Kansas is ranked among those US states where there is a low prevalence of common sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). However, while the rates are relatively low for common STDs, including chlamydia, gonorrhea, and primary and secondary syphilis (P&S), these have been climbing steadily across the state in recent years. This is a concerning issue. Chlamydia has become around 50% more common in this state since 2008, whereas the gonorrhea rate has been on the rise since 2013 and recorded a staggering 120% incline between 2008 and 2018.
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People aren't generally aware of the catastrophic nature of STIs (sexually transmitted infections). An STI is a bacteria, virus, or parasite transmitted through sexual intercourse, whether oral, vaginal, or anal sex. STIs are contagious infections, but the worst part is that most of these infections don't present with symptoms. That's why they generally go unnoticed. When the infection does show symptoms, the damage is already done as it gets transformed into an STD.
Therefore, regardless of whether there are any symptoms or not, if you are sexually active, it is essential to get yourself screened for STDs at least once a year. Even if the STI is symptom free, this doesn't mean it isn't a dangerous condition. STIs can cause serious health complications and may go unnoticed for years. Untreated STIs cause numerous painful medical issues, depending on the infection type. These are the leading cause of infertility among males and females, and prolonged exposure to the virus/bacteria may lead to cancer, organ failure, or other life-threatening conditions.
Kansas state has lower rates of STDs, and it generally appears in the bottom 20 states in the list of highest STD rates across the USA. But, an upward trend is noted statewide. To battle with this emerging pandemic in Kansas, the best weapon is to arm yourself with information, awareness, and regularly testing for STDs. Being aware of your STD status can ensure that you will not pass them on to your sexual partners.
2501 Canterbury Dr, Hays, Kansas 67601
44.72 mile
Tel: 7856214300
Today's best offer is: $10 off any order. Discount will be applied automatically.
Appointments required for some services. Walk-ins are welcome for others. Free condoms available.
189 W Luray St, Russell, Kansas 67665
22.13 mile
Tel: (785) 483-6433
Tel: (785) 483-3118
Appointment Required: Yes
1603 Aylward Ave, Ellsworth, Kansas 67439
23.47 mile
Tel: (785) 472-4488
Tel: (785) 472-4489
Appointment Required: Yes
115 N 1st St, Osborne, Kansas 67473
27.9 mile
Tel: (785) 346-2412
Tel: (785) 346-5638
Appointment Required: Yes
There is limited HIV/STD testing. Please call for availability.
310 W 8th St, Beloit, Kansas 67420
37.18 mile
Tel: (785) 738-5175
Tel: (785) 738-5053
Appointment Required: Yes
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 Kansas. 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 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.
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.
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.
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.
It is recommended to get tested for STDs if you have had unprotected sexual contact, multiple sexual partners, or if you are experiencing symptoms associated with STDs. Additionally, regular testing is recommended as part of routine sexual health care, even in the absence of symptoms, especially for individuals who are sexually active.
Test Advisor
Get informed about the different STD testing options and the prices for each test.
Kansas STD Data
Over 13,000 individuals were diagnosed with Chlamydia in the state in 2018, and Kansas ranked in the bottom half of the states in this regard. Chlamydia rate after population adjustment in Kansas was around 8% lower than the overall national rate, with 488.9 cases reported per 100,000 people.
Gonorrhea rates in Kansas tend to be higher than the overall national rates after population adjustment. But, it is still not much as the rate is around 5% higher than the overall US rate. The state ranked number 18 in overall gonorrhea prevalence in the country with 180.8 cases/100,000 people. Overall in the region, Kansas state ranked fourth in gonorrheal infection rates.
P&S syphilis rate in the state is more than half of the national rate, and it was ranked number 35 nationally in 2018. The state ranked number 5 from the bottom 20 in P&S infection rates per 100,000 people, indicating that it is among the lowest of all states in syphilis transmission rate. However, in recent years, the rate has risen over 600% compared to the year 2010 statistics.
