How Does it Work?
See how simple and easy it is to get tested for STDs in Utah today
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.
The United States is tackling a major and unprecedented sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) epidemic. The current STD rates are startling. In Utah state, the STD rates are at an all-time high, mirroring the national trend.
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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there has been a continuing and troubling trend of persistently rising STD rates in the past five years. This is specifically noted in the most common STDs, namely syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea. Since 2013, the CDC has observed a steady rise in the cases of these STDs, including all stages of syphilis.
The three reportable STDs can cause significant harm to those that get infected. Lifelong health issues, pain, and infertility are common complications that emerge from untreated STDs. In some cases, especially with syphilis, the health consequences are far more severe as it may lead to a permanent disability or death. With such an enormous increase in the number of cases, the number of adverse health outcomes also increases. Given Utah's under-resourced public health system, it is a great struggle to keep up with the rapidly rising number of STDs cases.
STDs, inherently, are social diseases and linked intrinsically to social determinants of health. Certain groups of population in Utah, such as the poor, minorities, and men who have sex with men (MSM), bear a disproportionate burden of STD prevalence. These groups are generally less able to receive timely and appropriate care. These populations are also subject to risky lifestyles and behaviors that eventually prove more conducive to STD transmission than other people. That's why every sexually active individual need to get tested for STDs regularly, as you may never know if and from where you've contracted the disease.
Generally, STDs share similar transmission pathways, especially the three reportable STDs mentioned above, which are comorbid with other STDs and HIV. The increased threat of coinfection makes the risk even more severe and further adds to the struggles the public health department faces in high-burden communities.
The fact that STDs are preventable and treatable if diagnosed early makes it all the more important for you to get tested. Unfortunately, factors like stigma, poverty, discrimination, unemployment, lack of access to care, inadequate resources, and inequity have proven to be critical barriers in curbing STDs rates. Luckily, there has been a substantial improvement in care provision and access to testing and treatment facilities in Utah state. You can easily find an STD testing center or clinic nearby, which usually offers a free-testing facility.
Remember that all STDs may not be life-threatening, such as chlamydia or gonorrhea, but these can lead to serious health issues like ectopic pregnancy, infertility, and pelvic pain. Those infected with human papillomavirus are at an increased risk of developing genital, cervical, and oral cancers. To prevent your health from permanent deterioration, it is better to get tested for STDs annually.
1900 N. State St. Lower Level, Provo, Utah 84604
71.88 mile
Tel: 8013772263
Today's best offer is: $10 off any order. Discount will be applied automatically.
25 W Main St, Castle Dale, Utah 84513
8.55 mile
Tel: (435) 381-2252
Appointment Required: Yes
28 South 100 East, Price, Utah 84501
24.5 mile
Tel: (435) 637-3671
Appointment Required: Yes
20 South 100 West, Ste 30, Mount Pleasant, Utah 84647
24.68 mile
Tel: (435) 462-2449
Appointment Required: Yes
525 N Main St, Ephraim, Utah 84627
26.61 mile
Tel: (435) 283-4076
Tel: (435) 283-4078
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 Utah. 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Test Advisor
Get informed about the different STD testing options and the prices for each test.
Utah STD Data
According to the state health department, in Utah, all four STDs that the depart tracts, including HIV, syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea, are on the rise. However, it is gonorrhea that is going viral across the state. For instance, in 2011, Salt Lake County reported 200 gonorrhea cases annually, which increased to 669 in 2013 and dramatically rose to 998 in 2014. In 2016, the county reportedly recorded 1,024 gonorrhea cases, which was 5 times higher than the levels reported in 2010-11.
According to the CDC, in 2013, Utah ranked 38th among the 50 states for syphilis rates, 44th in gonorrhea rates, and 48th in the number of chlamydia cases. In Salt Lake County, around 4,500 chlamydia cases are reported annually, making it the state's most commonly and frequently reported STD. However, the state's gonorrhea rates are rising faster and may overtake the state's and national average in the near future.
