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.
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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.
1775 Browning Way #103, Elko, Nevada 89801
144.87 mile
Tel: 7757778619
Today's best offer is: $10 off any order. Discount will be applied automatically.
There is a charge for Hepatitis testing. HPV vaccine only available for those under age 19 who qualify for VFC program. Hepatitis A and B vaccine is available at a charge for anyone aged 18 or older.
1 Frankie St, Tonopah, Nevada 89049
66.27 mile
Tel: (775) 482-6659
Appointment Required: Yes
297 11th St E, Ste 5, Ely, Nevada 89301
87.94 mile
Tel: (775) 293-6558
Tel: (775) 289-1561
Appointment Required: Yes
Community Health Nurses (CHN) provide access to services in underserved areas including Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) screening; identification and treatment of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI); and Tuberculosis screening and treatment;
331 1st St, Hawthorne, Nevada 89415
120.65 mile
Tel: (775) 945-3657
Appointment Required: Yes
Must be Native American or other eligible beneficiary.
1022 Hospital Rd, Schurz, Nevada 89427
130.92 mile
Tel: (775) 773-2306
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 Nevada. 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.
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.
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.
Standard STD testing can detect common sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, herpes, and hepatitis B and C. Additional tests may be required for less common STDs or specific situations.
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 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.
Test Advisor
Get informed about the different STD testing options and the prices for each test.
Nevada STD Data
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.
At the end of the year 2018, approximately 1.2 million people in the United States (aged 13 and above) were diagnosed with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). It is a virus that mainly attacks those cells in our body that help in fighting off infections. Hence, the individual becomes highly vulnerable to life-threatening diseases and infections.
A concerning fact is that nearly 14% (161,800) of people hadn't undergone a proper diagnosis. In 2015, Nevada ranked twenty-first among the 50 states as far as the number of HIV diagnoses is concerned. Currently, its rank is eighteenth in the country regarding the number of people diagnosed with HIV. This means the rate of infection has increased considerably in the state.
The primary reason behind such a sharp incline is that most people, especially young adults, are unaware of the illness and continually transmitting the disease to their partners. Since people don't know about their condition, they never think about getting tested for HIV, which aggravates the issue.
Testing is extremely
important in winning the fight against this deadly virus. There's no other way
to detect the virus as many of its symptoms are similar to other less harmful
diseases. You need to know your status to keep yourself and your partner(s)
sexually healthy. Early diagnosis will benefit you greatly as you will have a
better chance of living a healthy and long life.
Nevada's HIV profile is unique because HIV infections is detected in almost all age groups. Youth between 13 to 24 account for sixteen percent of new HIV diagnoses. The burden of new diagnoses is highest among those between the age of 25 to 34 (40%). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Nevadans with HIV will face an average lifetime cost of $501,000 to treat their infection.
CDC reports that in 1993, Nevada had around 1,537 HIV cases, and Nevada ranked twenty-fourth in nationwide survey in terms of total cases reported, but ranked ninth in the rate of HIV diagnoses with an average of 40 people per 100,000 people. It was a high-impact state already, but today, Nevada has become a high-risk and high-priority state due to its unique demographics.
In all seventeen counties of Nevada, people are living with HIV. Out of the 17 counties, Clark County has the highest number of new diagnoses with 20 cases/100,000 people. Clark County also has the highest number of people with HIV/AIDS (460 people/100,000 population). Next in line is Washoe County, which has the second highest new HIV diagnoses rate with over 7 cases per 100,000 people and the second-highest rate of people living with HIV/AIDS (282/100,000 people).
AIDSVu reported that in 2014 the number of people living with the disease was nearly 8,400, and in 2015, there were over 450 new reported cases. In 2018, the number of people living with HIV crossed 10,000, and the rate of people living with HIV/AIDS per 100,000 people was 403. The total number of deaths with HIV was 146 in 2018; 78% were males and 21.9% females.
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.
In Nevada, males are disproportionately impacted by the virus because the HIV transmission rate is comparatively higher among males who have sex with males (MSM). As per the year 2017 statistics, over 7,500 MSM were living with HIV in Nevada, and the number of new diagnoses was over 300; heterosexual males living with HIV were around 1,300.
In 2018, there were over 83% males and 16% females living with HIV in Nevada, out of which 25.5% were Blacks, 26.4% were Hispanic/Latinx, and more than 40% were whites. The new diagnoses percentage among males in 2018 was 87.7%, and 12.3% in females. Concerning age, in 2018, 19% of the people diagnosed with HIV in Nevada aged between 13 and 24, 37% were between 25 and 34 years, 20% were between 35 and 44 years of age, 14% between 45-54, and 8.2% were 55 or older.
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%.
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.
Several community groups and agencies in Nevada have launched several effective initiatives with the sole purpose of decreasing the percentage of new HIV infections. Initiatives like PrEP Academic Detailing, Substance Abuse HIV Testing and Harm Reduction Programs are most prominent.
PrEP Academic Detailing is launched by the Nevada Department of Public and Behavioral Health in collaboration with the local health departments. This project aims to increase access to HIV PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) clinical services across the state. It is a one-on-one outreach education program to help clinicians offer evidence-based care to patients. ChangePoint is a significant Harm Reduction Program launched by Northern Nevada HOPES. The state's first-ever legal syringe services initiative under which testing and outreach services, syringe services, and community building opportunities are offered to medically underserved groups throughout Nevada.
In Las Vegas, the Trac B Exchange center is focused on protecting people's health in Southern Nevada. This storefront site offers consultation to the community for harm reduction and infection prevention through creating awareness about syringe use and disposal.
The Substance Abuse Prevention & Treatment Agency (SAPTA) HIV Testing Program is launched to assist SAPTA State-certified transitional or residential treatment options to ensure rapid HIV testing, reduce HIV incidence, and increase access to care.
In 2015, around 39% of female high-school students and over 40% of male high school students were reported to have had indulged in sexual activity, compared to 39% of females and 43% of male students nationwide.
In Nevada, the percentage of lesbian, gay, or bisexual high school students was 47, and 45% of high school students weren't sure about their sexual orientation. Over 39% of heterosexual high-school students have had sexual intercourse in Nevada. Around 43.5% of Hispanic and 40% of white high-school students reported having had sexual intercourse.
These statistics suggest that sex education in Nevada hasn't successfully created awareness among adolescents and young adults regarding safe sex practices. That's because the rate of HIV diagnoses among adolescents is continually inclining. According to the CDC, almost half of all HIV infections within the US occur among people below 25. HIV is the 6th leading cause of death among people between 15 and 24 years.
State laws and regulations in this context serve as the foundation to encourage school-based sexual education programs. It is important to develop well-designed and well-implemented programs to reduce risky sexual behaviors among the youth.
In Nevada, an Advisory Committee is authorized to select and approve the sexual health education curriculum. However, the programs do not provide awareness about contraception, and abstinence is also not addressed. Furthermore, parents or guardians are allowed to opt their kids out of sexual health education. These are critical issues that must be given due consideration when devising sexual health education programs and curriculum.
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!
