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East Dougherty, GA is small village located in Dougherty County. It is a part of the Albany Metropolitan Area. Unfortunately, it is part of a growing trend in southwest Georgia that has public health officials concerned.
Sexually transmitted disease are at a record high in 14 Georgia counties, including Dougherty. The Albany Metropolitan Area ranks among the highest. It has a rate that is comparable to larger cities and dense urban areas. Dougherty County is one of the worst counties in Georgia for sexually transmitted diseases.
Dougherty County has a population of around 85,000 people and it had 1,300 cases of chlamydia and gonorrhea in 2017. According to public health officials, getting tested is the only way to bring those numbers down.
Public health officials in Dougherty County are taking action by offering clinics that may offer free STD testing to some residents. The goal of these services is to get as many of the population tested as possible. Places where free or low-cost STD testing is available may include the Dougherty County Health Department, free clinics around the Albany area, and the Albany State University. Aspire (Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities) offers HIV testing at a lower cost, but only to those who qualify.
There is considerable variability in the services offered by public and free clinics. Sometimes, fees are not disclosed up front. With others you must meet certain guidelines to qualify for free services. In addition, you may not know whether a physician will be available if you test positive.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention1 (CDC) recommends screening for the most common STDs, including chlamydia, gonorrhea, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, syphilis, herpes 1, herpes 2, and HIV for both men and women. In addition, the CDC suggests women get screened for trichomoniasis.
SaferSTD recommends searching for locations that offer a 10-test panel which tests for the most common bacteria and viral STDs in the U.S. with additional premium add-ons like early HIV detection, if needed.
The CDC2Â provides detailed STD testing information as to when you should get tested. In summary, you should get tested today if you are sexually active, never been tested before, have had unprotected sex in the past, or if you exhibit symptoms.Â
According to the World Health Organization3, the majority of STI cases reported every day, more than one million, are asymptomatic; another reason to get tested today.
You should get tested again in 90 days to rule out STDs that have specific exposure waiting times, including HIV.
STD testing can be a quick and simple process, depending on the type of test you choose and where you get tested. Some may require an oral or genital swab, a urine test or blood sample, or a physical exam to check your genital area for signs of an STD.
SaferSTD has identified preferred providers that require only a urine test, a blood sample, or both without a physical exam.
The speed at which you receive your STD testing results depends on where you get tested. Before you choose your location, find out how long testing results will take.Â
At-home STD testing results are usually 3-5 business days, depending on the manufacturer of your test. You also need to take into account the amount of time it takes to receive the test or pick one up, perform the test, and ship it back, before the lab can analyze your results and report back to you.Â
If you test at a public facility such as a neighborhood clinic, you may have to wait a week, if not more for the results, which could delay treatment. If you test through a private facility, they have the fastest turnaround within 1-3 business days.Â
SaferSTD has researched and identified the most accredited and most reputable testing locations. Click here to find a preferred location near you.
Some STD testing clinics offer same-day walk-in options without an appointment. Below are nearby preferred locations that offer this option.
The cost of STD testing depends on whether you select private, public, or at-home testing, as well as the type of test(s) you need.
Several at-home STD options and public testing locations can cost up to $250, with most on the higher end, depending on the brand and type of testing. Public testing fees also vary based on income and welfare eligibility.Â
With private testing, you may save money on a low-cost comprehensive 10-test panel that tests for the most common bacterial and viral STDs in the United States.Â
SaferSTD has researched and identified reputable locations that offer upfront pricing without hidden fees. Click here to find a preferred location near you.
Order a home-test kit onlineThe test takes just 5 minutes and then mail in your sampleReceive your lab results in 2 to 5 daysFDA approved technologyEnjoy free shipping
CareConnect Infectious Disease Clinic, Cordele, is an affiliate clinic of CareConnect Health, a nonprofit health center. The clinic has experienced medical practitioners who provide comprehensive medical services, including internal medicine, dentistry, infectious diseases, behavioral health, obstetrics, and family practice.
The infectious disease clinic focuses on services ranging from STD/HIV screening, antibiotic therapy, testing and treatment of TB to Hepatitis C , fungal, bacterial, and viral infections.
