Few places offer beaches like Florida and Tampa is no exception. Tampa and the greater Hillsborough county area might be known for wild and wonderful theme parks like Busch Gardens and Adventure Island, but there’s so much more to this city on Florida’s west coast. This sun-soaked city also experiences some of the highest STD numbers in the state.
According to the Florida Department of Health, the county ranks 3rd in the state for the number of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis infections.1-3 The rise of sexually transmitted disease in Tampa is a cause for concern, but an easy way to get informed and improve community health is to get tested. Scheduling an appointment with a primary care physician can often take weeks, and the schedule at a free clinic can be unpredictable. A great option for STD testing is STDtest.com, a fast, confidential and affordable service.
In recent reports, the Tampa Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) saw STDs the increase of many common STDs, and a noticeable decrease in one type of infection. Chlamydia and infectious syphilis cases saw increases in reporting from 2013 to 2014, while gonorrhea saw a drop off in 2014 compared to the previous year.1-3 The diagnoses of new HIV cases saw an uptick in 2013 by a concerning 37%. In the state of Florida, the greater Tampa area ranks #1 in acute hepatitis B infections, with a reported 34% increase from 2012 to 2013.
Why not breathe easier to better enjoy all that the city has to offer, like long, leisurely afternoons lounging on Tampa Bay, or catching a Rays or Buccaneers game? Stress less by gaining the knowledge you need about your current STD status. Our patient-centered healthcare service is designed with your concerns in mind.
By answering a few questions, you’ll receive a doctor-recommended panel of tests based on your symptoms and circumstances. We work with a nationwide network of labs that require no appointment to get tested. After a brief visit that lasts 30 minutes or less, you’ll be notified with your results in three business days or less. The name of our website will not show up on your billing statement or in your inbox, and payment options include either insurance or out-of-pocket. Finally, if you have any questions regardless of your test results, our medical team is here to discuss your results and recommend a further course of action. Your health is worth it.
Behind Miami-Dade and Broward Counties, Hillsborough County reports the highest numbers of STD infections in the state. According the US Census Bureau, it is also the third most populous county in Florida with nearly 1,350,000 people.5
The county started reporting STD data in 1995, and it’s easy to see the large decreases in reporting over the course of the past two decades. From 2012-2014, the number of new infections has been increasing year over year at a steady rate, with 7,119, 7,225, and 7,391 cases respectively. The county saw its most dramatic leap in reported cases from 2006 to 2007, increasing from 3,834 infections to 5,134 infections.1 The cases of syphilis reported in 2014 represent nearly double the rate of average infections across the state, with 16.50/100,000 people in Hillsborough county vs. 8.80/100,000 people average in Florida. 215 new infections were reported in 2014 compared to 166 in 2013.3
While the numbers are considerably smaller those infected with chlamydia, acute hepatitis C infections are on the rise in Tampa, jumping from 13 cases in 2012 to 19 cases in 2013, or a 46% increase. Individuals living with chronic hepatitis C decreased according to reports in 2013, with 3% less cases recorded than the year prior.4
The rate of new HIV infections continue to increase in the greater Tampa area, with 365 new cases reported in 2013 compared to 267 in 2012, or a 37% increase. According to the report released by the Florida Department of Public Health, Hillsborough County ranks 4th in the state for total number of HIV infections.4
In the area of sexual education, the greater Tampa area stands out as the only county of the top 5 most populated in Florida that did not receive a 2013-2018 grant from the CDC for improved sexual education (counties that did receive the grant: Miami-Dade, Broward, Duval and Orange). This leaves Tampa area public school students at a relative disadvantage.6
The state of Florida adopted and funded an abstinence-until marriage policy, that continued to receive millions of dollars in investment until 2009. The most recent information communicated by the Hillsborough County Public Schools calls for comprehensive health education programming, including lessons on sexual education.8 However, this is not recognized as comprehensive sexual education, and a bill failed to pass calling for more detailed curriculum for all Florida students. SB 1056 called for the creation of “The Florida Healthy Adolescent Act”, mandating that schools provide information pertaining to various STDs and HIV. The bill failed to pass in March of 2016.9
This tepid attitude toward sexual education can produce more serious consequences down the line when it comes to managing teen birth rate and stopping the spread of sexually transmitted diseases between teens and young adults.
Of the 2,909 cases of HIV reported in Hillsborough County in June 2013, the most common age demographic affected was the age range of 20-39. The majority of cases were reported by members of the African American community, with 1226 of the reported cases, or 43. The next following group was the Caucasian population with 38% of cases, or 1,092. As is typical trend across the nation, the group at the most risk for contracting HIV are men who have sex with men (MSM). This demographic group accounted for 68% of new infections, or 1402 cases.10
With an increase of STDs in the Tampa area, these statistics should not be taken lightly. As the third largest metropolitan area in the state of Florida, it’s important for the community to take charge of its greater health. Many STDs present without symptoms, making routine screening and periodic testing an important of anyone’s healthcare routine that is at risk. If you have been with multiple partners over the last year, you are sexually active and have never been tested for STDS or you are with a partner that is positive, you are at risk. Take a step toward better sexual health by discovering the best STD testing option for you.
The issue of sexually transmitted infections in Tampa is serious. Getting tested should be simple, cost-effective and confidential. STDtest.com looks to provide peace of mind with it’s guided STD testing process. Getting tested takes a half hour or less, and results are delivered usually within three business days, or even before. Our dedicated team of Care Advisors is available to answer any questions you have and follow up with our medical team is available to discuss results, any questions you have, or to provide treatment if appropriate or allowed by state law. Why not enjoy what you love, like a hike in Hillsborough River State Park, rather than worry about getting tested? Knowing your status can improve your life.