Sexual Health Resources

Feb. 13, 2024
Dhara Richardson, MSPH

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 1 in 5 people in the US have a sexually transmitted infection (STI). A November 2023 report concluded that the highest rates of STIs in Arizona are among teens and young adults ages 15-24 years, gay and bisexual people, and men who have sex with men. Still, the CDC maintains that all STIs are preventable and treatable, and most are curable. With the CDC’s Talk–Test–Treat Campaign, all sexually active individuals have a simple 3-step guide to protecting themselves against STIs. 

Talk

Have open, honest conversations with your partner(s) and your healthcare provider about your sexual health and STIs. Be sure to talk with your partners before having sex. Click here for tips on how to start the conversation. 

Topics to discuss that can make your sex safer: 
  • When you were last tested – suggest getting tested together
  • If you have an STI, tell your partner 
  • Agreeing to only have sex with each other
  • Using condoms for every act of sex from start to finish. Click the following links to learn how to use male condoms, female condoms, and dental dams the right way. 

You should also be prepared to give honest answers to your partner(s) to questions like: 

  • Have you been sexually active in the last year?
  • Do you have sex with men, women, or both?
  • In the past 12 months, how many sexual partners have you had?
  • Do you have anal, oral, or vaginal sex?
  • What are you doing to protect yourself from STIs?

 Your routine medical checkup may not include STI testing, so do not be afraid to initiate the conversation with your provider. Click here for some quick conversation starters for discussing sexual health with your provider.  

Test 

Getting tested is the only way to know for sure if you have an STI. As long as you are having sex, you are at risk, and the CDC emphasizes that getting tested is one of the most important things you can do to protect your health. There are many options for STI testing: 

  • In-person visits with your primary care provider–there may be express testing options where a full exam is not required 
  • Pharmacies and retail clinics that offer on-site testing and treatment
  • At-home tests that you perform at home and send off to a lab for analysis 
Schedule a test today: 

If you’re not comfortable talking with your regular healthcare provider about STIs, find a clinic near you that provides confidential testing that’s free or low cost.

Treat 

If you test positive for an STI, work with your healthcare provider to get the correct treatment. Some STIs can be cured with the right medicine, and all STIs are treatable. Make sure your treatment works by doing these things:

  • Take all of the medication your healthcare provider prescribes, even if you start feeling better or your symptoms go away.
  • Don’t share your medicine with anyone.
  • Avoid having sex again until you and your sex partner(s) have all completed treatment.

Resources 

  1. The Southwest Center for HIV/AIDS provides a variety of high-quality affordable, inclusive care to all. Click here to view all of the services the Southwest Center offers. 
  2. Click here to view a list of Title X-sponsored Health Centers that offer sexual and reproductive health care at low or no cost. 
  3. Birth Control: Click here (Affirm AZ) or here (CDC) to learn about different contraception methods and their effectiveness against STIs and pregnancy. Visit Bedsider to easily compare and contrast different types. 

Hotlines 

 

 

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