Free STD Testing in Nevada

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated that there were 1.8 million reported chlamydia cases, 583, 405 gonorrhea cases, and 115,045 syphilis cases in 2018 in the US. Nevada happens to be the country’s syphilis infection epicenter.

Why Testing Matters?

It is a misconception that sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis (primary, secondary, and tertiary stages) do not pose any significant harm. These are serious health issues that need immediate addressing.

KUNR reports that Nevada has continually topped the list for the highest primary and secondary syphilis rate. It also ranks second in the country in the list of highest congenital syphilis cases. With such an astounding increase in a disease that could be passed on even to an unborn child, it becomes more important to get tested and seek treatment. Especially pregnant women and those with multiple sex partners need to get themselves screened regularly. Generally, females don’t think about getting tested for STDs, and the disease is only detected when they get pregnant and go for prenatal care.

Congenital syphilis is a devastating disease as it causes premature birth and even miscarriage. CDC states that around 40% of babies born to undiagnosed or untreated mothers are either stillborn or die soon after birth due to the infection. Untreated syphilis can impact the brain, heart, kidneys, and other organs and could be fatal. In Nevada, primary and secondary syphilis rates are highest among MSM (men who have sex with men), and congenital syphilis rate is higher among females.

Untreated STDs can cause infertility, pelvic inflammatory disease, and chronic pelvic pain. Additionally, STDs make a person vulnerable to other serious health conditions like HIV/AIDS and cancer.

Through timely testing and diagnosis, it is possible to treat STDs. There are numerous, highly effective treatment options available to cure diseases like syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea. However, it all begins with testing. Ensuring that you get tested for STDs can lower the risk of additional health issues and prevent others from contracting the disease.

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Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) Statistics in Nevada

Nevada continues to record inclining rates of primary and secondary (P&S) syphilis cases among MSM, congenital syphilis among pregnant females, and children born with the disease. In 2011, the rate of P&S syphilis in Nevada was 5% per 100,000 people, which increased to 11% by 2015. The state ranks first in P&S syphilis, twenty-fourth in chlamydia, and eighteenth in gonorrheal cases among all the 50 states.

In the Washoe Country, the number of STDs has increased tremendously since 2009. The region has reported a 75% increase in P&S cases in the state. Between 2017 and 2018, Washoe country observed a 24% increase in gonorrhea cases, 9.4% rise in chlamydia, and a frightening 121% increase in syphilis cases within only a year.

Approximately 16,000 people were diagnosed with Chlamydia in 2017. The rate has climbed dramatically since 2008 as there has been a 50% increase in the number of chlamydia cases. The rate of gonorrhea cases in the state has also increased considerably since 2011. From 80 patients in 2009, the state recorded 180 total cases in 2011. In the past ten years, there has been a 500% increase in syphilis cases.

Age, Gender, and Ethnic Disparities

As is the case in most US states, in Nevada, urban areas tend to have a higher incidence of STDs diagnoses. Las Vegas accounts for the highest number of STDs diagnoses in Nevada. In fact, almost all chlamydia cases in Nevada were either reported in Reno or Las Vegas. Around 3% of all gonorrhea cases in 2017 were reported in these two regions. Moreover, nearly nine out of ten syphilis cases in the state were diagnosed in Las Vegas in 2017. The Las Vegas metro area has the largest number of P&S cases among all US metro areas.

In 2017, the state observed a sharp increase in P&S syphilis cases among both males and females in every region of Nevada. On the whole, there was around 29% increment observed among males and 50% in females. Between 2016 and 2017, the number of reported gonorrhea cases was highest among African-Americans, with over 500 cases/100,000 population. However, from 2013 to 2017, the state recorded rising STD rates across all ethnic/racial groups.

Chlamydia rates are higher among young adult and adolescent females as they represent around 64% of all cases, with 27% being 15 to 19 years old and 36% between 20 and 24 years. A point to note here is that females in Nevada remain the most regularly targeted population for chlamydia testing, which is why the numbers are high.

