Tulsa is Oklahoma’s second largest city is brimming with a fine mix of country and cosmopolitan charm. Tulsa, including the extending to the furthest reaches of the county area of the same name, is home to nearly 640,000 residents according to recent information released by the United States Census Bureau. The both Tulsa County and the greater Tulsa MSA (a multi-county medical service area including Creek, Okmulgee, Osage, Pawnee, Rogers, Tulsa, and Wagoner), certain sexually transmitted diseases are on the rise, including chlamydia.2-4
Getting tested and treated (when medically necessary) for these common infections is a smart and simple way to lower their prevalence in this area. Scheduling an appointment at the doctor’s office for testing can often mean waiting weeks before being seen and the waiting room at a free clinic can be crowded STDtest.com offers the same high quality, FDA-approved tests, delivered to you in a way that is tailored to your schedule. Read on to learn more.
Whether you want to take a shopping trip to Utica Square or you want to take in a little Oklahoma history at the Gilcrease Museum, you’ll have more free time once you get the tests you need to clear up any questions you have about your current STD status. If you’re feeling concerned about recent exposure to an STD, don’t leave your sexual health up to chance. The right tests read to the right diagnosis, which helps lead to a sigh of relief. According to the CDC, all STDs can be treated and many can be cured, including chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and trichomoniasis. STDs that do not have a cure, like HIV, certain forms of viral hepatitis and genital herpes, can be managed with medicine, however, a diagnosis is needed for the doctor-supervised treatment that can greatly improve the patient’s quality of life. Leaving an STD untreated, however, can lead to far more serious medical consequences like infertility.6-9
Don’t let stigma or fear stand in the way of knowing your STD status. It’s understandable that STD testing can be embarrassing or even shameful, but it doesn’t need to be. Our team of dedicated Care Advisors is available 7 days a week to answer your questions as well as guide you through the process from beginning to end. If you’re feeling shy about sharing the fact that you are getting tested for STDs with someone close to you, this team is available so you don’t have to feel alone. No matter what your diagnosis, our medical team offers consults to help you plan for what’s next in your treatment and to answer any final questions that might still be on your mind.
In the Tulsa and the greater Tulsa County area, chlamydia is the most frequently reported sexually transmitted disease. According to reports from the Tulsa County Health Department, 3,395 new infections occurred in the county area compared to 3,146 in 2010, demonstrating a 7.3% increase. While the numbers of chlamydia increased in this time frame, the total number of gonorrhea infections saw a decrease, as reported to the health department by local authorities. In 2010, the gonorrhea rate of infection was 220.3 diagnoses per 100,000 residents compared to 200.5/100,000.2&3
HIV in the Tulsa MSA reports some of the highest numbers in the state, however, the rate of infection ranks below the top 5 MSAs in the state. The Oklahoma City MSA ranks 8th and the Tulsa MSA ranks 10th, according to the Oklahoma State Department of Health. With 1,760 new HIV infections reported at the end of 2014, this part of the state accounts for 34.1% of all infections spanning across Oklahoma, preceded only by the number of infections tallied in Oklahoma City. The rate of HIV infection in the Tulsa MSA in 2014 was 10.8 new infections per 100,000 residents, which exceeded the Oklahoma state rate of 8 /100,000. With all STDs including HIV, it’s important to continually get tested in an effort to get linked to the right care. Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) can greatly reduce the impact of the virus if detected early.4&6
In Tulsa and throughout the state of Oklahoma, sexual education is not required by state law to be covered in public school classrooms. In 2011, the state of Oklahoma ranked 4th in the nation for teenage birth rate, according to reports from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. In a reaction to this number, there is new legislation pending in the state in an effort to regulate sexual education. For example, if sexual education is introduced in classrooms, proposed new laws would mandate that it be age-appropriate and medically accurate. All across the country, young people are disproportionately affected by the spread of STDs, so it’s important to provide sexual education that is informative in helping avoid these common infections that often present without any symptoms at all.9-13
All across the United States, it’s estimated that young people ages 15-24 account for nearly 10 million sexually transmitted diseases annually. This age group makes up 27% of the sexually active population in the nation. There are a few major reasons that teenagers and young adults claim a disproportionately high number of STDs, including a fear or discomfort disclosing information relating to their sex life to their primary care doctor. Educating young people about the risks, testing and treatment of STDs helps to remove the stigma and can help encourage this age group to make the best possible choice regarding their better sexual health.9
In both Tulsa County, youth are affected by the spread of sexually transmitted disease. Young people ages 15-24 are linked to 70.3% of the chlamydia cases reported in this area between 2011 and 2013. The racial/ethnic group tied to the highest cases of chlamydia as reported by Tulsa County Health officials is the African American population 38.6%. Similarly to chlamydia, the 15-24 year old population reflects the highest number of gonorrhea infections reported. Between 2011-2013, this age group accounted for 62.7% of all new gonorrhea diagnoses. The African American population also accounted for a the majority of gonorrhea infections, with local health authorities reporting 57.5% of total infections as affiliated with this racial/ethnic group. The age distribution is more spread out when it comes to reported cases of syphilis in the Tulsa area, however, the highest percentage reported (19.9%) was by the 25-29 year old age group. Once again, the majority of reported infections is attributed to African Americans, with 39.2% of reported syphilis infections between 2011 and 2013.3
HIV in the Tulsa MSA, the Metropolitan Statistical Area including Creek, Okmulgee, Osage, Pawnee, Rogers, Tulsa, and Wagoner counties, sees a higher number of infections reported in men compared to women. In 2014, 84.4% of total cases found in men , compared to 15.6% in women. The racial/demographic report with the highest number of new HIV cases in this time frame were Caucasians. African Americans claimed the highest rate of HIV infections. The age group with the most new HIV diagnoses is the 20-29 year old segment, with 41%. Continuing to educate, encourage testing and make more resources available and affordable for these groups at risk is an essential effort to help lower the spread of HIV and AIDS in the greater Tulsa Metropolitan Statistical Area.4
Stress less and enjoy life more in Tulsa when you get the answers you need about your STD status. Instead of feeling worried, you’ll have more free time to spend a day with family and friends exploring the Philbrook Museum of Art. Getting started with STDtest.com is simple. You’ll begin by answering a few brief questions online to receive a personal doctor’s recommended 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 nearest 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, you can get tested at home, work or anywhere you choose with In-Home Collection. A trained Lab Collection Specialist can arrive at your testing location of choice just an hour after your request.
For both testing options, results are usually available in three business days or less. Our medical team is available for follow up to discuss your diagnosis, answer any remaining questions or even to prescribe follow up treatment, if medically appropriate and if allowed by state law. Get tested. It’s for your better health.