Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) continue to be one of the leading causes of morbidity and death, specifically within the at-risk population, in Florida. The Florida Department of Health recommends that routine testing/screening is the only solution to reduce the disease's spread.
Board Approved
Reviewed by one or multiple members of our medical team2981b W Bay Dr, Belleair Bluffs, Florida 33770
Tel: 7275862686
Today's best offer is: $10 off any order. Discount will be applied automatically.
12114 Cortez Blvd, Brooksville, Florida 34613
Tel: 3525971900
Today's best offer is: $10 off any order. Discount will be applied automatically.
2209 North Blvd W Ste B, Davenport, Florida 33837
Tel: 8634190457
Today's best offer is: $10 off any order. Discount will be applied automatically.
565 Health Blvd, Daytona Beach, Florida 32114
Tel: 3862574048
Today's best offer is: $10 off any order. Discount will be applied automatically.
693 Old Englewood Rd Ste C, Englewood, Florida 34223
Tel: 9414756853
Today's best offer is: $10 off any order. Discount will be applied automatically.
205 NW 6th Ave, Pompano Beach, Florida 33060
Tel: (954) 467-4700
Appointment Required: Yes
5300 N Pearl St, Jacksonville, Florida 32208
Tel: (904) 353-2120
Tel: (904) 353-2131
Appointment Required: Yes
1233 45th St, Ste B4, West Palm Beach, Florida 33407
Tel: (561) 842-0749
Appointment Required: Yes
PrEP brochures are offered to clients.
25 E Wright St, Pensacola, Florida 32501
Tel: (850) 429-7551
Appointment Required: No
Offer free HIV testing in the office or at home. Provide guidance for HIV prevention before and after testing and connect clients to comprehensive services according to everyone’s need.
1001 W Cypress Creek Rd, Ste 308, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33309
Tel: (954) 947-3603
Appointment Required: No
Use our confidential STD symptom checker to get an idea of what STDs/STIs your symptoms align with and what STD tests are recommended to you.
Start Symptom CheckerWhich Method of STD Testing is Suitable for Me?
Every sexually active individual must protect their sexual health. Regular STD testing is the only way to care for your sexual health. However, sometimes it becomes confusing to select the right testing method as there are so many options available. For your convenience, we have gathered information about all available STD testing methods in Florida. Check them out to find out which option is suitable for you.
| Testing Method | Waiting Times | Speed of Results | Positive Consultation |
|---|---|---|---|
Private Testing (Walk-In Clinic) | 10-20 Minutes with No Wait | 24-72 Hours | Free With Positive Result |
At-Home STD Testing | No Wait | 5-11 Days | Free With Positive Result |
Doctor Visit with Insurance | Call for Appointment | 7-10 Days | Co-Pay Required |
Doctor Visit without Insurance | Call for Appointment | 7-10 Days | Out-of-Pocket Cost Required |
Public Clinic | Limited Hours and Long Lines | 7-14 Days | No |
Learn more in our ultimate guide to STD testing.
It can be, but it does not necessarily have to be. What many people need to understand is that laboratory tests would most often than not be relatively pricey due to the technology that is being utilized behind these diagnostic techniques. However, opting for specific laboratories that offer more convenient testing procedures and discounted prices for diagnostic tests would help ensure that the price will not be much of an issue in providing you with the conclusive diagnosis of your condition. It might take some independent scanning to find the right testing center for you in the most acceptable price range, but it is not as impossible as many people make it out to be.
Considering that a wide variety of testing kits and laboratory procedures can be performed to determine conclusively whether you have a particular STD or not, the time that it will take for your results to return will also be subject to the same inconsistency. Although there are specific laboratories that could produce your results even by the end of the day (albeit, it is extremely rare for institutions to do so unless necessary), most would often take a few days to a week before the results are either delivered or posted online through your secure personal profile (in the case of online transactions). In addition to that, the capability of the laboratory performing the test may also contribute to the overall timeframe of result delivery – causing delays in cases where there are several requests or understaffed to provide expedited results.
For more information, skip to the FAQs section on this page.
Test Advisor
Know all about STD testing options, and the costs of different STD tests.
It is essential to understand that all three main STDs (Gonorrhea, Syphilis, and Chlamydia) are curable through antibiotics. But treatment can only commence once the diagnosis is made. If STDs remain undiagnosed and untreated, these pose a serious health risk for the individual and their partner(s). Some of the worst health consequences of undiagnosed STDs include the risk of HIV transmission, infertility, stillbirth in infants, and ectopic pregnancy.
In Florida, gay, bisexual males, young adults, and teenagers all face the risk of contracting an STD. Reportedly, there has been an alarming increase in Syphilis among newborn babies. According to a 2018 report from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Florida has the fifth-highest percentage of mothers transmitting Syphilis to unborn babies during pregnancy or delivery (93 cases).
