New Hampshire is among those US states where sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) rates are low. It usually ranks among the bottom states in chlamydia, syphilis, and gonorrhea, the top three most common reportable STDs in the USA. However, despite these STDs having remained less common in New Hampshire, a disturbing trend is noticed statewide where there has been a consistent rise in STD rates over the past four years.
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Reviewed by one or multiple members of our medical team750 Central Ave Ste E, Dover, New Hampshire 03820
Tel: 6037494444
Today's best offer is: $10 off any order. Discount will be applied automatically.
101 Riverway Pl, Bedford, New Hampshire 03110
Tel: 6036222357
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40 Winter St Ste 200, Rochester, New Hampshire 03867
Tel: 6033326181
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25 Pelham Rd, Ste 103a, Salem, New Hampshire 03079
Tel: 6038903708
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19 Hampton Rd Ste 13, Exeter, New Hampshire 03833
Tel: 6037729603
Today's best offer is: $10 off any order. Discount will be applied automatically.
Provides HIV Primary Care Services for all age groups.
1 Medical Ctr Dr, Reception 5C, Lebanon, New Hampshire 03756
Tel: (603) 650-8840
Appointment Required: Yes
1245 Elm St, Manchester, New Hampshire 03101
Tel: (603) 626-9500
Appointment Required: Yes
145 Hollis St, Manchester, New Hampshire 03101
Tel: (603) 626-9500
Appointment Required: Yes
45 High St, Nashua, New Hampshire 03060
Tel: (603) 821-7788
Appointment Required: Yes
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184 Tarrytown Rd, Manchester, New Hampshire 03101
Tel: (603) 626-9500
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 New Hampshire. 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.
Getting tested is highly imperative for all sexually active individuals regardless of their age, gender, ethnicity, or social status. It is one of the best and most crucial things you can do to ensure optimum sexual health and your partner's (s) well-being.
Apart from getting tested, it is essential to have an open and honest conversation with your GP/Doctor regarding your sexual history and determine the frequency of STDs testing you need to undergo.
STDs are contagious diseases and can be passed from one individual to another through sexual contact, skin-to-skin contact, sharing of needles, blood transfusion, etc. If a pregnant female suffers from primary/secondary (P&S) syphilis, the disease can be passed on to their unborn baby, which is a condition known as congenital syphilis.
If you don't get tested regularly, the STD may get unnoticed as most of them are asymptomatic. Untreated STDs can cause chronic health issues such as male/female infertility, fallopian tube blockage, tubal pregnancy, newborn deaths, miscarriage, and genital cancers. Moreover, it can also encourage human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission, and if HIV remains undetected, it causes a life-threatening condition known as Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Therefore, it is essential to get tested for STDs.
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In New Hampshire, the P&S syphilis rate was 1.4 cases identified per 100,000 individuals in 2011, which increased to 3 cases per 100,000 in 2015. the state ranked 37th in P&S syphilis rates among 50 US states, revealed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) annual state profile. The same analysis suggested that the state had a low tendency of congenital syphilis as just one case was diagnosed between 2011 and 2015. Regarding chlamydia and gonorrhea diagnoses, New Hampshire ranked 50th in 2015 in the list of US states with the most chlamydial and gonorrheal infections with over 233 chlamydia diagnoses and 18.5 gonorrhea diagnoses per 100,000 people.
Since 2015, a 17% increase in chlamydia cases has been observed and a 103% spike in the rate of syphilis. However, a startling observation was made regarding gonorrhea as a 352% explosion in cases was recorded within 2016-2019. According to the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, STD rates have swelled considerably since 2018.
The state is experiencing a gonorrhea outbreak as new cases were up by a staggering 250% in 2016. It is worth noting that between 2007 and 2013, on average, the state reported 130 cases of gonorrhea per 100,000 population. In 2016, the state health department received reports of 465 gonorrhea cases, representing over 250% increment in gonorrhea incidences. State Epidemiologist Dr. Benjamin Chan states that these numbers are highly concerning.
"New Hampshire historically has had one of the lowest rates of gonorrhea infections in the country; however, over the last year, we have seen a significant increase in the number of reported cases," Chan noted. In 2017, the state experienced over 520 new gonorrhea cases, while chlamydia stands at 3,686 cases, and syphilis cases being relatively low compared to other states.
As per the New Hampshire STD/HIV Surveillance Report 2015-2019, the reported chlamydia rates among women in New Hampshire were around two times higher than men, with 311.2 cases and 153 cases per 100,000 people, respectively. Chlamydia case counts remained stable on the whole, whereas gonorrhea and syphilis rates kept fluctuating during this period. People under the age of thirty and females of all ages represented the most affected population in this context.
Furthermore, the highest rates of chlamydia prevalence were traditionally found in the southern parts of the state, but lately, the rates have remained widely dispersed, particularly between 2018-2019.
On the other hand, gonorrhea was most commonly reported among people aged 20 to 39 years. However, unlike the case with chlamydia, gonorrheal infection largely affected the male population of New Hampshire. Hillsborough County, mainly the City of Manchester, was the most affected region in gonorrhea prevalence.
Regarding P&S syphilis, case counts remained stable between 2012 and 2015, but an increase was observed in 2016, and in 2017 the state government declared a syphilis outbreak across the region. In 2018, New Hampshire reported one congenital syphilis case and two cases in 2019, the first congenital syphilis cases reported in the state since 2013. Infectious syphilis was widely prevalent among gay, bisexual males and men who had sex with men. In addition to this, males living with HIV were also disproportionately impacted by infectious syphilis.
It is noted that females are more likely to get diagnosed with chlamydia in New Hampshire than males. This could be because women get screened more regularly, and the frequency of symptoms among them is higher than males. In New Hampshire, the rates of men undergoing screening for chlamydia are pretty low.
Furthermore, the state has reported higher diagnoses rates among ethnic/racial minorities, including Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, American Indian/Alaska Native, and Hispanic Individuals, compared to Asian, White, and Multiracial individuals. The disparities between white women and women of color are significant as in 2017 chlamydia rates were nearly five times higher among black women than white.
New Hampshire's Infectious Disease Prevention, Investigation & Care Services initiative aims to prevent illness, disability, or death due to infectious diseases. This program is responsible for the provision of recommendations to prevent the spread and distribution of infectious diseases. Moreover, it focuses on encouraging patient-provider education, disease outbreak investigation, and financial assistance. However, it must be noted that the Infectious Disease Prevention, Investigation & Care Services initiative is a broad program that administers several other programs. These include STD Prevention, HIV Prevention, Infectious Disease Investigation, New Hampshire Ryan White Care, Viral Hepatitis, Public Health, and Education Detailing program, etc.
Though the state has Planned Parenthood-funded clinics that offer low-cost STD testing facilities, the program has seen a 25% decrease in its operating budget due to an interruption in federal funding and state-backed funding. This has drastically affected the state's STD testing rates as diagnosis conditions, and treatment services have reduced significantly. The funding cutback has impacted uninsured people the most.
Depending on the test being performed and the testing physician's targeted diseases, various types of samples can be requested from you. In some instances, a minuscule blood sample of a few milliliters will be collected, some might ask for a urine sample, and others may opt for a genital swab. Again, the sample being collected will depend on the test being conducted and the outcome that is being targeted for this particular procedure.
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.
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.
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.
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!