On the whole, Kansas ranks low in STDs prevalence. But the same cannot be said for most of the regions within the state as STD rates in many Kansas counties have exceeded the national and state rates, and some cities account for the highest percentages of cases.
Over half of all chlamydia infections in Kansas are diagnosed among Kansas City or Wichita metro areas. Wichita, Kansas City, and Topeka collectively accounted for over 76% of gonorrhea cases in the state, and over two-thirds of syphilis cases were diagnosed among Wichita and Kansas City residents.
Ranked as 15th among the 50 U.S states in terms of area, Kansas is located in the Midwestern part of the country. The state is known for its diverse and rich history and was home to Native American tribes. According to the U.S Bureau of Census data, the total population of Kansas as calculated in 2019 is 2.9 million making it the 34th most populated U.S state.
Kansas has been ranked as 33rd among the 50 U.S states for having the biggest numbers of people living with HIV. Considering the data from CDC, in 2015, the total number of newly diagnosed HIV cases in adults and adolescents in Kansas was 147. AIDSVu data shows that the number of newly diagnosed cases slightly increased to 155 by 2018. In 2018 the total number of people living with HIV in Kansas was 3,080.
Considering the data from the EPI profile of Kansas, on average, 150 people are annually diagnosed with HIV in the state. The majority of the newly diagnosed cases and people living with HIV in Kansas are found in Kansas City and Wichita areas.
According to AIDSVu’s report, by 2018, 3080 people were living with HIV in Kansas. Most of the cases came were reported in White Americans between the ages of 25 to 44 years. Adults and adolescents of color (Black Americans and Hispanics) remain the ethnic groups disproportionately affected by the virus. The rate of people living with HIV in Kansas per 100,000 population by 2018 was 128, while the prevalence of the virus was more in White American males than their female counterparts.
According to the STD surveillance report from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, several common STDs are on the rise in the Kansas City metro area, marking a considerable increase in year-over-year statistics since 2010. Preliminary data indicates that around 27% increase is noted in gonorrhea diagnoses, 8% increase in chlamydia, and 7.6% increase was reported in syphilis. These are only the reported cases and don't include undiagnosed/unreported cases, making the rates much higher than this.
According to a 2017 study from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), since 2015, there has been a significant rise in the rate of syphilis diagnoses among babies born to infected mothers. The report further stated that the gonorrhea rate is increasing among people of all ages in the state, and the agency is running out of treatment and cure options to fight against the drug-resistant strains of the virus.
Kansas Department of Health and the Environment reported that the state had 9 cases of babies born with congenital syphilis in 2018. It is a serious issue since congenital syphilis can cause death or developmental delays in newborns. For over a decade, there wasn't even one reported case of congenital syphilis among newborns, but since 2018, there have been cases.
As per the January to June 2020 statistics, the latest available data on STD prevalence in Kansas state, a total of 6,646 chlamydia cases were reported in the state. The 20-24 age group had the highest number of chlamydia diagnoses with 2,555, followed by the 15-19 age group with 1,917 cases. The 25-29 age group reported the third-highest number of cases with 1,126 cases per 100,000 population.
Whites accounted for the highest number of chlamydia cases with 2,803/100,000 people, followed by African-Americans with 1,267 cases and Hispanics with 833 cases/100,000 people. The report suggested that males’ diagnoses were lower than females with 2,092 while females accounted for 4,554 of the total reported chlamydia cases in Kansas.
Between January and June 2020, around 2,226 gonorrhea cases were reported in Kansas, out of which males accounted for 1,116 and females had 1,110 cases. The age group with the highest infection rate was 20-24 with 651 cases, followed by 15-19-year-olds where the rate was reportedly 426 cases, the third at-risk group was people between 25-29 with 426 cases and 25-29 with 420 cases per 100,000 people.
Whites reported more cases than blacks and Hispanics with 982, 713, and 204 gonorrhea cases/100,000 people, respectively.