The Pregnancy Center of Southwest Georgia provides comprehensive sexual healthcare services to women, men, and teens in East Dougherty and from surrounding communities. It is staffed with qualified clinicians who provide services, including pregnancy care, STD screening, preventive care, counseling, and sex education.
Planned Parenthood - Tallahassee Health Center is a major provider of sex education to teenagers, parents, men, and women living in East Dougherty, GA.
The clinic has modern medical equipment and qualified clinicians who provide services, including family planning, men’s health, pregnancy testing, abortion referrals, LGBTQ care, women’s health, and STI/HIV screening.
Dougherty County Health Department provides low-cost healthcare services to residents in Dougherty County and surrounding regions. The clinic has state-of-the-art medical equipment and certified clinicians who provide services such as maternal health, preventive care, chronic disease management, immunizations, STD/HIV testing, and drug addiction treatment.
Urgent Care Center at Phoebe East provides affordable healthcare services to local communities in East Dougherty, Georgia. The medical facility is staffed by board-certified clinicians who use modern medical equipment to provide services such as pediatrics, oncology, sports medicine, wound care, urinalysis, drug testing, and STD screening and treatment.
FastTrack Immediate Care has modern medical equipment and adequate board-certified medical practitioners who provide services such as family medicine, DOT physicals, drug screening, sports injuries treatment, flu shots, urinalysis, and STD testing and treatment. The competent medical ensures that clients spend minimal time in waiting rooms.
These location types are best for: Privacy and convenience
Accredited and Certified
Description: Order online and receive a doctor's order to visit this lab to get tested in as little as 15 mins. Get your results privately within 1-2 business days and speak with a doctor over the phone if your test results come back positive. Doctors may prescribe treatment or refer you to a specialist if needed.
These location types are best for: Privacy and convenience
Accredited and Certified
Description: Getting an STD test at a clinic near you has never been easier. When you choose this location, you can get a doctor's requisition to get tested in as little as 15 minutes. Following your test, you receive your results privately within 2 business days, and can speak to a doctor over the phone with confidence, should results come back as positive.
These location types are best for: Privacy and convenience
Accredited and Certified
Description: Why go to a public clinic? Get convenient and fast STD testing that is 100% confidential. Individual tests under $50. Order online and visit this lab the same day for a quick 15 min test. Get your results online within 1-2 business days, and view them privately. Doctor consultation available over the phone, should results come back as positive.
These location types are best for: Privacy and convenience
Accredited and Certified
Description: Get Fast, Easy and Affordable testing at this location. Results come back within 2 business days and be in and out of the lab in less then 20 minutes.
Show only locations where privacy and discretion is taken into importance.
Show only locations where privacy and discretion is taken into importance.
Description: Need to enroll as a patient.
Description: Public Health Department/Social Services Department. Some service hours may vary
Show only locations where you can easily book your test online.
Show only locations where you can easily book your test online.
Description: Public Health Department/Social Services Department. Some service hours may vary
Description: Public Health Department/Social Services Department. Free condoms available. Some service hours may vary
Description: Public Health Department/Social Services Department. Some service hours may vary, please call to verify
Show only locations where they offer the HIV RNA Early Detection Test for people who think they may have been recently exposed to the HIV virus.
Show only locations where they offer the HIV RNA Early Detection Test for people who think they may have been recently exposed to the HIV virus.
Description: Public Health Department/Social Services Department. Hepatitis B testing is available for high risk populations only.
Description: Public Health Department/Social Services Department. Some service hours may vary. Patients seen by appointment only for all clinical services
Description: Public Health Department/Social Services Department. STD Program offers physical exams, lab tests, treatment and follow-up. Counseling and testing for persons who are at risk for contracting the HIV virus is also available. Follow up services are available to person with HIV/AIDS upon request. Hepatitis B testing available to high risk populations only. Closed daily from 12pm-1pm for lunch
Description: Community Based Organization. Age 12 and older.
Description: Public Health Department/Social Services Department. Some service hours may vary
Description: Public Health Department/Social Services Department.
Description: Need to enroll as a patient in order to access services.