CDC reported that around 40% of infants born to mothers having an STD would be a stillbirth or will die soon after being born. The rest of the babies may be premature birth and born with severe anemia, enlarged spleen/liver, or bone deformities.
Therefore, it is essential to undergo routine testing. Males must get tested, especially those in high prevalence cities and populations with a higher infection burden. Moreover, men who regularly indulge in MSM (men having sex with men) must mandatorily get themselves screened.
Timely screening can prevent the development of STDs and associated health consequences. CDC states that STDs testing is crucial for sexually active females aged 25 or above, especially those who are pregnant, have multiple partners, or whose partner has tested positive for an STD.
In Florida, the state health department is funded by CDC as part of the national project for reducing STDs via science-based prevention and control measures. The focus is on offering high-impact, cost-effective, scalable, and sustainable services.
Moreover, Florida is part of a network of STD programs to collect additional information to quickly and comprehensively shed light on the current STD trends in the state. Florida's Sexual Health Education Community Outreach Tool Kit is another effort to address the state's rising STD cases. The tool kit's key goals include providing information, strategies, and ideas to community members so that the number of STD cases and teen pregnancies could be reduced.
Additionally, the program's primary goal is to improve young adults' health to ensure their academic success. It also aims to educate community members regarding the need to devise and implement effective sexual education policies as well as evidence-based education programs. Florida needs effective, age-appropriate, and medically accurate sexual health education programs.
The number of STDs cases across the US have been rising steadily in the past five years. In 2018, around 2.4 million cases of STDs, including Gonorrhea, Chlamydia, and Syphilis, were reported by the CDC, which is a record high. Congenital Syphilis rates have tripled nationwide, with Florida being one of the top five states that account for 70% of all cases, despite that Syphilis can be treated easily with penicillin. The reason behind the alarming increase in STD cases is that individuals don't get tested.
A recent report from the CDC in collaboration with Innerbody.com featured several Florida cities in the top 100 USA cities having the highest percentage of STDs cases based on the 2019 data from CDC. Pensacola was at no. 61 with 950 cases per 100,000 populaces. The city had reported 2,124 chlamydia, 61 HIV, 45 Syphilis, and 827 Gonorrhea cases among 315,000 metropolitan area residents.
It is hard to ignore that both primary and secondary Syphilis continues to be a grave health concern for the Florida Department of Health, primarily among pregnant women and MSM males. The risk of infection getting transmitted to the unborn child exists in most parts of the state. In 2011, Florida reported 6.6 cases of primary/secondary Syphilis per 100,000 population, which increased to 10.5 in 2015-16.
Currently, Florida is at no.6 among the 50 US states for having the greatest number of primary/secondary syphilis cases. Between 2011-215, there were 191 cases of congenital Syphilis. Moreover, Florida appeared at no.25 in nationwide Chlamydial infections with 454 cases per 100,000 people. Florida was at no.21 in Gonorrheal infections (121 per 100,000 people). Among females, the rate of chlamydia infection was 2.1 times higher than males, with 610.1 cases per 100,000 persons, whereas men reportedly accounted for 291.4 cases in 2015.
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For many Floridian teens, sexual activity states at an early age. According to the 2015 Florida Youth Risk Behavior Survey, sexual activity among teenagers increases with each grade level. Moreover, teens aren't only initiating sexual activity early, but they reportedly have multiple partners, which increases their chances of unintended pregnancy and STD infection. The survey results reveal that around 40% of students between grades 9 and 12 indulge in sexual intercourse at least once (roughly 278,120 students).
Moreover, in Florida, 9% of male students and 2% of females started sexual activity before turning 13 (approx. 30,700 and 7,464 students, respectively). Furthermore, around 24% of all 9th graders and 57% of 12th graders in Florida (nearly 44,490 students and 88,827 students respectively) indulged in sexual activity at least once, and 17% of 12th graders (approx. 26,800 students) have had sexual intercourse with multiple partners.
On a state level, the rate of teen births has risen considerably within the last two decades. There was a 7% increase in teen births between 2005 and 2006, whereas, in 2015, there were 12,086 teen births in Florida. Around 130 were under 14 years, and 11,950 were between age 15-19, while 16% of the deliveries to 15-19-year-olds were repeated births. Individuals between age 15-24, although made up just 13% of the state's total population; however, in 2011, this small group accounted for over 70% of all reported cases of Chlamydia. In 2014, among all the STDs cases reported in Florida, around 5% of primary/secondary Syphilis, 18% of Gonorrhea and 25% of Chlamydia cases were detected among adolescents between ages 13 and 19.
