The Land of Lincoln gets its namesake from Springfield’s most famous resident, the 16th president of the United States. While there’s plenty of tributes to Honest Abe around the state capital city, there’s also plenty more to explore, like a leisurely hike through Carpenter Park. Springfield is the seat of Sangamon County, and the two areas combined are home to 198,712 residents 1 and continues to see a rise of sexually transmitted diseases in the area, including HIV and chlamydia.2-5
Getting tested and treated for these common communicable infections is a simple and effective way to lower city and county rates. Scheduling an appointment with your primary care doctor for STD testing can mean waiting weeks before getting in, and the waiting room at a free clinic can be crowded. STDtest.com is a simple option that works with your schedule to ensure STD testing is convenient, discreet and on your schedule. Read on to learn more.
Life in this town in the center of the Prairie State is a mix of historical and modern. With beautiful state government buildings and the trail of Lincoln’s history in Springfield, the easy charm of a simpler time makes Springfield unique. However, it’s important to remember that in this day and age, there are many ways to protect against the current threat to public health, the spread of sexually transmitted disease. Knowing the risk factors and when to get tested is vital information. Anyone sexually active who has never been tested before, anyone who recently had unprotected sex, anyone in a relationship with an STD-positive partner who has yet to get tested and anyone who fears they might have been exposed to an STD should get tested as soon as possible.
According to the CDC, all STDs can be treated and many can be cured, including chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and trichomoniasis. However, left untreated, these conditions that can be cured with antibiotics can cause more serious medical complications, including infertility.6&7 Sexually transmitted diseases that do not have a cure, like HIV, certain forms of viral hepatitis and genital herpes, can be managed with medicine to greatly improve the quality of life for those affected. Getting the answers about your status, no matter what the infection, is an important step on the road to recovery.
Between 2011 and 2012, the number of HIV cases in the greater Sangamon County area increased by 61%, jumping from 11 reported infections in 2011 to 18 in 2012. Another sexually transmitted disease on the rise in Springfield and Sangamon County is chlamydia. In fact, chlamydia is the most commonly reported sexually transmitted disease not just in Springfield and Sangamon County, but it is the most frequently reported STD in Illinois as well across the United States. In Chicago, Illinois’ largest city, 28,006 chlamydia infections were reported in 2012, compared to 1,369 in Springfield and Sangamon County that same year.2-5,11
In the Illinois state capital and its surrounding county area saw declining reports of both gonorrhea and primary and secondary (P&S) syphilis, according to reports released by the the Illinois Department of Public Health. In 2011, 500 new gonorrhea cases were reported to local health authorities, compared to 485 in 2012. Regarding P&S syphilis, 9 new cases were reported in 2011 compared to 8 in 2012. Continuing to get tested and treated, if medically necessary, is an important way to improve the overall sexual health of residents in Springfield and Sangamon County.2-5
As of January 2014, Illinois state law mandates that if sexual education is taught in a public school setting, the curriculum must be age-appropriate, medically accurate and cover both abstinence and the various methods of safe sex. This balanced approach for students grades 6-12 helps to start an important conversation about the variety of methods to avoid sexually transmitted diseases, HIV/AIDS and unintended pregnancy. In the state of Illinois as well as all across the country, the youth population is at high risk for contracting sexually transmitted disease in large numbers, for a variety of factors.5&12
According to the CDC, young people ages 15-24 are estimated to account for nearly 10 million sexually transmitted diseases in the United States each year (out of nearly 20 million total). Certain populations, like young women, are especially vulnerable. The CDC recommends that sexually active young women (and older women with risk factors) get tested annually for chlamydia. While biology does play a factor, worries about disclosing sexual behavior to medical professional as well as multiple sex partners at this age also increases the likelihood of young people contracting STDs.7
Across the state of Illinois between January and June, young people ages 15-24 accounted for 73% of the chlamydia infections, as well as 67.2% of all gonorrhea infections and 17.6% of all reported primary and syphilis infections. From 2006 through June 2013, 2,924 new HIV cases were reported in 15-24 year olds . Gender also plays a significant role in the distribution of sexually transmitted disease in Springfield and the greater Sangamon County area. As is the trend all across the nation, this metropolitan statistical area also sees reported chlamydia cases attributed to women in far higher numbers than men. From January 2013 through June 2013, 73% of chlamydia cases were attributed to this group compared to 26.1% to men. According to reports to the local health authorities in Sangamon County, women had more gonorrhea infections than men in this time period. Regarding primary and secondary syphilis, 780 of the 916 cases reported by health officials were on behalf of male patients.
Racial/ethnic groups in the Springfield and Sangamon county area are affected at different rates by sexually transmitted disease. The group reporting the highest rate of chlamydia infection, according to reports from the Illinois Department of Health, was the African American population, with 7,290 infections from January to June 2013. Looking at the data for gonorrhea, the racial/ethnic group accounting for the majority of reported infections was the African American population segment, with 2,070 infections. Of all early syphilis cases, the African American racial/ethnic group accounted for the majority of all diagnoses made. Regarding HIV, one of the highest risk groups for contracting the virus is men who have sex with men (MSM), reporting 64.5% of new HIV cases in the state of Illinois at this time. Continuing to educate, reach out and encourage STD testing and linkage to any necessary treatment is essential for improving the state of STDs in Springfield, Sangamon County and Illinois.5
Stress less when you answer unknown questions about your STD status and make more time for what you enjoy most in Springfield, like a stroll in the Lincoln Memorial Garden. Getting started with STDtest.com is simple. You’ll begin by answering a short medical questionnaire online or by phone to receive a personal doctor recommendation for the tests you should take, based on your symptoms and personal history. Next, you’ll select a testing option. You can choose a local lab most convenient for you from a national network of thousands for a short visit (usually 30 minutes or less) to collect your test samples. If available in your area, testing can come to you with In-Home Collection. Our trained Lab Collection Specialists are available in an hours’ notice to take your test samples at home, work or any place you choose.
For both options, results are usually available in three business days or less. For follow up, our medical team is available for consult to discuss your diagnosis and help set up your treatment plan, if medically appropriate. Get tested. It’s for your better health.