important facts

According to the World Health Organization:

• Sexually transmitted diseases have direct impacts on sexual and reproductive health through stigma, infertility, cancer, pregnancy complications, and can increase the risk of HIV.
• There is no cure for HIV infection. However, as access to effective HIV prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care, including opportunistic infections, increases, HIV infection will become a manageable chronic disease and people living with HIV will live longer and healthier lives. Now you can.
• Most herpes infections are asymptomatic, but herpes symptoms include painful blisters and sores that can recur over time.

The American Health Association defines sexual health as the ability to embrace and enjoy sexuality throughout life. According to the World Health Organization, it is a state of physical, emotional, mental, and social well-being associated with sexuality, not merely the absence of disease, impairment, or infirmity. We need a positive and respectful approach to sexual relationships, as well as the possibility of an enjoyable and safe sexual experience free from coercion, discrimination and violence.

Being sexually healthy means:

• Understand that sexuality is a natural part of life and includes more than sex.
• We recognize and respect sexual rights that we all share.
• Access to sexual health information, education and care.
• Strive to prevent unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and seek care and treatment when needed.
• Being able to experience sexual pleasure, satisfaction, and intimacy on demand.
• Communicate with others, including sexual partners and health care providers, about sexual health.

Sexual health is recognized as an important strategy for promoting overall health and well-being, including:

• family planning
• sexually transmitted disease
• Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)/AIDS
• reproductive health
• sexual risk behavior

Talking with your health care provider about your sexual health can be intimidating. You may not want to admit certain feelings or fears about your health. However, being able to talk to your health care provider about your physical health is very important as it relates to your sexual health.

family planning

District Health Department #10 Family Planning Program provides low-cost or free quality reproductive health care for women, men and teens. Family planning is a public health service that helps individuals and families plan the desired family size and spacing of children, and helps prevent unwanted pregnancies. On DHD#10 find:

• Information about contraception and sexual health
• Helps you choose the best contraceptive method your life
• Helps you plan a healthy pregnancy when you want a baby
• pregnancy test and counseling
• STD testing and treatment
• Preventive health checks to screen for cancer and other health problems
• Services are charged based on ability to pay
• You can use insurance, including Medicaid

A happy and healthy sex life starts with getting tested. Yes, STD testing is also an important part of sexual health. Anyone who has multiple sexual partners, believes they may have been infected, has had unprotected sex with a partner whose health status is unknown, or has symptoms of an STD should be tested. there is.

STI

• More than 1 million STIs are infected every day worldwide.
• An estimated 374 million people are newly infected each year with one of four STIs: chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and trichomoniasis.
• Most STDs have no symptoms or only mild symptoms that may not be recognized as STDs.
• It is estimated that over 500 million people between the ages of 15 and 49 have genital infections caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV) (1).

If you think you have an STD, don’t panic in the first place. You should make an appointment to be tested immediately and abstain from sexual activity until you have been tested.To make a reservation call 888-217-3904, then option #2. After the test results, the nurse can discuss safe-her sex, treatment options, birth control, how to talk to your partner, and more. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.

HIV/AIDS

• HIV has claimed more than 35 million lives to date and remains a major global public health problem. In 2016, 1 million of her died worldwide from HIV-related causes.
• Currently, 54% of adults and 43% of children living with HIV receive lifelong antiretroviral therapy (ART).
• Global ART coverage for pregnant and lactating women living with HIV is high at 76%.
• Key populations are groups at high risk of HIV, regardless of epidemic type or local context. They include men who have sex with men, people who inject drugs, people in prisons and other closed environments, sex workers and their clients, and transgender people.
• There is no cure for HIV infection. However, effective antiretroviral (ARV) drugs can help control the virus and prevent infection. This allows people living with HIV and those at significant risk to enjoy a long, healthy and productive life.

DHD#10 offers confidential STI and HIV testing. Anyone, including teenagers, can be tested for a small fee or for free (fees vary depending on income). DHD#10 can also claim insurance to cover the cost of the service. DHD#10’s service is LGBTQ friendly.

Quick Links:

DHD#10 – Sexual Health
ASHA – Commitment to Improving Sexual Health
WHO – Fact Sheet on Sexually Transmitted Diseases
CDC – Reproductive Health
CDC – Sexual Risk Behavior
CDC – About HIV
CDC – About AIDS