Free STD Testing in Brazosport, TX

Within the last decade, the number of people living with STIs in the state has increased. In 2015, there were an estimated 4,476 cases of HIV reported throughout the state. The state ranks 3rd among the rest of the states in the number of HIV cases that have been reported. The greatest gender demographic impacted are men who are having sex with other men.

While men having sex with men comprised only 2% of the population within the state, men comprised 67% of those infected with syphilis. The rate of early latent Syphilis was slightly higher than P&S Syphilis. In 2016, there were 1,497 cases of early latent Syphilis and 1,249 P&S Syphilis cases. The ethnic demographic most impacted were Black, non-Hispanics, followed closely Latinos. Within the county, there were 41 new cases reported.

The state ranked 13th for the number of Chlamydia cases reported. Cases were 2.6 times higher among women, than they were among men. The rate of cases reported was highest among those aged 20-24. Black, non-Hispanics were the ethnic demographic most impacted. Within the county, there were 1,204 new cases reported during 2016.

The state ranked 11th for the number of Gonorrhea cases reported. While Gonorrhea cases were lower than Chlamydia cases, they were still highest among those aged 20-24 years of age, followed closely by those aged 15-19 years of age. Within the county, there were 260 new cases reported during 2016.

The state of Texas does not require that students be taught about sexuality or STIs. However, the Texas Education Code requires boards of education to adhere to section 28.002 which requires students to be taught about “health.” This means that all school’s curriculum must present abstinence as the preferred choice within all relationships for those who are unmarried and/or of school age. Educators must also spend more time discussing abstinence as opposed to any other form of behavior when discussing sexuality. They must also emphasize that abstinence is the only method that is 100% effective when trying to prevent pregnancy, STIs and HIV/AIDS. Finally, they must teach about contraceptives regarding real use, not based on scientific statistics.

The closest Planned Parenthood is located in Dickinson, Texas. This location is about a 38-minute drive northeast of the Brazosport area. They offer educational resources both online and in their clinic. Information can also be given through counseling. Topics cover a variety of topics from birth control to healthy sexual practices. This location also provides condoms and other forms of contraceptives.

The Brazoria County Department of Public Health also provides information at their main location. This department has offices in Clute and Lake Jackson. They also have an STI clinic onsite. Their offices provide information about STIs and contraceptives.

There could possibly be a correlation between the fact that females make less than males when it comes to their average salaries, and the fact that they are the gender demographic most impacted by Chlamydia In 2015, males made $63,602 while females only made $44,197. Women are also the greatest gender demographic living in poverty.

Black, non-Hispanic women receive fewer preventive services than White, non-Hispanic women. This could correlate with the fact that Black, non-Hispanic women are one of the greatest ethnic demographics impacted by STIs. In 2015, only 169 Black, non-Hispanic women received preventive services while 1,757 White, non-Hispanic women received preventive services.

Black, non-Hispanics also are one of the lowest paying ethnic group as whole. This could possibly correlate that they are the ethnic group most impacted by STIs. In 2015, the highest paid ethnic group were Asians, followed by White, non-Hispanics. Black, non-Hispanics fell below these groups.

There could also be a correlation between the fact that between males and females, males are more impacted by STIs than females, and the fact that males are less likely to graduate from college when compared to females. In 2015, there were 1,002 females graduates as opposed to only 961 male graduates. This means that females are 0.96 times more likely to graduate when compared to their male counterparts. Black, non-Hispanics also only made up 8.9% of the graduates.

There is a Planned Parenthood located in Dickinson, Texas. It is about an hour drive from Brazosport. Individuals are encouraged to make an appointment online. This Planned Parenthood accepts a wide variety of insurances- all of which are listed on their website. They test for Gonorrhea and Chlamydia using urine samples. Most of their STI tests also require a genital exam. Rapid HIV testing can be done by swabbing the inside of the patient’s mouth and with results in as little as 20 minutes. They offer counseling for those whose tests come back positive.

There is the Department of Health Brazoria County Health Department. They are a clinic located in Angleton – about 30 minutes away. They test for Gonorrhea, Chlamydia, Syphilis and HIV. They will not perform an exam on a woman if she is on her menstrual cycle. Children are not allowed in the exam rooms and will not be permitted to be left unattended in the lobby.

The Texas Department of State Health Services Brazoria County Health Department at the Angleton office is located nine miles away. They offer free HIV testing, conventional HIV blood testing, Chlamydia testing, Syphilis testing, and Gonorrhea testing. They also provide Hepatitis B and HPV vaccines.

There is also the Access Care of Coastal Texas, INC. They are located in Galveston, Texas, which is about an hour drive away. They are an organization focused on caring for people with AIDS. They serve the areas of Brazoria, Galveston, and Matagorda. They offer free HIV testing, prevention counseling, and clothing/housing/financial assistance. There also provide Spanish interpreters if needed.

There is the Cypress Springs Family Care Clinic. They are located in Pearland, Texas, 1 hour and four minutes away from Brazosport. They provide a variety of testing services including gynecological examinations.

Bering Omega Community Services is located in Houston, Texas. They are about an hour and seventeen minutes away. Bering Omega provides a wide array of services to those suffering from AIDS. It was originally founded as a hospice home for terminally ill AIDS patients and has since then expanded to provide services ranging from counseling to care for terminally ill patients. While originally formed by members of a Methodist church, their belief is that the holistic healing of their patients come nurturing the whole body, not just the spirit.

The Brazosport area has some resources, testing, and treatment for the population it has. While there has been an increase in STI’s, this does not seem to be from a lack of information provided both in an academic and medical setting. Educational curriculum supports and advocates abstinence, while also promoting being smart when becoming sexually active. The nearest Planned Parenthood is in Dickinson – about an hour away. Many of the testing resources are also to the north and northeast of the area. Demographics and statistics suggest that African Americans and Latinos are most likely to contract an STI as well as men who are having sex with men. Regardless of the statistics, the best way to prevent STI’s is to either remain abstinent or practice safe sex with your partner. Brazosport does provide online resources that help educate about STI’s. One of which is: http://brazoriacountytx.gov/departments/health-department

As always, if you believe you have contracted an STI, please search out a testing center and seek treatment.