Free STD testing and treatment available at sites throughout state

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                              Connecticut Department of Public Health

April 20, 2012                                                            William Gerrish

                                                                                   (860) 509-7270

Hartford – The Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) is recognizing next week as Connecticut STD Testing Week and encouraging people who are sexually active to consider their sexual health and get tested for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

“One in four adults in the United States will acquire an STD in their lifetime,” said DPH Commissioner Dr. Jewel Mullen. “However, many STDs show no signs or symptoms. That means that unless people get tested, they may not know they have the disease. People who are infected may unknowingly spread the disease and infect their partner.”

STDs pose a significant public health threat to Americans – particularly young women, African Americans, men who have sex with men, and individuals living in poverty or with limited access to healthcare. Adolescents and young adults are particularly vulnerable to STDs. In fact, young people between 15 and 24 years of age account for nearly half of all STD cases.

Approximately 19 million new sexually transmitted infections occur every year in the United States. Last year, there were 16,135 cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis reported in Connecticut. Health officials said that untreated STDs can lead to serious health complications, including infertility.

Several public STD clinics throughout Connecticut offer STD testing and treatment free of charge. People who would like to be tested for STDs should contact their local public clinic to see if they offer services at no charge. Anyone who is 13 years of age or older can be tested and treated for STDs confidentially and without parental consent.

People who test positive for an STD should notify their partners so that they can be tested and treated as well. There are confidential programs in place to assist with partner notification.

For a list of clinics or information about partner notification, visit the DPH Sexually Transmitted Diseases Control Program website at www.ct.gov/dph/std or call (860) 509-7920.

The Connecticut Department of Public Health is the state’s leader in public health policy and advocacy with a mission to protect and promote the health and safety of the people of our state.  To contact the department, please visit its website at www.ct.gov/dph or call (860) 509-7270.

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