STD Testing and Treatment in Fort Dodge, Iowa

If you are sexually active, the best thing you can do for your overall health is to receive STD/STI testing in Fort Dodge, IA. Men and women can get an STDs (sexually transmitted disease) or an STIs (sexually transmitted infection) from various sexual encounters. These encounters can include having vaginal, anal, or oral sex with an individual who already has an STD or STI.

According to the CDC, the rate at which young people (15-24) are contracting STDs and STIs has been steadily growing. For example, young people (15-24) represent just under 25% of the total sexually active population but account for more than 50% of the new STD and STI cases every year. Learn how to prioritize your sexual health by getting tested and understanding how to prevent STDs/STIs at Obria.

Many men and women infected with STDs like chlamydia and gonorrhea do not show any symptoms. Therefore, they are unknowingly spreading STDs to new sexual partners.

For this reason why the CDC highly recommends that pregnant women, people who have new sexual partners, sexually active persons younger than 25, and persons who have multiple sex partners get tested at least once a year.

If you are concerned that you may have contracted an STD or STI, we are here to help at Obria Medical Clinics. We provide a judgment-free and compassionate atmosphere. We can provide STD testing for most STDs as well as STIs. We can also discuss the next steps and treatment options based on the results of your STD test. If you need STD testing in Fort Dodge, Iowa, please reach out to us and let us provide you with guidance and understanding.

HIV Testing and Information

HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus and is a very serious sexually transmitted disease that negatively impacts the body’s immune system, eventually giving rise to AIDS, Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. HIV is most commonly spread through vaginal, anal and oral sex. HIV can also be spread by sharing needles with infected persons and, less commonly, the disease can be spread when blood infected with HIV contacts an open cut or wound of another person. HIV is spread “fluid to fluid” meaning an infected person’s secretions need to come in contact with the mucous membranes or blood stream of another.

Learning and understanding about HIV and AIDS and the symptoms of HIV can help reduce your chances of infection and aid in prevention. It is important to note that HIV is effectively treated with an ongoing course of drugs that the infected person must take regularly. This medication is very successful at slowing the spread of HIV throughout one’s body and people living with the disease can expect to live decades after contracting the virus given proper care. If left untreated, however, HIV will progress into AIDS, a life-threatening auto-immune disease that has no cure – as such, it is a disease which is avoided through prevention, not through treatment (as treatment will not cure you of HIV.) It is therefore of utmost importance to get regularly tested for STD/STIs if you have an active sex life with multiple partners, as HIV must be caught as early as possible for care to be effective, as well as help prevent further spread of the disease. It is also incredibly important to note that you don’t “catch AIDS” from someone – you instead contract HIV from an infected person and then can eventually transition into AIDS if left untreated long enough.

HIV symptoms include:

• Fever
• Headache
• Enlarged lymph nodes Skin rash
• Weight loss

HIV testing is done via a blood test that measures the antibodies present in the blood.

Pregnant women with HIV or AIDS are at risk of passing HIV to their children either in the womb, during delivery or while breast-feeding. A March of Dimes study concluded that 25 percent of babies born to HIV/AIDS mothers who are not receiving any HIV/AIDS treatment are born infected with the HIV virus. When HIV/AIDS mothers are receiving the correct treatment however, the percentage of their babies born with HIV drops to less than two percent. HIV prevention falls in line with STD/STI prevention – proper use of condoms reduces risk of transmission during sex with infected partners to less than 1%, abstinence is completely effective and relations with HIV negative partners is also completely effective.

Please note, however, that transmission of HIV cannot be prevented by washing the genitals, urinating or douching after sex. Any unusual discharge, sore, or rash, particularly in the groin area, should be a signal to stop all sexual activity and visit a doctor immediately. It is important to submit to HIV testing at the first manifestation of symptoms. HIV and AIDS are life threatening, so the symptoms of HIV should never be ignored – educate yourself on prevention and on the facts about the virus and resultant syndrome. HIV is an STD/STI, and as such, STD/STI prevention techniques remain applicable, but it is important to note that HIV is incurable and as such should be afforded a tremendous amount of attention and understanding. If you believe you might have HIV, please call or schedule an appointment with an Obria Medical Clinic for a low cost HIV test. Remember that birth control (outside of condoms) is not an effective means of preventing an infection – HIV is not stopped by any sort of pill, injection, patch or IUD.

CDC HIV Information: http://cdc.gov/hiv/basics/whatishiv.html

Some Common STDs & STIs and the Best Way to Receive Treatment in Fort Dodge, Iowa

Information is king. We believe that understanding STDs and STIs and how they can spread and affect your health is the best weapon to stop and prevent them. Here are some of the more common STDs and STIs you will encounter. We will also share with you the best ways to prevent, detect, and treat STDs and STIs

Genital Herpes

One of the most common STDs in America today is genital herpes. The herpes simplex virus or HSV causes genital herpes. In most cases, genital herpes will lay dormant most of the time in women. Women will often experience flare-ups a couple of times a year. These flare-ups can include sores, scabs, pain, ulcers, and itching in your genital area.

