April is National Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Awareness Month, and according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are 20 million new STD cases in the U.S. every year.
Get tested
STDs and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) mean the same thing: a disease that is spread through sexual activity — remember, that includes all types of sex, vaginal, anal and oral. Anyone who is sexually active is at risk for getting and spreading an STD.
At the Howell County Health Department, you can get confidential STD testing — that means you do not need a parent or guardian’s consent, but we encourage you to inform a parent or guardian if you think you need STD testing. Testing is available at the health department at low or no cost.
People with multiple sexual partners, those who think they may have been exposed to an STD, those who’ve had unprotected sex with a partner whose health status was unknown or anyone who has symptoms of an STD should get tested. If you think you have an STD, you should make an appointment to get tested right away and hold off on all sexual activity until you get tested.
To make an appointment, call 417-256-7078.
Once you have the result of your test, a nurse can discuss safer sex, treatment options, birth control, how to talk to your partner and more. If you have questions, don’t hesitate to ask!
