Surprisingly, not every state requires public schools to have a sexual education class that teaches children about the anatomy of their body and how to practice safe sex. Thankfully, though, Connecticut is one of the states where sex ed is not only required, they do a fairly decent job at it too.

The prominence of decent sexual education in the state likely plays a role in the lower rate of STD and HIV cases. Beginning early in grade school, children throughout CT are taught about their body and well-being, as well as age-appropriate information on sexual health. By 9th grade, most schools in the state have taught children how to apply a condom to avoid STD’s, HIV, and pregnancy. Connecticut is one of 5 states in this nation to have the lowest teen birth rates.

Regardless of practicing safe sex, it is still important that yourself and your partner undergo routine testing. This is especially true for Herpes and HIV, which do not require sexual contact in order to become infected. Finding out if you have HIV is quick and should be done every 6 months since it can take time for the virus to settle in your body and show up in the lab work.

Since Herpes usually doesn’t show symptoms for a while, it’s important to have Herpes testing done routinely so you are aware if you have the virus. The Herpes test is also quick and can be done at the same time you have HIV testing.

Between the states liberal views and decent sex ed in schools, it’s not surprising that STD rates are on the lower side compared to the rest of the nation. However, many people find it difficult or embarrassing to talk to their primary care doctor about getting tested for STD’s. Combine that with the lack of free STD testing clinics statewide and high poverty rates, many folks haven’t been able to afford the sexual health care they need.

While some STD rates in CT are on the decline, the number of Syphilis cases are still rising. The CDC has released statistics suggesting that the increase of Syphilis rates is partly due to sexual preferences, while a local study has mentioned the correlation between rising Syphilis rates in Connecticut and the metropolitan cities in neighboring states. In Connecticut, white males between the age of 20 and 29 have the highest rates of Syphilis throughout the state, with 3 diagnosed cases out of every 100,000 people in 2015. The infection rate for Syphilis has not been this high since 1996.

Although gender does not specifically play a role in contracting STD’s, there is a higher instance of certain sexually transmitted diseases for both men and women. Statistically, females are found to have a higher rate of Chlamydia because they undergo routine pelvic exams that detect Chlamydia.

Men generally only get tested when they have symptoms, which means they are more likely to pass on an STD to their partners unknowingly. Since many STD’s do not present symptoms, the infection goes undiagnosed and untreated. This is why it is important to have an STD test done every time you have a new partner or if you have multiple partners, even if symptoms are not present.

Sexual health care is essential to your well-being, so it’s important that you know about the confidential options available to you. Having an STD test done is nothing to be embarrassed or ashamed of, it’s a mature decision to make for your body.

With the CDC reporting an increase in STD rates across the country, and Syphilis cases on the rise in CT, it’s crucial to consider calling to schedule an appointment for STD and HIV testing. Whether or not you have any symptoms, or even just to have peace of mind, a simple phone call and a quick 20-minute visit to the lab to complete your tests is all it takes. You’ll leave with a sense of relief knowing that you’re doing the right thing for you and your partner.

http://www.ct.gov/dph/cwp/view.asp?a=3136&q=388470&dphNav_GID=1601