What’s scarier than clowns and monsters? Sexually Transmitted Diseases!

While Halloween may be all fun and games, unprotected sex and STDs are not. No creepy costume is going to scare an STD away.

Why get tested?

Laura Henderson is the HIV/STD Clinic Coordinator for the Springfield-Greene County Health Department. She said, “Fifteen to 24 year olds make up half of all newly acquired STDs, so college students are at the highest risk for contracting STDs. When you mix alcohol, drugs, hormones and dating apps you have a perfect storm for contracting STDs.”

Getting tested for STDs and STIs is especially important now, as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently published a report that notes a troubling rise in reported STDs, especially among young women and gay or bisexual men.

What should I be looking out for?

The CDC states that 2016 saw the highest ever number of cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis. Henderson echoed this statement: “Chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis are currently at the highest rates in history across the nation,” she said. “Having an STD can increase your risk of contracting HIV – currently we have not seen an increase of HIV in Springfield, however, Kansas City and St. Louis are seeing an increase in HIV and increases in larger cities tend to trickle down into Springfield.”

The most commonly reported STD, according to the CDC, is chlamydia, which disproportionately affects young women aged 15 to 24. Henderson said chlamydia is what is most commonly seen at the health department. She said chlamydia is “closely followed by a newer STD called Mycoplasma genitalium (M.gen). Currently we are the only lab in Springfield that test for M.gen. Gonorrhea and trichomoniasis are also very common in college students.  We have seen a significant increase of herpes in college age patients this year.”

How often do I need to get tested?

Henderson said it is only necessary to be tested once per year if you only have one partner. If you have multiple partners, however, Henderson (and the CDC) recommend more frequent tests (such as every three to six months).

The Aids Project of the Ozarks (APO) recommends everyone get tested for HIV and STDs before having sex with a new partner.

The CDC advises college-aged women to get tested for chlamydia and gonorrhea every year, and get tested for HIV if you have never been tested for it before. Sexually active gay and bisexual men should get tested for syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea and HIV at least once a year.

Of course, if you have symptoms – Henderson said “discharge, burning with urination, pain or bleeding with sex, irregular bleeding, lower abdominal pain, sores, rash, etcetera” – you should be tested right away.

However, don’t rely on symptoms to tell you there is a problem. “It’s important to remember most people do not have symptoms, so routine testing is important,” said Henderson.

Where can I get tested?

Springfield has a wealth of resources for getting free or affordable and confidential testing for a wide range of STDs.

Springfield-Greene County Health Department

Henderson says the health department tests quite a few college students.

“We see an increase in STD positive college students through our clinic whenever students return from a college break – summer break, winter break, spring break. Students often go home or travel have unprotected sex, return to college and have more unprotected sex.”

Henderson says students often come to the health department for their tests for a couple reasons: ”the testing and most treatments are free. We also do not bill insurance so students don’t have to worry about the testing showing up on their parents insurance.”

The city has a STD Express Testing Clinic, a fast way to get routine tests done for common STDs like gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, trichomoniasis, hepatitis B, syphilis or HIV.

The health department also has an in-house clinic where you can get confidential testing for free. At the clinic, you can get tested for genital herpes and mycoplasma genitalium in addition to all the STDs the express clinic can test for. The only tests they cannot provide are for herpes blood tests, HPV tests, PAP smears and hepatitis C.

They also offer free vaccines for HPV and hepatitis A and B.

The clinic is in the Harold K. Bengsch Building, which is located at 227 E. Chestnut Expy. Springfield, Mo.

Testing hours are weekdays from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Aids Project of the Ozarks (APO)

APO offers free, confidential, walk-in testing. They can test for HIV, hepatitis C, chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis. They also offer HIV counseling for those who test positive.

Their main office has recently moved to 1636 S. Glenstone Suite 100, Springfield, Mo.

Their testing hours are weekdays (excluding Wednesdays) from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., and Friday and Saturday evenings at their downtown location from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. (Make it a weekend date with your partner!)

Planned Parenthood

Springfield’s local Planned Parenthood can test for several STDs, including bacterial vaginosis, chlamydia, genital warts, gonorrhea, herpes, HIV, syphilis and trichomoniasis. They can get HIV results in just 15 minutes.

They also offer counseling services and treatment for many STDs.

Planned Parenthood also advocates for STD prevention by providing condoms (male and female), dental dams, HPV vaccine, and sex education.

Appointments for STD tests are not necessary, but you may make one. However, you do need an appointment if you want a vaccine. Otherwise, you may just walk-in during all business hours.

The office is located at 626 E Battlefield Rd, Springfield, Mo.

They are open Mondays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Fridays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and the first and third Saturday of each month from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Don’t be spooked!

Being responsible by having safe sex and taking care of yourself by getting tested is nothing to be ashamed of. This Halloween, don’t ‘ghost’: Make sure you and any of your partners are safe from some of the scariest villains.