Description: Public Health Department/Social Services Department. Some service hours may vary
Description: Public Health Department/Social Services Department. Closed daily from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm Thursday closed 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm
STD/HIV testing services at the clinic are available to all patients regardless of their sexual orientation, race, financial status, religion, disability, political affiliation, or color. Patients with health insurance from major providers are welcome, and a sliding fee scale is offered to underinsured or uninsured individuals.
Operations at the health center are swift due to the integration of technology. Clients may pay their bills online and schedule appointments, while new patients may register online and print the filled form before their actual visit to the clinic.
110 E 13th Ave, Cordele, GA 31015, USA
The clinic welcomes individuals from all walks to for free and confidential STI testing and treatment regardless of their age, race, color, religion, political affiliation, financial capability, sexual orientation, social class, marital, or veteran status.
The Pregnancy Center of Southwest Georgia has compassionate and accommodating medical professionals who provide counseling services to pregnant teenagers and STD patients in a confidential and nonjudgmental environment.
The center also provides reproductive and sexual health education to members of the public during outreach programs to reduce the spread of STDs and unwanted pregnancies.
320 N Crawford St, Thomasville, GA 31792, USA
The health center welcomes all individuals for STD/HIV screening regardless of their religion, sexual orientation, ability to pay, political affiliation, disability, social class, veteran, or marital status. Patients with health insurance from major providers are accepted, and uninsured clients may take advantage of the facility's sliding fee scale program.
Planned Parenthood - Tallahassee Health Center has American Sign Language interpreters that enable visually impaired clients to access health care services. Translation services are also available to patients who are not proficient in English.
2618 W Tennessee St, Tallahassee, FL 32304, USA
The clinic accepts individuals aged 15 to 65 years regardless of their sexual orientation, religious affiliation, marital status, financial capability, social class, or disability. It also offers STD/HIV services to patients with health insurance from major providers, and uninsured patients may pay at a sliding fee scale.
The health facility provides sexual healthcare education and free condoms to the public during community outreach programs. It also encourages individuals to get tested and practice safer-sex to reduce the spread of STDs.
1710 S Slappey Blvd, Albany, GA 31701, USA
The health center does not discriminate against sexually active patients based on sexual orientation, religion, race, color, financial capability, marital status, disability, or social class. Clients seeking STD screening services may pay their bills online.
Urgent Care Center at Phoebe East has support group programs that are helpful to patients recovering from STD treatment. The patients can share and learn about ways of protecting themselves and their loved ones from STIs. Additionally, the facility has kind and accommodating medical professionals who counsel STD patients without judging them.
2410 Sylvester Rd, Albany, GA 31705, USA
Individuals seeking STD testing and treatment services at the center are not turned away because of their race, financial capability, social class, disability, religion, sexual orientation, political affiliation, marital, or veteran status.
The health center has multilingual and bilingual staffs who offer translation services allowing them to serve a diverse population of clients who are not proficient in English. It also has an on-site lab staffed by CLIA certified analysts who provide accurate, reliable, and confidential STD test results.
2822 Nottingham Way #3, Albany, GA 31707, USA
The school system is partnering with the state’s health department and others to find a way to raise awareness for the age group that is most affected by STDs. The health district has information about STDs to provide to schools to educate students as STDs affect young people in Dougherty County at a high rate.
Schools want to find a way to remove the stigma of having an STD. Then the schools can foster an environment of talking openly.
Students and parents can then understand what they can do to solve the problem. We see a partnership of the schools in your area with the Phoebe Network of Trust to improve sex education. This can help address the STD problem in the area. The aim of the partnering is to educate teachers on effective sex education curriculum.
Teachers can then pass the information on to middle and high school students. Some in the state consider the alarming numbers for STDs show it is important to give teens accurate information about STDs. This should include talking about the danger of teen pregnancy and STIs. It should also include refusal skills.
The school system started with the abstinence approach but now schools are moving to comprehensive sex education. Schools systems are working to getting awareness out to students and still follow state rules.
Some in the school systems note they are confined by state law on how to present material. The school system in Dougherty County is still in an abstinence based curriculum. In reality school officials believe they need to get the message to students and parents that there is a problem in Dougherty County and what steps to take to solve the problem. Organizations besides the schools should be involved too to play a role in bringing awareness to the community.
