In the US state of Virginia, the rate of reportable sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), namely chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis (primary and secondary), is rising every year. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the state ranked 34th in the primary/secondary syphilis rates among the fifty US states, 29th in gonorrhea infections and 30th in the rates of chlamydia in 2015.
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Around twenty million new STDs infections are reported in the USA every year. This makes it all the more important to consider making STD testing/screening a compulsory part of your routine health checkup. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), men who have sex with men, women of childbearing age, people between age 15-24 and 25-34, and those having multiple partners must make sure to get tested for STDs every 3 to 6 months. Moreover, whoever is sexually active and prefers to have unprotected sex has a greater responsibility to get screened.
It is worth noting that most STDs tend to be asymptomatic and show little to no symptoms. The only way to identify that you are infected with an STD is through testing. The good news is that most common STDs, including gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis, are treatable. The key is to detect the virus in its initial stages. Always follow responsible and safe sex practices and make STD testing a priority. Untreated STDs can cause chronic health conditions such as infertility, miscarriages, colon cancer and may also progress into HIV.
900 W 3rd St, Farmville, Virginia 23901
16.43 mile
Tel: 4343921508
Today's best offer is: $10 off any order. Discount will be applied automatically.
Free condoms available upon request.
80 Administration Ln, Buckingham, Virginia 23921
10.14 mile
Tel: (434) 969-4244
Tel: (800) 533-4148
Tel: (434) 969-1292
Appointment Required: Yes
Free condoms available upon request.
475 Court St, Appomattox, Virginia 24522
10.79 mile
Tel: (434) 352-2313
Tel: (434) 352-0232
Appointment Required: Yes
Free condoms available.
4038 Thomas Nelson Hwy, Arrington, Virginia 22922
21.88 mile
Tel: (434) 263-8315
Tel: (434) 989-3292
Appointment Required: Yes
15 Foster Rd, Cumberland, Virginia 23040
23 mile
Tel: (804) 492-4661
Tel: (804) 492-9463
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 Virginia. 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 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.
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.
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.
It is recommended to get tested for STDs if you have had unprotected sexual contact, multiple sexual partners, or if you are experiencing symptoms associated with STDs. Additionally, regular testing is recommended as part of routine sexual health care, even in the absence of symptoms, especially for individuals who are sexually active.
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Virginia STD Data
Virginia state’s primary/secondary syphilis rate was 2.6 cases/100,000 people in 2011 that increased to 4 cases/100,000 people in 2015. Regarding gonorrhea, the state’s case rate was over 97 cases per 100,000 people. There were nine cases of congenital syphilis reported between 2011 and 2015. chlamydia infections in 2015 were significantly high, with over 420 people per 100,000 population getting diagnosed. Women reported at least two times higher rates of chlamydia infections compared to men, with 563.9 cases and 279.8 cases per 100,000 population, respectively.
Preliminary data released by the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) revealed shocking new developments. In 2018, the state observed a 22% rise in chlamydia diagnoses. In 2013 the state reported 33,825 cases, which increased to 41,377 in 2018. On the other hand, syphilis cases rose by 52%, from 327 in 2013 to 498 in 2018. However, the most disturbing trend was noticed in the rate of gonorrhea since there was a staggering 71% rise in the number of gonorrheal infections reported in Virginia, from 7,100 cases in 2013 to 12,141 in 2018.
In Virginia, Hampton Roads topped the list of highest STDs rates in all US metropolitan areas, as per 2010 study findings from the CDC. The region ranked 2nd highest in chlamydia infections, third highest in gonorrhea, and Eastern Virginia reported the state’s highest number of people living with HIV. In 2019, the state reported 566 chlamydia cases, 162 gonorrhea cases per 100,000 population and Hampton Roads again reported the highest infection rate for being a transient area. This area has twice the number of cases reported elsewhere in the state, with around 932 chlamydia and 315 gonorrhea infections reported per 100,000 people in 2019.
Between 2010 and 2019, new HIV diagnoses rate in Virginia dropped by 18%. As of December 31, 2019, around 333 residents of the state per 100,000 population were living with HIV. This indicates that a higher number of people are now living with the disease as during this period the number of people with HIV increased by 29%. There were over 23,600 people were living with HIV in the state in 2019 and 822 people were newly diagnosed with the virus.
As per the VIRGINIA HIV EPIDEMIOLOGY PROFILE 2019 approximately 45% of the HIV-positive population was diagnosed with an AIDS-defining condition and around 58% people living with HIV in Virginia were African-Americans. About 28% were non-Hispanic Whites and 9% of those living with HIV were Hispanics.
As of December 31, 2019, according to the Virginia state health department’s HIV surveillance data, there were 19,349 males at a rate of 461 per 100,000 and 6,4495 females at a rate of 150 per 100,000 living with HIV in the state, which indicates male represented 75% of all HIV-positive population.
In Virginia, males are around three times more likely to be living with HIV than females. Furthermore, between 2010 and 2019, male-to-male sexual contact (MSM) reportedly increased by 65 to 69% in Virginia and heterosexual contact dropped slightly, from 27% in 2010 to 24% in 2019.
Between 2005 and 2009, African-Americans accounted for 76% of gonorrhea cases, 63% of syphilis and 55% of chlamydia diagnoses, stated Virginia Health Department. Norfolk had 9% of the state’s chlamydia diagnoses between 2005 and 2009, whereas Newport News and Virginia Beach recorded 7% of all chlamydial infections. Norfolk reported 11% of all gonorrhea infections in 2009, and Richmond had 12% of Virginia’s syphilis diagnoses during 2005 and 2009.