Other STDs are also rising steadily. In Davis County, there was a 17% increase in Chlamydia cases, a 122% increase in gonorrhea cases, and a 91% rise in cases of syphilis during 2016-2017. A similar trend was noticed in Weber and Morgan counties, where chlamydia rates were higher than anywhere else in the state, with around 318 cases/100,000 people reported in these counties in 2017 against 251 cases/100,000 people across the state. Utah County isn't too far behind, as, in 2018, there were more cases reported of chlamydia than influenza.
Statewide, the number of STDs cases has continued to rise since 2011. In 2015, there were over 1,000 chlamydia cases, which increased to 1,058 in 2016, 1,190 in 2017, and reached 1,257 in 2018. Furthermore, there were 139 gonorrhea cases reported in 2015, 167 cases in 2016, 200 cases in 2017, and 225 cases in 2018. Regarding syphilis, the state reported 13 cases in 2015, 21 cases in 2016, 21 cases in 2017, and 36 cases in 2018.
According to the US Census Bureau, the total estimated population of Utah by the year 2018 was 3.2 million. Considering the statistics of the CDC, Utah has comparatively lower numbers of HIV. The state has been ranked 36th out of the 50 states of the US. As recorded in the year 2018, the total population of people living with HIV was 2,929. The rate of people living with HIV per 100,000 during the year 2018 was 118. During the year 2015, a total of 116 adults were newly diagnosed with HIV. The number slightly increased to 119 newly diagnosed cases in the year 2018.
White Americans are present in a majority in Utah, with a total of 90.6%. Asians, Blacks, and individuals from other regions of the country are present in minorities. Of the total numbers of People living with HIV, 61.0% were white Americans, followed by 23.2% Hispanic, and 9.45% were African Americans. Moreover, Salt Lake City, the capital and the most populated Utah cities were more affected by the HIV epidemic. According to the Utah Department of Health , Bureau of Epidemiology the rate of HIV cases Salt Lake County has been reported at 181.2 cases per 100,000 population. In Summit, Utah the rate of HIV per 100,000 population was reported to be at 66.8%, for southwest 61.6% while for the southwest the rate of HIV was reordered at 60.1%.
In Utah, public health services are administered locally and offered directly through public health clinics or via contract-based relationships with providers. This includes community-based clinics like FQHCs, Title X Family Planning clinics, and Planned Parenthood clinics.
CDC funds the Utah State Health Department to channel resources for reducing STDs incidences using science-based prevention and control methods. Utah's STD prevention program focuses on devising high-impact, cost-effective, scalable, and sustainable STD control services. Utah State is part of a network of STD programs that gather additional information from across the state to identify and report STD trends quickly.
Every county and district in Utah has a dedicated STD control program. For instance, the Salt Lake County Health Department STD Clinic and Prevention Program is responsible for offering effective STD prevention education and low-cost testing and treatment via utilizing the latest technology. Similarly, Utah County and Davis County have their dedicated Sexually Transmitted Diseases Programs that focus on disease surveillance and preventing infection transmission while ensuring extensive availability of testing facilities.
The University of Utah Infectious Diseases Clinic has been working in the state as a primary caregiver to HIV patients. The clinic is currently the largest treatment facility in the region. The University of Utah Infectious Disease Clinic's primary function is to provide the necessary medications, treatment, home healthcare, substance abuse treatment, and nutritional services to the patients. Case managers from the University of Utah Infectious Disease Clinic monitor and evaluate patients who need more intensive follow-up. Each case manager works independently with HIV patients to address their medical as well as psychological needs.
Utah AIDS Foundation is yet another organization working in Utah for the facilitation of HIV patients. The foundation provides HIV testing services and HIV treatment and medications. Financial assistance and food and meal services are made available to those who cannot afford them. Besides, the foundation also works to educate the general public about ways to avoid contracting HIV. Educational presentations are made available to schools, detention centres, business as well as various community organizations. Under the most popular program, HIV 101, the Utah AIDS foundation gives a basic understanding of how the disease spreads and how one can potentially reduce the risk of contracting it.
Another program is designed to help people living with HIV in the form of support groups where individuals can talk about their experiences. The Utah AIDS Foundation has a group of active volunteers who conduct awareness sessions and organize a support group for HIV patients and the general public. The foundation also has an active hotline where all the necessary information about the virus as well as Hepatitis C can be accessed.
