COVID-19 Impacted Trends in STDs
 STDs Overall Continue to Rise in DuPage County

DuPage County – Based on national data from 2020 and 2021, it’s clear the COVID-19 pandemic continued to have an effect on developments in identified and reported sexually transmitted illnesses (STDs), leading to probably underreporting of infections and presumably elevated STD transmission. The 2020 and 2021 stories mirror the realities of a strained public well being infrastructure, but in addition present essentially the most present knowledge on reported instances of STDs within the U.S. and regionally. Trends introduced in 2020 and 2021 STD knowledge must be interpreted cautiously. 

April 9-15 is STD Awareness Week, and the DuPage County Health Department (DCHD) is becoming a member of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and companions to assist reverse this pattern by calling on people and healthcare suppliers to take these three actions to guard themselves, their companions, and their sufferers from STDs: Talk, Test, and Treat.

Untreated STDs Can Have Serious Effects 
Chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis are curable with the suitable medicines, but most instances go undiagnosed and untreated – which may result in extreme well being issues that embody infertility (lack of ability to turn into pregnant), ectopic being pregnant (being pregnant outdoors the womb), stillbirth in infants, and elevated HIV danger.

 Anyone who has intercourse can get an STD, however some teams are extra affected than others, together with younger individuals aged 15-29, homosexual and bisexual males, different males who’ve intercourse with males, and a few racial and ethnic minorities. Prior research counsel a spread of things could also be at play – from socioeconomic challenges, like poverty, to problems with stigma and discrimination.

 The excellent news? All STDs may be prevented and handled, and most may be cured.  Here’s how individuals and healthcare providers can add the Talk. Test. Treat. technique into their well being routine:

 Individuals can

• Talk overtly and truthfully with companions and healthcare suppliers about sexual well being and STDs.
• Get examined. Many STDs don’t have any signs, so getting examined is the one method to know for certain if in case you have an an infection. 
• If both you or your accomplice check optimistic for an STD, work together with your healthcare supplier to get the proper therapy. All STDs are treatable with drugs, and a few STDs are curable solely. Make certain your therapy works by 1) taking the entire remedy your healthcare supplier prescribes (even if you happen to begin feeling higher or your signs go away), 2) not sharing your drugs with anybody, and three) avoiding having intercourse once more till you and your intercourse accomplice(s) have all accomplished therapy.

 Healthcare suppliers can

 How to Prevent STDs

• Practice abstinence: The surest method to keep away from STDs is to not have intercourse. This means not having vaginal, oral, or anal intercourse.
• Use Condoms: Using condoms and dental dams accurately each time you might have intercourse might help you keep away from STDs.
• Reduce Number of Sex Partners: Reducing your variety of intercourse companions can lower your danger for STDs.
• Mutual Monogamy: Agree to solely have intercourse with one one that agrees to solely have intercourse with you.
• Vaccination: Help forestall human papillomavirus (HPV), hepatitis B, and mpox by means of vaccination of individuals who’re eligible and in danger for publicity.

 The Health Department’s STD Clinic positioned on the Wheaton Office affords: 

• Confidential testing, prognosis, therapy, and prevention counseling for STDs 
• Testing and therapy referrals for HIV and hepatitis C 
• Evaluation and therapy for human papillomavirus (HPV)-related situations
• Administration of the JYNNEOS mpox vaccine to eligible people 

STD providers can be found to any individual 12 years of age and older, no matter county of residence. Clients below 18 are eligible to obtain free providers. To schedule an appointment for STD testing, name DCHD at (630) 682-7400.

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STD providers can be found to any individual 12 years of age and older, no matter county of residence. Clients below 18 are eligible to obtain free providers. To schedule an appointment for STD testing, name DCHD at (630) 682-7400.

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