Floridian youth is particularly vulnerable to STDs. Several factors are responsible for this continuous incline in teen birth rates. The main reason is lack of awareness or knowledge on the prevention of the spread of STDs, and the other is the lack of access to proper follow-up medical care. STDs prevalence among youth is a serious issue because it can lead to many other chronic health issues, including infertility, hepatitis, cervical cancer, pelvic inflammatory disease, etc.
With the plethora of medications available, more and more older adults are indulging in sexual activity. Though there is a rise in STD cases among older adults across the US, the number of cases is the highest in Florida. Over the past five years, Florida has reported the largest number of Syphilis infections among the greatest generation. CDC assessed that in 2018, there was a 16.7% rise in Syphilis diagnoses in males above 65 years or more. According to the Athena Health Database, the diagnosis rates for Gonorrhea, herpes simplex, Chlamydia, Syphilis, trichomoniasis, and hepatitis B increase 23% in people over 60-years.
Generally, the curriculum's content and instructions are determined by the local school district policy following the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards. Florida school districts are responsible for developing content for sexual health education courses (Family Life) based on policies that reflect local concerns and values, as narrated in Section 1003.42(3) Florida Statute.
A majority of Floridian districts have a district-specific written policy about the provision of comprehensive health education. It includes topics on sexual health education (Family Life). If any district hasn't developed such a system, it will utilize the state's policy.
CDC suggests that school districts need to encourage broad community participation to ensure school health education programs and policies effectively prevent the spread of STDs and HIV/AIDS. The programs must be determined locally after endorsing the community values where the curricula should be sequential and well-planned. Obtaining input from the community is an integral part of devising the health education policy and selecting programs that reflect those policies.
It does vary on a case-to-case basis. Insurance policies are often particular with the instances that they would be covering with their program. Some may cover severe accidents, some may even consider “orphan disease,” and yes, some may also cover the expenses for performing STD diagnostic tests. However, considering that your insurance provider will have to verify the person's identity availing of the program, STD testing laboratories that employ a minimal collection of patient information may not accept insurance policies to prioritize privacy over affordability.
A nucleic acid amplification test is a laboratory procedure that professionals often perform to make detecting a particular nucleic acid or gene being targeted easier and more convenient while still ensuring that the sample being collected is relatively minimal. Nucleic acid amplification tests, or NAATs, are usually the mainstay diagnostic test for most STDs due to their ability to detect the presence of pathogenic nucleic acids and genes in the patient sample with utmost accuracy and speed. NAATs depends on their ability to replicate the target RNA and DNA to create numerous copies – resulting in an increased convenience in the detection of the desired molecules instead of trying to either blindly look for one strand in a minuscule sample or collecting a large sample that could make the patient uncomfortable throughout the process. Although NAATs are often preferred for a more conclusive diagnosis of STDs, certain exceptions such as the availability of resources and instances of intermittent viral shedding could make NAATs less desirable than other tests. Fret not, however, as your physician is knowledgeable regarding these instances and would often request the best diagnostic procedure for your instances.
Similar to how other testing procedures behave, false-positive results are still evident even in STD testing. False-positive and even false-negative results are standard instances that showcase the imperfection of the test’s design – a factor that is present everywhere. However, despite certain inconsistencies in laboratory tests as such, physicians commonly use confirmatory tests that would often take another path entirely to arrive at the same conclusion – solidifying the initial test’s diagnosis while still ensuring that the second test is not following the inconsistencies of the first.
Yes. Certain companies offer at-home testing kits wherein you are the one that will collect the specimens necessary for the test at the comfort of your own home. Sure, it might sometimes be subject to errors due to the potential contamination of the sample from collection to transportation, but it does offer a great deal of privacy and convenience for patients who would prefer to have their identities hidden in fear that their community will judge them.
It would vary depending on the condition that is being tested. STDs behave differently due to the varying pathogenicity of each STD’s causative organism. In some instances, you can get accurately tested as early as two weeks following exposure, while some are intermittently inaccurate due to its recurrence (much like in the case of herpes infections). To avoid this, be sure to discuss the intricacies of the test with your physician to understand whether a particular test could provide you with a conclusive diagnosis or if it still needs another confirmatory test to establish its premise.
How Does it Work?
Most people experience feelings of hesitation when going to get tested for STD, despite knowing they might have contracted one. EasySTD was created to change that.
Visit your nearest lab or clinic, order your home testing kit online, and follow the given instructions from an STD testing provider.
After ordering your STD test, visit the testing center to get tested or take a self sample including urine, cotton swab, or finger prick with the home testing kit and mail it back.
Receive the lab-certified results of your STD test from your test provider via mail or phone within 2 to 3 days. If the test comes positive, consult your doctor immediately.
Help stop the spread of STDs by knowing your status. Get tested today!
