Free STD Testing in Glenview, IL

As your city is a suburb of Chicago, we should look at STI statistics about the area. In general, adolescents and young adults account for the majority of STI diagnoses in Chicago.

• For gonorrhea cases people ages 13 to 24 account for about 60 percent of the cases
• For chlamydia cases people ages 13 to 24 account for about 67 percent of the cases
• Gonorrhea cases are showing a decline overall
• Primary and secondary syphilis infections have increased
• Chlamydia rates are 1012 per 100,000 people at more than twice the national average
• Gonorrhea rates are 308 per 100,000 people at about three times the national average
• HIV and AIDs cases that are diagnosed have steadily declined for the last decade

This area reports progress is being made to impact STIs, HIV, and AIDs with a program called Healthy Chicago involving public, community, and private organizations coming together to implement strategies to prevent STIs and HIV. Here are statistics about HIV and AIDs diagnoses in Chicago.

• HIV and AIDs diagnoses declined by 40 percent
• HIV positive averages are better than national averages
• 8 of 10 people with a diagnoses of HIV in 2011 were linked to HIV medical care within three months of the diagnoses
• 1091 new diagnoses came in 2013 and 41 percent below the peak of 1857 in 2001
• a 73 percent absolute decline in HIV transmission rates took place between 2009 to 2013 for those who are intravenous drug users.

Black/African Americans and men who have sex with men are disproportionately impacted by HIV, AIDS, and STIs.

The public school system in Chicago recently reviewed and updated its sexual education program. Developed by the Chicago Public Schools Office of Student Health and Wellness, the overhaul and resulting policy were designed among other factors to align the Chicago public school system with the standards in the national HIV/AIDS strategy developed by President Obama.

The new program determines that a set amount of time is spent on sex education in every grade, starting with kindergarten. This is while in most US public schools, sex education starts in the fifth grade.

The goal of the program is to provide students of all ages with accurate and appropriate information so they can make healthy choices. This should help students build a foundation of knowledge concerning relationships and health.

This will carry them through the preteen and adolescent years and beyond. Kindergartners should learn the basics of anatomy, reproduction, personal safety, and healthy relationships.  Here are more details.

• Kindergarten to third grade sex health education should have a focus on family, feelings, and touching this is appropriate and not appropriate.
• Fourth grade sex education should begin to learn about puberty and HIV with discussion emphasizing that the virus cannot be transmitted through everyday contact such as shaking hands or sharing food.
• Fifth grade to the end of high school sex education should emphasize reproduction, transmission and prevention of HIV/AIDs and other sexually transmitted diseases, bullying and contraption, and abstinence.

The Chicago sex education instruction should also cover sexual orientation and gender identity. Students should be introduced to terms and definitions associated with sexual identity, including those related to heterosexual and LGBT populations. This is part of an effort to bring awareness, promote tolerance, and prevent bullying.

This statement was made by the Chicago School Board. Parents or guardians of students are allowed to opt their children out of the sexual health education program if they would like.

Demographics play a role in the number of STIs in your city as well as Chicago and Cook County with higher rates than national averages. There is no one reason that STI rates are so high.

Poverty and drug use can be part of the reason. Poverty can lead to homelessness and this can lead to being forced to have sex to have a place to stay.

Victims do not feel that can discuss an STI status or use of a condom in such a situation. With drug use if you are addicted you may not have the money for your next fix. This means you can feel forced to have sex to get money for drugs.

While the number of STIs are the highest among poor black and gay males, we now see these STI numbers grow in more affluent areas. It is affecting young females who are white. As we see heroin spread we see those who are addicted put themselves into a dangerous situation to get high.

STI testing resources are available in your city and surrounding areas. The Rogers Park /Planned Parenthood facility could be a place for you to go for information, and testing is for both males and females. Covered is testing for chlamydia, gonorrhea, herpes, syphilis, and other STDs. The staff is trained to work with someone in your situation, trying to protect your privacy and confidentiality.

HIV testing is done with a blood sample from a finger stick, and If are are 19 to 26 with no health insurance, you could get help for an HPV vaccine (Gardisil) at no charge. Medicaid is accepted plus you can book your appointment online.

There are several urgent care centers and walk in clinics that also offer STD testing. This testing includes chlamydia, gonorrhea, hepatitis B and C, herpes, HIV, syphilis and other conditions.

Northwestern Medical Urgent Care/Glenview is one urgent care location in your area. That is an option if you feel embarrassed about going to Rogers Park/Planned Parenthood as is another option with an online service.

PlushCare is an online service available in your area. If you are not sure what tests to request, you can get assistance with such a service, then request the test online. You then get notified of test results plus get information about treatment options from a doctor provided by the service.

If you are not sure how often to get tested you could consider that according to a professor at Chicago’s Northwestern University, the frequency at which individuals should get tested depends on their lifestyle and sexual practices. With one or two sex partners a year, you can get tested once or twice a year according to the professor and with multiple sex partners every month or week, get tested every three to six months.

Maybe you have heard that clinics have had budget cuts due to state budget issues so you should keep in mind that the AIDS Healthcare Foundation Wellness Center is located in Chicago and can help you. It offers STI and HIV screening on a walk-in basis. This is to encourage city residents to get tested more often. They test using swabs, urine samples, and blood samples with the average age of clients at 20 to 30 years old.

Whether you go to the Rogers Park Center/Planned Parenthood, a high school counsellor or nurse at an area high school, an online service, or a clinic or hospital, you can find in your area information about STDs, testing, and treatment.

While STD rates are high in the Chicago and Cook County areas, help is available in your city in the way of testing and treatment that is confidential, discreet, compassionate, and effective, with many facilities having a bilingual staff.

Consider how the staff at these facilities is trained to help someone like you, especially with the staff at Planned Parenthood/Rogers Park Health Center or any other facility reminding you to check your health, improve it, and keep yourself healthy by always using a condom.