Posted: 31 Jul 2019 04:06 AM PDT

The Iowa Department of Public Health has found the number of reported cases of chlamydia and gonorrhea — bacterial infections transmitted through sexual contact — between Jan. 1 and June 30 of this year were higher than the same period in 2018.

According to that preliminary data, 7,730 cases of chlamydia were reported to the department in 2019, a 9.6 percent increase from 2018.

There were 2,572 cases of gonorrhea in 2019 — a 14.6 percent increase from the year before.

Public health officials won't see finalized numbers until the end of the year, but the preliminary data follows the same upward trend of diagnosed cases among Iowans seen in recent years, said George Walton, STD program manager for the Iowa Department of Public Health.

"The trends that we're seeing the first half of 2019 are pretty similar to what we've seen in the last couple years here in the state," Walton said.

In 2018, Iowa reported 14,685 cases of chlamydia, an increase from the 13,895 seen in 2017. It's also a spike from the 9,372 reported diagnoses in 2008.

In total, 4,839 Iowans were diagnosed with gonorrhea in 2018, and 3,758 were diagnosed in 2017. In 2008, by contrast, 1,700 cases of gonorrhea were reported.

Chlamydia and gonorrhea, which can infect both men and women, are the most commonly reported conditions in Iowa.

Walton said efforts to test Iowans for sexually transmitted infections have been increasing in recent years, but that may account for a only a small part of the trend.

If testing increases, Walton said diagnoses typically should go down. Since the positivity rate is level, it indicates individuals remain undiagnosed.

Walton noted that public health officials have seen some indication there is a higher rate of reported gonorrhea cases among people using substances, such as methamphetamine.

But, Walton said, "The main thing I would emphasize is that those are just a sampling of reasons, and none are in isolation. There are multiple things causing this, and we can't point to one specific factor."

Both gonorrhea and chlamydia can be cured with the right treatment.

However, many people do not exhibit symptoms, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Public health officials recommend regular testing for prevention and control of these infections. People may be unaware they are transmitting the infection to others.

"Even if you don't have symptoms, it can cause some pretty bad damage to your body if it's untreated," Walton said.

In rare cases, untreated gonorrhea can cause serious and permanent health problems, according to the CDC. Untreated chlamydia can lead to the inability to conceive and potential ectopic pregnancy in women.

Testing locations can be found at gettested.cdc.gov.

For more information about gonorrhea, chlamydia and other sexually transmitted infections, go to the Iowa Department of Public Health and the CDC's websites.

• Comments: (319) 368-8536; michaela.ramm@thegazette.com

Southern Charm STD Bombshell Coming - FITSNews

Posted: 30 Jul 2019 01:25 PM PDT

Last week was a very good one for Bravo TV's Southern Charm …

The show's latest episode pulled 1.25 million viewers, according to TV By The Numbers, including a 0.5 rating in the highly-sought-after 18-49-year-old demographic. That tied Southern Charm with Paramount's popular new series Yellowstone in the cable ratings for this coveted age range.

Expect Bravo's ratings to receive an even bigger boost this week as sources close to the show tell us a major bombshell is lurking within the episode that is set to air this coming Wednesday (July 31, 2019) at 9:00 p.m. EDT.

"Somebody on the cast accuses somebody else on the cast of giving another cast member an STD," one source familiar with the situation told us.

Wait … what?

Like … on camera?

Yes …

(Click to view)

(Via: Instagram)

According to our sources, the STD-related bombshell was dropped as the cast (above) were preparing to depart Steamboat Springs, Colorado – where the two most recently aired episodes of the popular Charleston, S.C.-based reality television program were filmed.

The obvious questions: Who leveled the allegation? Who did they accuse of transmitting the STD? Who did they claim got infected? And perhaps most importantly … what kind of disease are we talking about here?

Unfortunately, we do not have the answers to those questions. Our sources were apparently either sworn to secrecy or bound by non-disclosure agreements they signed with Bravo.