Regarding P&S syphilis, females reported 20% of all cases with 33 cases, while males had 133 or 80% of all reported syphilis diagnoses. Whites again had the highest number of diagnoses with 84 cases, followed by blacks with 41, and Hispanics accounted for 38 cases per 100,000 people. The most vulnerable group was those above 40 with 53 cases, while the 25-29 age group accounted for 37 cases.
Statistics from the AIDSVu report show that the prevalence of the virus was more in males than females. In 2018 out of the total numbers of people living with HIV, 80.6% were males while 19.4 % were females. In the new diagnosis, 83.9% were males, while 16.1% were females.
By the end of 2018, there were a total of 3,080 people living with HIV in Kansas. During the same year, 155 individuals were newly diagnosed with the disease. The rate of people living with HIV per 100,000 population in 2018 was 128, while the rate of newly diagnosed cases per 100,000 population in Kansas in the same year was 6.
According to the same report, White Americans were mainly affected by HIV. In 2018, 49.9 % were of the people living with HIV were White Americans, 25.5% were Black Americans, and 17.3% were Hispanic or Latin. People belonging to the age group 55 and above were affected mainly by the virus (31.1%), followed by 45 to 54 years (28.5%). 19.9% of the total numbers belonged to the age group 25 to 34 years, while 20.4% of the people living with HIV in Kansas were adolescents and young adults aged 13 to 24 years.
HIV-related deaths in Kansas during 2018 were 47. The rate of death per 100,000 population was 2. Of the total numbers, 72.3% were males, and 27.7% were females. Considering the modes of transmission of the virus, the report shows that 75.9% of the cases in males were reported due to male sexual contact, 5.8% due to heterosexual contact, and 5.3% due to the use of contaminated syringes and injection drug use. In females, 78.9% of the cases were reported due to heterosexual contact, while 17.6% were due to injection drug use.
The Kansas STI/HIV Care Program endeavors to meet Kansans' health care requirements infected with STDs or HIV by offering services to help retain individuals into medical care.
The Disease Intervention Program attempts to reduce the spread of STIs by helping with the treatment of those infected and notifying their partners to prevent them from exposure to infection. This program's primary focus is on syphilis, gonorrhea, and HIV but can also offer chlamydia follow-up.
The Partner Services (PS) associated with this program provide counseling to infected patients and identify people in need of testing/treatment for STIs. Educating both care providers and patients about the most advanced prevention methods is also part of this program's strategies. The eleven disease investigators, also known as Disease Intervention Specialists, also work together to change patient risk behavior on an individual basis via evidence interventions to reduce the rate of STIs in Kansas.
The STI/HIV Surveillance Program also monitors HIV/AIDS, chlamydia, syphilis, and gonorrhea case counts and observed/predicts/react to outbreaks and rates across Kansas. They regularly analyze surveillance data to offer targeted prevention and awareness efforts throughout the state.
To aggressively attack the problem, Kansas state recently permitted doctors to treat people who have tested positive for an STI/STD and their partner without an examination, called the expedited partner therapy. This process was previously illegal in Kansas. However, it will now become legal after the Kansas House passed the bill. It was approved by 71-49 and made it the 42nd state to permit expedited partner therapy. It would follow other 41 states as the bill will now be sent to the Senate.
Government of Kansas has been trying to streamline the health authorities' efforts, federal and state funding towards a bigger goal of creating an HIV-free state. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has a dedicated HIV Surveillance Program that analyzes the trends in the infection, monitors the cases, and provides information on various prevention and care activities. CDC funds the program, and it provides a policy guideline and a funding guideline for various federal programs to support HIV patients.
Healthy Living Project is another initiative that provides educational and additional support services to people living with HIV or those individuals who are at risk of HIV/AIDS. Under this project, free HIV/STI testing is made available to all state residents. The project has also been acting as a bridge between HIV patients and HIV care providers.
AIDS Drug Assistance Program, ADAP helps people living with HIV that belong to low-income groups. HIV-positive patients, who don't have access to medications, are uninsured, or are underinsured are eligible to apply for this project. ADAP has various financial assistance and treatment plans for those who cannot afford to get the medications and treatment otherwise.
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!