So says Dougherty County Commissioner Anthony Jones. This should include the 4H clubs and Boys and Girls Clubs as well as faith based organizations.
Demographics play a role in STD rates in your city. Here are some demographics to consider for your county. STDs disproportionately affect young people in Dougherty County.
Consider the recent numbers that 15 to 24 year olds in Dougherty County make up 76% of the county’s sexually transmitted disease cases and 15 to 19 year olds make up 35% of cases in the county.
Students and young people are a demographic that is affected. The Center for Disease Control notes increases in senior citizen population STDs. We have see rates for syphilis among seniors up by 51 percent.
Chlamydia rates are up too. Since pregnancy is not an issue, seniors could feel that unprotected sex is an option. Seniors have not received an education in how unprotected sex can lead to STDs.
As you get older, your immune system tends to weaken. You can be more prone to infection. This can be a concern also if a senior has an STD, is fighting it off, and could become more vulnerable to another infection. Seniors need education on STDs. They need the same information young people get.
You can get information about STDs, testing, and treatment from various sources in your city. This sources include area schools, hospitals, clinics, and private companies. Â
Phoebe Hospital is one facility that can help. The Urgent Care Center at Phoebe East is another possibility.
Georgia Department of Public Health Southwest Public Health District 8-2 Dougherty County Health Department is a facility that can help. This facility includes these services.
Albany Area Primary Health Care Incorporated Rural Clinic is another facility that can help. Services are for patients only so you would have to become a patient here. You must have a physician referral. HIV antibody testing is for partners of patients only. Here is what is offered at this facility.
Georgia Department of Public Health Southwest Health District 8-2 Lee County Health Department is yet another facility that can help. Here is what the facility offers.
This Planned Parenthood/Marietta Health Center location is a place that can help you with STD education, testing, and treatment. Unfortunately, the location is over 100 miles from your city. Be aware that the staff is trained to help you with your situation and the Planned Parenthood/Prince George’s County facility offers STD testing, diagnosis, and treatment including chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis.
Additionally, the center provides testing and diagnosis for HIV and testing, diagnosis, and treatment for bacterial vaginosis, genital warts, herpes, and trichomoniasis. STD prevention services include condoms, HPV (Gardasil) vaccines, hepatitis B vaccines, and STD/safer sex education. The facility tests for gonorrhea and chlamydia using a urine sample.
If this test shows an infection, then you will get treatment and an explanation of how your partner can be treated. Rapid HIV testing is done by swabbing the inside of your mouth with results available in 20-40 minutes.
STD Check is another option. They advertise that they are 100 percent confidential. You get results in one to two days. All tests are FDA approved. Same day testing is available. With this service you order a test. Then you go to a lab near you. Then you get results. You also get a free doctor consultation. You can speak with a doctor if your tests are positive. These doctors can prescribe treatment or refer you to a specialist. You can also call any time for a status update. Care advisers are available 24/7 if you have questions.
This kind of service can eliminate embarrassment. It also gives you access to the same kind of testing used by doctors and hospitals. You can visit a local lab without an appointment once you put in a request for an order. Â Nothing is reported to your insurance or placed into your medical records.
STD Test Express is another such service. Let’s Get Checked is another option. It provides a way for you to get tested at your home.
Whether you to go to Planned Parenthood/Marietta Cobb Health Center, a high school counsellor or nurse, an online service, or a clinic or hospital such as Phoebe Hospital, you can find in your area information about STDs, testing, and treatment. While STD rates are high in your city and area, help is available in your area in the way of testing and treatment that is confidential, discreet, compassionate, and effective.
Consider how the staff at these facilities is trained to help someone like you, especially with the staff at Planned Parenthood/Marietta Cobb Health Center or any other facility reminding you to check your health, improve it, and keep yourself healthy by always using a condom to practice safe sex. Here are links to resources mentioned above.
Each page below contains a detailed report of the local area, location STD statistics and clinic reviews of some the top STD testing locations. The content is curated by our very own editors and medical experts.