During 2016-2017, gonorrhea cases increased by 28% among males and 22.4% among females. Between 2013 and 2017, the rate of chlamydia cases was at least 4.5 times higher than whites, with 934.9 cases among blacks and 209.4 cases among whites per 100,000 population. From 2016 to 2017, the rates of gonorrhea among male Nevadans increased by 26.8%, and a 21% increase was reported in females.

STDs Among Seniors

CDC assessed that the rate of STDs in seniors is rising across the country. Between 2011 and 2016, there was a 92% increase in gonorrhea infections, 66% in chlamydia cases, and 100% increase in syphilis cases among people aged 65 or above. Following the national trend, Nevada also reported a significant rise in STD cases among seniors.

As per the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services, from 2011 to 2016, the number of syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia cases in Nevada have tripled among people aged 65 or above. STDs rate in Clark County seniors (age 65 or above) was higher than the national average estimated by the DHHS’ Office of Analytics and the HIV/Hep/STD/TB Surveillance & Control Program. During 2015- 2016, there was an 87.5% increase in chlamydia cases in senior Nevadans, whereas gonorrhea cases increased by 350% and syphilis cases by 100%.

Prevention Strategies and Initiatives

The key to STD prevention and effective treatment is offering access to quality testing and health care facilities. It is a fact that by 2016, many people in the US were still struggling to afford full, routine access to quality health care. Across all ethnic/racial groups in the US, the lowest health insurance rate was noted among Hispanics, which was 83% in 2015, and 84% in 2016. Many of these uninsured individuals reside in Nevada, so the state needs to expand access to health care across its diverse populace.

Given the high infection rates, Nevadan lawmakers passed a bill in 2009 to make it compulsory for pregnant females to get tested at their first prenatal visit. A multidisciplinary approach towards sexual health education in schools and offering medically accurate, as well as inclusive education is an absolute must.

The Nevada STD Prevention and Control Program is an integral aspect of the state’s initiative to control and prevent the rate of STDs in Nevada. Through this program, efforts are channeled across local communities to interrupt the transmission of gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis infections, reduce the state’s health burden and reduce treatment costs. Its primary activities include testing, surveillance, and treatment of reportable STDs, offering STD goal development input and stakeholder planning opportunities throughout the state.

It is also responsible for identifying and treating contacts of reported STD cases and the provision of risk reduction material. These services are offered to all Nevadans without any age/gender/sexual orientation biases. However, due to the Southern Nevada Health District's limited funding, this program doesn’t target the seniors. Only the groups with significantly higher rates are targeted, for instance, pregnant women.

References

• Athomestdkit.com. 2019. Nevada STD Statistics & Rates - Find Testing Near Me | Athomestdkit.Com. [online] Available at: https://www.athomestdkit.com/s...
• Barnett, J. and Berchick, E., 2017. Health Insurance Coverage In The United States: 2016 Current Population Reports. [online] Census.gov. Available at: https://www.census.gov/content...
• Cdc.gov. 2017. Nevada – State Health Profile. [online] Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/nchhstp/st...
• Cdc.gov. 2018. Figure 37. [online] Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/std/stats1...
• Cdc.gov. 2018. Reported Stds In The United States, 2018. [online] Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/nchhstp/ne...
• Dpbh.nv.gov. 2018. Nevada STD Epidemiologic Profile: 2017. [online] Available at: http://dpbh.nv.gov/uploadedFil...
• Gray, A., 2018. Syphilis Skyrockets In Nevada; Other Stds Also On The Rise. [online] Kunr.org. Available at: https://www.kunr.org/post/syph...
• Healthysouthernnevada.org. 2018. Southern Nevada :: Indicators :: Condom Use Among Adolescents :: County : Clark. [online] Available at: http://www.healthysouthernnevada.org/indicators/index/
• Las Vegas Business Press. 2018. Number Of Stds Among Seniors Small But Increasing. [online] Available at: https://businesspress.vegas/he...
• Potter, J., 2020. STD Rates On The Rise In Nevada, Washoe County. [online] Ktvn.com. Available at: https://www.ktvn.com/story/411...