CDC provides funding to the New Jersey State health department for the implementation of cost-effective and scalable programs/policies with the aim to prevent HIV incidence across NJ. The funding offers supports for evidence-based disease monitoring, staff development, service delivery, and routine program evaluation. Moreover, CDC supports five community-based organizations, a perinatal HIV prevention project, and one capacity building assistance provider. The agency also provides funding to NJ State Education Department to assess risky behaviors that may contribute to the leading causes of disability and death among young adults.
STDs, although prevail more in people having a history of incarceration and MSM, Utah's gonorrhea outbreak is increasing faster in the general public. A majority of the infections are reported among 15 to 34-year-old white males and females. That's surprising because, historically, STDs have been disproportionately prevalent in Hispanic and Black communities. It is a fact that Utah, historically, has had low STD rates in comparison to other states, but there has been a sudden upsurge in the recent past.
Around 60% of reported STD cases were diagnosed in people aged 15 and 24 years of age. In 2019, the overall chlamydia infection rate in Utah state was 345.4 cases/100,000 residents. There was a 37% decrease in teen births between 2013 and 2018, from 20 to 13 births/1,000 females aged 15 to 19, respectively.
In 2019, gonorrhea rates were higher among males aged 25-29, with 352.2 cases/100,000 people, and for the 30-34 age group, the number of cases was 297/100,000 people. Among women, the highest number of gonorrhea cases was reported in 20 to 24-year-olds with 227.4 cases/100,000 females. Interestingly, there were zero cases of congenital syphilis in Utah from 2011 to 2015.
As far as race and ethnic disparities are concerned, African-Americans are the most impacted population in Utah. In 2019, blacks reportedly accounted for 1,419 chlamydia cases, followed by Latinos/Hispanics with 624.4 cases, and 230.8 cases in whites, per 100,000 people. A similar trend was observed in the number of gonorrhea cases per 100,000 people, with blacks reporting 507 of total diagnoses, Latinos/Hispanics reporting 152.6 cases, and whites reporting 65.7 cases of gonorrhea. Primary and secondary syphilis rates in 2019 revealed that blacks reported 21 cases, Hispanics/Latinos were the second most affected group with 6.7 cases, and whites reported 3.7 cases per 100/000 people.
The total population of Utah as per the Census data, 2018 was calculated at 3.2 Million. The majority of this population was that of Whites, who made up 90.6% of that population, followed by Asians, 2%, and African Americans that made up 1.6% of the total population. Pacific islanders, Native Indian Americans, as well as Alaskan Americans were present in minorities. According to the AIDSvu survey, in 2018, 2,929 people living in Utah had HIV. Of the mentioned numbers, 119 alone were newly diagnosed during the year 2018.
The majority of people living with HIV were males, 84.8 %, while females living with the virus made up 15.2%. Whites were most affected with HIV, 61.0%, followed by Hispanic 23.2 and Black 9.4%. Most of the people living with HIV were of the age group 45+ (59.8%). 27.6% of individuals belonged to the age group 35 to 44 years, while 22% of the total diagnosed cases were from the age group 22 to 34 years. 17% of the HIV-positive patients were young adults with ages 13 to 21 years.
Black Americans remain the bigger health disparity group considering HIV. The rate of black males living with HIV was 5.2 times that of white males, while Black females living with HIV was 60.7 times that of white females. The number of deaths recorded in 2018 as a result of HIV was 45. The rate of death of people with HIV per 100,000 was 2. The mortality rate was higher in males (93.3%) than their female counterparts (6.7%). The majority of the cases reported were due to the male to male sexual contact (73%). Injection and drug use also contributed significantly to the spread of the virus (15.9%).
Utah state code supports an abstinence-based sexual education program. The program promotes celibacy as the best and most effective way to prevent disease and pregnancy. Teachers aren't allowed to encourage or promote premarital or extramarital sexual activity. The state has developed new sex education standards. Still, there haven't been many changes in the curriculum except that it offers information on the different contraception methods, such as birth control pills. The new standard will include lessons for students from kindergarten through second grade. Parents will be allowed to opt-in their kids for the middle and high-school sex education units. The curriculum will also include a discussion on pornography addiction.
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!