According to the statistics shared by the VDH, the three most impacted age groups regarding STDs prevalence was 20-24,25-29, and 15-19. Regarding chlamydia, the highest rates were reported amongst people aged 20-24 with 18,357 cases in 2019, followed by 15-19-year-olds with 12,231 cases, and 25-29-year-old individuals had the third-highest infection rate with 8,848 cases.
Regarding gonorrhea, a similar trend was observed since 20-24-year-olds accounted for over 4,200 gonorrheal cases, followed by 25-29-year-old individuals with 3,049 cases, and 15-19-year-olds recorded 2,262 cases.
In syphilis, the most affected group according to VDH was the 25-29-year-old individuals who accounted for 295 cases, followed by the 20-24 age group, which reported 251 cases, and 30-34 reported the third highest infection rate with 241 cases in 2019.
In all three STDs, the non-Hispanic black population accounted for the highest rate of disease. Black reported 761 syphilis, 19,097 chlamydia, and 8,408 gonorrhea cases in 2019. The white population was the next most impacted race in Virginia as they accounted for 2,551 gonorrhea diagnoses, 9,813 chlamydia, and 329 syphilis cases in the state in 2019.
On average, approximately 933 new HIV/AIDS cases diagnosed in Virginia in 2019 were among males. However, according to the state’s HIV Epidemiology Profile 2019, the rates of new diagnoses among men significantly decreased between 2010 and 2019. In 2010 this rate was 20 cases/100,000 people whereas in 2019 it has come down to 16 cases/100,000 population. similarly, rates of new diagnoses among females declined from 6/100,000 people in 2010 to 4 cases/100,000 people in 2019. Still, as per 2019 statistics, males were four times more vulnerable to HIV than females in Virginia.
As far as demographic trends are concerned, new HIV diagnoses rates were higher among 25-34 age group in 2019 as this group recoded 26 cases per 100,000 people. Conversely, rates among 35-44 and 45-54 age groups declined considerably between 2010 and 2019 as from 22 and 14 cases/100,000 in 2010 the state reported 15 and 9 cases per 100,000 people in 2019.
Males aged 25-34 showed the highest rate of diagnoses in Virginia in 2019 followed by the 15-24 age group as these groups reported 43 and 27 cases/100,000 people, respectively. Regarding females, the most impacted age group was females aged 25-34 and 35-44 as these groups reported 9 and 7 cases per 100,000 people, respectively.
Around 63% of new HIV diagnoses in 2019 were in Black population and the second most affected race was non-Hispanic white with 23% of all reported new diagnoses. Hispanic/Latino accounted for 10% of all HIV cases. Between 2010 and 2019, 59% of all new HIV cases were among Black population and this race was 9 times more likely to be diagnosed with HIV than white people. Black females were 12 times more likely to contract HIV than their white counterparts.
Virginia Department of Health’s STD Prevention and Surveillance program director Diana Prat stated that the state had introduced several STI (sexually transmitted infection) initiatives to encourage people to get tested. That’s why the state has recorded a higher number of cases in recent years. More cases of STDs are reported to the department now than before. The Alexandria Health Department, for instance, launched the Getting to Zero campaign after receiving a $540,000 grant from the state health department. The campaign’s slogan was “Zero Infections, Zero HIV Deaths, Zero Stigma,” and the purpose of launching it was to promote HIV testing across Alexandria.
Furthermore, in 2018, the Virginia Department of Health mailed around 16,000 packets to private health care facilities to help them understand how to communicate with STD-infected patients, STD screening requirements and other resources on the topic.
DoingItRVA is an STD-related campaign launched by the Richmond City Health District in Richmond, Virginia. IT focuses on engaging sexually active youth since the number of syphilis cases is the highest in this area. Local health groups are engaged to organize STD and STI testing events at high schools and colleges to offer sexual health education and dismantle the stigma associated with STDs.
For monitoring the HIV epidemic surveillance data is critical as it helps analyze infection trends and offers accurate directions for planning, policy development, evaluation and resource allocation. The Virginia HIV Surveillance Program performs all these tasks and plays a crucial role in disease prevention and care programs. The program focuses on collecting HIV-related data through passive and active activities mandated via the Code of Virginia.
HIV Case Surveillance program collects required data regarding people living with HIV, and encourages healthcare providers and laboratories throughout Virginia for performing HIV reporting. The HIV Surveillance Program is a part of the NHSS (National HIV Surveillance System).
HIV Cluster Detection and Response (CDR) is responsible for collecting HIV laboratory data into surveillance activities, assess disease prevalence/trends in transmitted/acquired HIV drug resistance, analyze HIV genetic diversity, and explain transmission patterns. CDR program is developed by the Centers for Disease Control to understand and curb the spread of HIV. The program utilizes HIV laboratory data to identify related HIV infection groups, known as clusters, which is critical to end the HIV epidemic since HIV spreads at a faster rate in these groups. After the individuals in these groups are detected, health departments are notified so that they could focus treatment and prevention efforts.
Medical Monitoring Project (MMP) is a demographic-related project. It is designed to examine medical care and treatment people living with HIV are receiving as well as their behavior patterns and health outcomes. MMP is conducted by the Virginia Department of Health in collaboration with the CDC.
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!
