Free STD Testing in La Crosse, WI

The city does not contribute the most to the states STD cases, but it could be doing more to prevent them. According to the CDC, the county of La Crosse had an average of 1,000-3,000 cases of chlamydia, less than 300 cases of gonorrhea, and less than or equal to 2.2 cases of syphilis with a 100,000 population sample in the year 2013. Although the state has an overall rate just lower than the national average, it’s clear that the state as a whole could be doing more to help reduce the overall STD case rate.

Furthermore, according to the Department of health services, in 2015:

• The city had a total of 476 cases of chlamydia out of the total 2,441 cases within the Western Region of the Wisconsin state.
•  48 gonorrhea cases out of the total 199 within the Western Region were reported in the city.
• A total of 524 Sexually Transmitted Diseases out of the total 2,657 cases within the western region of the state (nearly one-fifth the regions overall STD cases).

Furthermore, in 2012, the Department of Health and Safety released the number of Sexually Transmitted Diseases within the county, revealing a total of 433 cases overall. More specifically, the city saw a total of 383 chlamydia cases, 48 gonorrhea cases, and 2 syphilis cases.

When comparing the number of cases to the past, it’s clear that the STD cases are rising at an alarming rate. These graphs outline the number of cases throughout the past 10 years in the western region of the state. It’s clear that:

• Chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis have all steadily increased over the past decade
• The number of syphilis cases had a sharp increase between 2013 and 2014
• The number of gonorrhea cases decreased to a new low in 2010 and has steadily increased throughout 2015

Overall, it’s clear to see that the number of sexually transmitted diseases has steadily increased throughout the past decade and shows no sign of slowing down.

Although the city offers its residents and tourists an abundance of resources including educational tools and clinics for testing, the number of sexually transmitted diseases continues to rise.

According to the Department of Health Services in Wisconsin, in 2012, roughly 21.2% of all STD cases were from individuals between the ages of 15 and 19. Furthermore, a total of 46% of all sexually transmitted disease cases stemmed from individuals within the age bracket of 20-24. Finally, 19.4% of all STD cases came from individuals aged between 24 and 29. Due to this alarming statistic, many individuals blame public education.

Although sexual education is being taught within public schools, many individuals feel that more can be done within this sector. Many community members have spoken out, asking for sexual education, safe sex practices, and STD awareness at a younger age.

Public officials have also been stepping up in an effort to increase awareness within the community. Public campaigns, free STD testing clinics (including HIV, Herpes, Gonorrhea, and chlamydia, and increased awareness are being pushed to the community in the hopes of reducing the number of annual sexually transmitted diseases in the city.

Taking a closer look into the recent 2012 Department of Health Services report of STD cases, nearly 77.1% of all reported cases came from those with were white. Beyond this staggering fact, nearly 66.3% of all cases came from females. The community is highly populated with people having diverse backgrounds, yet females and those who are considered white have the highest percentages.

Due to popular interest and demand for further education, the city is experiencing a heightened number of younger individuals within the city and a decreasing rate of individuals over the age of 50. This may play a key part in the alarming rate of increasing STD cases throughout the city. However, many individuals throughout the community feel that university itself could be doing more to educate its students and residents about the risks of STD’s, prevention practices, and community resources readily available to them.

At the end of the day, there are a number of sexual education centers and STD clinics within the city, yet the number of STD cases continues to rise throughout the years. The community has responded to this alarming statistic further by opening up more free testing facilities. However, as free testing centers become more popular, many individuals worry about their privacy and the hassles. Instead, many community members are turning towards specialized clinics that offer increased privacy and expedited test results.

Overall, just like a number of other popular cities within the United States this community is also contributing to the rising number of annual STD cases. Although the city is doing its fair share of prevention, it could be doing more. The community offers free educational resources and free STD testing, yet the numbers are still rising.

One’s sexual health is a serious topic and should not be considered lightly. If you haven’t been keeping a close eye on your sexual health, it is highly recommended that you make an appointment and take a STD test to gauge yourself. Doing so will help you increase your health, safety, and can help further prevent the spread of STDs throughout the community.

https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/std/data.htm

https://wwwn.cdc.gov/CommunityHealth/profile/currentprofile/WI/La%20Crosse/310031