Nebraska state has one of the country’s bottommost population-adjusted rates of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including chlamydia, primary/secondary syphilis, and gonorrhea, among all states. However, it is also one of those U.S. states where STD rates are steadily increasing over the past four years. If this trend continues, the state’s low STD burden may change.
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The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reported that around 20%e of the entire U.S. population had an STI (sexually transmitted infection) in 2018, which means one in five individuals were infected. This indicates that STI testing and treatment cost the country’s healthcare system approximately $16 billion only in healthcare costs. Since most cases go unreported, and some infections like HPV (human papillomavirus) and genital herpes aren’t reported at all, the current STDs status only represents a fraction of the actual burden.
Untreated STDs can cause severe and long-lasting health consequences, particularly for young women and adolescent girls, mainly infertility. Chlamydia, the most commonly reported STD in the USA, and gonorrhea can cause scarring in the female reproductive system leading to pelvic inflammatory disease. This can cause ectopic pregnancy apart from increasing infertility risk. In males, STDs can also cause infertility, joint pain, organ failure, meningitis, a disease involving swelling of the brain’s lining, and liver inflammation.
If you want to avoid these chronic health consequences, it is essential to get tested regularly for STDs. Find a testing center/clinic near you and get you and your partner tested if you are sexually active.
630 N Cotner Blvd, Ste 201, Lincoln, Nebraska 68505
176.08 mile
Tel: 4024848800
Today's best offer is: $10 off any order. Discount will be applied automatically.
1105 N Erie St, Lexington, Nebraska 68850
49.91 mile
Tel: (308) 324-8308
Appointment Required: Yes
Must be American Indian and Alaskan Native.
Corner of N 12 and N 7, Fort Defiance, Arizona 86504
51.09 mile
Tel: (928) 729-8000
Appointment Required: No
102 S Elm St, North Platte, Nebraska 69101
51.22 mile
Tel: (308) 534-3077
Tel: (308) 534-6104
Appointment Required: Yes
4503 2nd Ave, Ste 209, Kearney, Nebraska 68847
69.34 mile
Tel: (308) 234-9140
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 Nebraska. 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 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.
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.
Similar to what was previously mentioned, herpes infections are known for their recurring tendencies – causing outbreaks now and then and thus causing an intermittent spike in the patient’s viral load for specific instances. In addition to that, other STDs also take time to proliferate and produce a sufficient viral load that could warrant a positive and, more importantly, accurate diagnosis and detection from the tests being administered. As such, detecting an STD a few days following exposure is often complex and unpredictable – leading physicians to follow a certain timeframe instead for testing STDs instead of blindly testing immediately following exposure. Physical exams, however, may supplement inaccurate laboratory diagnoses, especially in cases where the test is prone to false results.
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.
Although NAATs are well-known for their accuracy and sensitivity in detecting most STDs, it is also subject to certain inconsistencies, especially in the case of herpes infections. In Herpes, outbreaks often result in a relative increase in the patient’s viral load – leading to a timeline that usually has specific peaks at certain intervals instead of a consistent rise in viral load throughout. As such, sensitive tests such as NAATs are still unable to accurately diagnose herpes conditions, especially in cases where the patient has recently become asymptomatic and is currently between outbreaks. Other tests such as culture testing and type-specific virologic tests are often employed instead as a confirmatory diagnosis for the patient’s condition.
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Get informed about the different STD testing options and the prices for each test.
Nebraska STD Data
In 2017, fewer than 9,000 cases of chlamydia were reported in Nebraska, putting the state in 34th position among the 50 U.S. states after population adjustment. The state’s overall chlamydia rate was around 15% in 2017, which was considerably lower than the overall national rate. However, the chlamydial infection rate has gone up in the state every year since 2013 at 24%, which is an alarming situation.
On the other hand, the state’s gonorrhea infection rates after population adjustment were 20% lower than the national rate, and it ranked number 32 in the country. However, the infection rate of gonorrhea has steadily increased over the past four years. Since 2013, there has been a staggering 88% rise in the number of gonorrhea cases.
As far as primary and secondary (P&S) syphilis rate is concerned, Nebraska boasted the third-lowest rate, and its overall diagnoses rate was 76% lower than the national rate in 2017. A considerable decline in syphilis prevalence in the state between 2016 and 2017 was favorable. But, since 2012, the number of syphilis cases has risen by a dramatic 500% in the state.
The Centers for Disease Control, CDC has ranked Nebraska 39th among the 50 US states for having the largest numbers of HIV cases. In 2015 alone, 81 adults and adolescents were newly diagnosed with HIV in Nebraska. Nebraska is the only triply landlocked state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. United States Bureau of Census data, 2019 indicates that Nebraska has a total population of 1.9 million, making it the 37th most populated state of the country.
According to CDC, Nebraska is among the top U.S states with the largest numbers of people living with HIV. The total number of newly diagnosed adults and adolescents with HIV in 2015 was 81. AIDSVu report states that the total number of newly diagnosed cases in 2018 was slightly reduced to 79. The same report indicates that the rate of people living with HIV per 100,000 population was 137. By 2018 the total numbers of people living with HIV in Nebraska were 2174. Most of the infected individuals were White Americans. The prevalence of the virus was more in males as compared to females.
As per the Nebraska STD program, the rate of chlamydia infection among females aged 20-44 was 116/100,000 women in 2013, and for the same group, the rate of gonorrhea infection was 166.5/100,000 females. Reportedly, the rate of chlamydia within Nebraska has considerably increased while gonorrheal infections have remained stable.
