tested. It’s for your better health.
1 U.S. Census Bureau Quick Facts – Saint Paul and Ramsey County, MN
2 2013 Minnesota Sexually Transmitted Disease Statistics Minnesota Department of Health, STD/HIV/TB Section
3 2014 Minnesota Sexually Transmitted Disease Statistics Minnesota Department of Health, STD/HIV/TB Section