Unfortunately, as of 2021, there is no cure for genital herpes. However, with the right medication, you can manage the symptoms associated with genital herpes. Furthermore, current herpes medication cannot prevent the spread of STDs. For this reason, receiving STD testing regularly is vital in preventing the spread of herpes.

Chlamydia

A common STI is chlamydia. Chlamydia mainly affects younger sexually active women but can also affect men. Additionally, chlamydia is caused by bacteria and can be contracted through vaginal, oral, or anal sex.

Unfortunately, chlamydia can be hard to detect because it may never show symptoms in women. In fact, most people do not know they have anything wrong with them until they get tested for chlamydia.

If you show symptoms of chlamydia, you will often experience painful urination, vaginal discharge, painful intercourse for women, and vaginal bleeding after sex. All these symptoms can vary in frequency and severity.

The good news is once chlamydia is detected, it is straightforward to treat. In most cases, chlamydia can be treated using a strong anti-biotic.

HIV/AIDS

One of the deadliest STIs is HIV/AIDS. HIV, or human immunodeficiency virus, is an STI that originates from a virus. HIV attacks the immune system of a healthy individual. Those with HIV have difficulty fighting off common illnesses and viruses like the flu and common cold.

If left untreated, HIV can develop into AIDs or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. HIV develops into AIDS once the virus has done enough damage to the body. Once a person develops AIDS, there is no cure. Although, in recent years, there has been significant progress in developing drugs that stop the HIV/AIDS virus from being spread during sexual intercourse.

Syphilis

One of the more severe STDs is Syphilis. While Syphilis can be spread from person to person from contact with an open wound, the most common form of transfer is through sexual intercourse, anal sex, or oral sex.

Unlike other STDs, there are four stages of syphilis. These four stages will vary from person to person based on if they are receiving treatment for syphilis and the symptoms they are experiencing. Here are the four stages of syphilis and what to look for in each stage.

1. Primary: The primary phase of syphilis begins to show after three weeks of the initial infection. A sore, often called a chancre, will appear at the spot where the bacteria first entered the body. Usually, the person will experience no pain from the chancre, which may cause it to be unnoticed. The chancre will heal itself three to six weeks after first appearing. This may lead some to believe that the issue has resolved itself, but this is not true.
2. Secondary: After you experience the primary phase of syphilis, you will then move on to the secondary. During the secondary phase, the infected individual will develop a rash. The rash can cover anything from the genitals to the entire body. An infected individual may also experience wart-like sores in the mouth or genitals. The secondary phase can last from a couple of weeks to several months.
3. Latent: At this point, if an individual has yet to be treated for syphilis, the disease becomes dormant and may even remain this way for years after initial contact. Once in the latent phase, nearly all symptoms may stop and, in some cases, may never return. However, it is essential to remember that the STD is not gone and may continue to develop over time.
4. Tertiary: The Tertiary phase of syphilis is the phase most likely to cause medical complications and even death. Only about 25% of those exposed to syphilis will reach the Tertiary phase. It may take years to enter the Tertiary phase, and when someone does, they can experience heart, eyes, lung, and bone damage.

Syphilis provides a perfect example of why it is so important to receive STD testing as often as possible. Here at Obria Medical Clinics, our biggest goal is to provide vital medical guidance and support for anyone seeking help. We are not here to judge. If you are interested in receiving STD testing in Fort Dodge, IA, we encourage you to contact us today.

STD Testing FAQ

When Should I get Tested for an STD?

If you are sexually active, most medical experts agree that you should get an STD test once every year. If you have just had unprotected sex with a new sexual partner, you need to get STD testing immediately.

Does a Condom Protect You from STDs?

While condoms help prevent the spread of STDs and STIs, they are not always 100% effective. The only way to really prevent the spread of an STD or STI is to abstain from any sexual activity, including vaginal, anal, or oral sex.

Can You Get an STD from Kissing?

While it is possible to get an STD like herpes from kissing, in general, kissing is considered a relatively low risk of the spread of STDs.

Can you Test for STDs at Home?

Yes, there are many tests that you can order online that analyze your urine to detect the presence of an STD or STI. However, it is important to note that these at-home tests are not as accurate as those you will find at your doctor’s office or hospital. If you decide to test yourself for an STD at home, follow up with a medical professional in the event of a positive result.

If you want to receive STD testing in Fort Dodge, IA, please reach out to Obria Medical Clinics today to learn more about our services. We offer STD and STI testing as well as HIV/AIDS testing and referrals.