In Central Nebraska, a total of 6,892 chlamydia and gonorrhea cases were reported in 2006, and around 12.3% or 558 cases came from the central and western service areas, including Grand Island and Hastings.
Out of the 5,451 chlamydia cases in Nebraska, 13.5% were diagnosed in people between 15 and 24, and out of the 1,441 gonorrhea cases, 15.6% were diagnosed in people between 15 and 24. Most of the people impacted by chlamydia and gonorrhea in the state were white females.
TheSeniorList.com reported that there had been a significant increase in the rate of STDs among senior citizens in Nebraska. The study, which utilized the most recent data from CDC, revealed that the state ranked 44 with over 31 seniors diagnosed with an STD per 100,000 people in 2018-2019.
This means the problem is no longer limited to the younger population as STDs have become increasingly common in older Nebraskans. Moreover, there was a 161.4% increase in STDs in the state’s older citizens, including a 150% increase in HIV cases, a 92.7% increase in chlamydia, 364.7% increase in gonorrhea infections, and 600% increase in syphilis cases per 100,000 people. The state ranked number 44 in overall HIV infection rate, 45 in chlamydia infections, 42 in gonorrhea cases, and 27 in syphilis cases in 2018.
Lancaster County is reportedly the worst-hit region in Nebraska. The alarming aspect is that 15 to 20-year-olds made up almost half of all STD diagnoses in Lancaster County in 2018, claiming the county’s Health Department. Chlamydia was the highest reported STD in the county within the past three years. By the end of November 2018, there were nearly 1,600 STD cases in Lancaster County, and by the first half of 2019, the county reportedly had surpassed this figure already. The number of reported gonorrhea cases in 2009 was only 283 in this area, while during the first eleven months of 2019, the county reported over 550 cases.
According to AIDSVu, 2018 the total number of HIV-positive individuals living in Nebraska was estimated to be 2174. Of the total numbers, 79 adults and adolescents were diagnosed with the virus during the same year. The rate of people living with HIV per 100,000 population was 137. The rate of new diagnosis per 100,000 population during 2018 was 5.
The data from AIDSVu indicates that of the total numbers of newly diagnosed cases, most of the cases were reported in males (77.8%). Of the total numbers, only 22.2% of the HIV-positive patients were females. The age group that was most affected by the virus was 45- 54 years (29.8%), followed by 55 years and above (29.1%).22.9% of the people living with HIV in Nebraska were between the age group 35 to 44 years and 14.9% belonged to the age group 25 to 34 years. 3.4% of the people diagnosed with HIV were adolescents and young adults aged 13 to 24 years.
White Americans were disproportionately affected by the virus. 49.8% of the people with HIV were White Americans, 27.8% were Black Americans, and 16.1% belonged to Hispanic backgrounds. The number of HIV-related mortalities in Nebraska during 2018 was 31. The rate of HIV-related mortalities per 100,000 population was 2. Following a similar pattern, HIV-related deaths were reported more in males than their female counterparts.
Considering the modes of transmission of the virus in males, the virus is mainly transmitted due to male or gay sexual contact (74.5%), 9.3% due to heterosexual contact, and 5.3% due to the use of contaminated needles or syringes. In females, the most common modes of transmission were heterosexual contact (83%) and injection or contaminated needle use (13%).
CDC offers funding for STDs prevention in Nebraska. In 2018, it provided the state over $300,000 in funding. Non-profit organizations such as Family Health Services Inc. are also quite active in Nebraska. The organization offers STD testing facilities in most mainstream cities, including Lincoln.
The Lifespan Health Services Unit of the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services implements the PREP state-grant program of the state. This program supports eight local projects to offer Teen Outreach Program to youth from 6-12 grades. The state’s health department helps in its implementation and ensures technical assistance and training to each local project.
Teen Outreach Program is an evidence-based youth development initiative aimed at engaging young Nebraskans in experiential learning activities to “prepare for successful adulthood and avoid problem behaviors.” Youth aged 12-17 can benefit from this program. It also focuses on reducing school failure/suspension rates and teen pregnancy rates.
The Nebraska AIDS Project is also a crucial program that offers a diverse range of services to control the spread of HIV/STDs. Its educational unit provides quality STD and HIV testing experience under the testing program. People can ask questions about the infectious diseases, learn their STD/HIV status the same day, and test for most common STDs for free, including chlamydia, gonorrhea, and P&S syphilis.
Through its counseling program, in-house training is provided to help to identify potential risks and find out risk reduction strategies. The project also offers free and confidential walk-in testing and counseling service to people above 13 years of age, comprising urine tests for chlamydia and gonorrhea and HIV tests is conducted before the STI test.
As a part of the national goals to be HIV-free by 2030, the government of Nebraska has streamlined the policy and health care plans towards reducing the number of newly diagnosed cases in the state. Nebraska AIDS Project, NAP is one such initiative. The mission of this organization is to spread awareness regarding prevention strategies and reduce stigma through proper education and supportive services for HIV. The program provides STI and HIV testing services and also provides linkage services to the treatment providers. One program of the NAP is to provide free condoms in the mail or in-person, totally free of cost to prevent the transmission of the virus through sexual contact.
Nebraska AIDS Education and Training Center of the University of Nebraska Medical Center works to provide training and educational services to healthcare providers dealing with HIV patients. The center mainly deals with educating the health care providers about newer treatment methods. The center also provides clinical training opportunities at HIV care sites.
Nebraska Medicine has been actively
providing HIV care services in the state for the last two decades. This HIV
program caters to HIV patients by providing them comprehensive care at every
stage of the disease.
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!
