With STD and HIV rates on the rise, here’s where to get tested

CaptionCloseChlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and HIV rates all increased in Bexar County in 2015, the most recent year state data is available.More than 13,000 Bexar County residents were diagnosed with chlamydia and more than 3,900 were diagnosed with gonorrhea...

US
19 February 2017 Sunday 02:24

With STD and HIV rates on the rise, here’s where to get tested

Caption

Chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and HIV rates all increased in Bexar County in 2015, the most recent year state data is available.

More than 13,000 Bexar County residents were diagnosed with chlamydia and more than 3,900 were diagnosed with gonorrhea in 2015. The infection rates were 44 percent and 66 percent higher, respectively, than the U.S. rates, which also increased.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention says better access to screening and treatment would help. Those with chlamydia don’t often experience symptoms, leading many to spread it unknowingly. If left untreated, chlamydia can lead to infertility or pelvic inflammatory disease in women. Untreated gonorrhea can threaten both men’s and women’s ability to have children.

The San Antonio Metropolitan Health District offers screenings Monday through Friday for $15 at its STD/HIV Clinic at 512 East Highland, and free screenings at its mobile unit.

The mobile unit will be at the these locations through the end of the month:

Feb. 23: Henry Guerra Library, 7978 W. Military Drive, 12-6 p.m

Feb. 24: Mega Plexx, 11827 San Pedro Ave., 4 to 8 p.m.

Feb. 24: Pegasus, 1402 N. Main Ave. 8 p.m. - midnight

Feb. 26: Pegasus Sunday Fun Day, 1402 N. Main Ave., 5 to 11 p.m.

Feb. 28: Carver Library, 3350 E. Commerce St., noon to 6 p.m.

Visit Metro Health’s website to see future schedules.

Find out more about avoiding sexually transmitted diseases and what happens if you don’t by reading this story at ExpressNews.com.

bmartin@express-news.net

Twitter: @beedotmartin

bmartin@express-news.net

Twitter: @beedotmartin