Oh well …

Guess that means we will have to tune in on Wednesday night at 9:00 p.m. EDT for the big reveal. Or … wait for our intrepid columnist Amy Feinstein to tell us what really happened in her witty, well-trafficked weekly reviews.

-FITSNews

***

WANNA SOUND OFF?

Got something you'd like to say in response to one of our stories? Please feel free to submit your own letter to the editor (or guest column) via-email HERE. Got a tip for us? CLICK HERE. Got a technical question or a glitch to report? CLICK HERE. Want to support what we're doing? SUBSCRIBE HERE.

Banner: Bravo TV

Benefits and Accuracy of An At Home STD Test - Eurweb.com

Posted: 04 Jul 2019 12:00 AM PDT

*STDs are <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/std/stats17/infographic.htm">on the rise</a> in the United States. Did you know that there's been a 76% increase in the number of diagnosed syphilis cases — just in the past few years alone? That's in addition to a 67% uptick in gonorrhea diagnoses and a 22% jump in cases of chlamydia. Make no mistake, sexually transmitted diseases still pose a clear and present danger to Americans and others around the globe. Of course, early diagnosis is often the key to successful treatment. And there's only one way to know if you have a sexually transmitted disease: you must be tested. But are at home STD tests reliable? Or should you go to a clinic? Read on for the 411. First, What Is an At Home STD Test? It used to be that in order to find out if you had a sexually transmitted infection such as Chlamydia, Syphilis, Herpes, Hepatitis C, or HIV, you had to visit a doctor's office or a clinic. They would give you an examination and ask you intrusive (albeit important and necessary) questions about your sexual history and partners. Then they would send you home to wait for the results — and worry. Now, you can determine whether or not you are infected by collecting your own samples in the privacy of your home. These samples may include blood, urine, or other bodily fluids and substances. You send your samples off to the lab, and in about a week you'll be notified of your results online. Everything is completely confidential; you never have to talk to another human being during the entire process of testing if you don't want to. The Benefits of This Testing Almost everyone who uses an at home STD test reports "confidentiality" as the most significant benefit. That's especially true for certain people, especially: <ul><li>Members of the LGBTQIA+ community, who may face harassment, judgment or discrimination when seeking testing</li> <li>Sex workers, who must test frequently to maintain their health</li> <li>Residents of small towns or insular communities</li> <li>Teenagers whose parents might not know they are sexually active</li> </ul>Another big plus, though, is that it's convenient. it literally takes just minutes to order the test, then once it arrives, to take it and send it back. Compare that to the hours that are required to visit a clinic or medical office. That can be a big hurdle to testing for many people. To learn more about the benefits, read some of the <a href="https://www.innerbody.com/home-health-tests/mylab-box-review">MyLAB Box reviews</a>. It can be helpful to read what real users have to say about their own experiences. Are They Accurate? Yes, say physicians and health experts who have been interviewed about at home STD testing. These tests have reliability and accuracy rates comparable to the ones that a doctor or clinician would use if you went to get tested in person. Of course, you'll have to make sure to get yours from a reliable company that conforms to <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/testing/hometests.html">FDA approved testing methods</a>. Final Thoughts Getting tested for sexually transmitted diseases is an important part of your healthcare. And using an at home STD test makes the experience easy, efficient, convenient, and private. Want more informative, entertaining content? Sign up for our mailing list!

Search This Blog

Signs of STD

Chlamydia, gonorrhea cases continue to rise in Iowa - The Gazette

Chlamydia, gonorrhea cases continue to rise in Iowa - The Gazette

***

WANNA SOUND OFF?

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Michael Hotung issues letter to STDM’s new controlling shareholders - South China Morning Post

Can COVID-19 be sexually transmitted? - ABC 4

STD symptoms: How long to manifest and when to test - Medical News Today

Chlamydia, gonorrhea cases continue to rise in Iowa - The Gazette

***

WANNA SOUND OFF?

Share this:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog