Living in Jersey City offers a more relaxed and laid-back alternative to the hustle and bustle of New York City, which is only 7 miles away. Ellis Island, one of the most famed destinations in the country, is considered part of the greater Jersey City area. Also in the Jersey City area, commonly reported sexually transmitted diseases continue to increase, namely chlamydia, gonorrhea and primary and secondary (P&S) syphilis.1-4 Scheduling an appointment for STD testing at your primary care doctor’s office can often mean waiting weeks before getting in, and the waiting room at a free clinic can be crowded and overwhelming. STDtest.com presents a different option that is tailored to your personal schedule. Read on to learn more.
Jersey City and the greater Hudson County area is home to nearly 675,000 residents,5 as well as the stunning Liberty State Park. Living so close to the country’s largest city makes it easy to give into fun and temptation, but knowing the risks and the facts about STDs, as well as when to get tested and how to get treated, is essential for maintaining and improving the sexual health of the community. If you’re feeling nervous, stressed or even shameful about getting an STI test, think about this. According to the CDC, all sexually transmitted diseases can be treated or even cured, in the case of chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and trichomoniasis. Infections that are not curable, like HIV, certain forms of viral hepatitis and herpes 1 & 2, can be managed with a defined treatment plan from a local doctor.6-9
The risks of taking an STD test pale in comparison to leaving an infection untreated. Syphilis in particular, if left untreated, can lead to severe medical complications. These include ocular syphilis (an invasion of syphilis bacteria in the eye), neurosyphilis (an invasion of syphilis bacteria in the brain) and congenital syphilis. Congenital syphilis is a condition passed from mother to child that can cause birth defects or even death. Most STDs present without any symptoms whatsoever, making it even easier to pass a condition from one partner to another without either knowing.
All across the country, as well as in Hudson County and Jersey City, chlamydia is the most commonly reported sexually transmitted disease. In 2014, 2,636 new cases were reported in the county area, compared to 2,341 in 2013. Another sexually transmitted disease on the rise according to the most current reports issued by the New Jersey Department of Health is primary and secondary (P&S) syphilis. In 2014, 72 new infections were reported in Hudson County, compared to 52 the year before and 55 in 2012.1-4
Another sexually transmitted disease experiencing increasing numbers in the Jersey City and Hudson County metropolitan statistical area is gonorrhea and the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). In 2013, the county reported 459 new diagnoses of gonorrhea, compared to 526 in 2014, an increase of 12.7%. This is a fluctuating trend, with 498 infections reported in 2012. Of the most commonly reported STDs in this area, HIV is currently on a downward trend, with 3,083 new infections reported in the state of New Jersey 2014, compared to 3,052 in 2013. Continuing to get tested and treated, when medically appropriate, is a simple way to contribute to a lower STD rate in the Jersey City and Hudson County area.1-4
The state of New Jersey mandates comprehensive sexual education in all of its public schools, including all K-12 public learning institutions in Jersey City and Hudson County. Like with many sexual education programs throughout the country, parents may opt their students out of these lessons by presenting a letter prior to instruction. The aims of comprehensive sexual education are to provide age-appropriate, medically accurate instruction focusing on the facts and preventive methods for STDs, HIV/AIDS and unintended pregnancy. Another aim of comprehensive sexual education is to equip students with the skills to foster healthy relationships, recognizing and avoiding behaviors of unhealthy or abusive relationships and continuing to build the self-esteem needed to continue on the path of developing good relationships and avoiding high-risk behaviors that could put their sexual health in jeopardy.11&12
In Jersey City and in the surrounding Hudson County area, young people are especially at risk for certain sexually transmitted diseases, including chlamydia and gonorrhea. According to the New Jersey Department of Health, young people age 15-24 accounted for 56.3% of all chlamydia infections reported in 2014, compared to 46.3% of gonorrhea infections in the same year. In regards to primary syphilis, the age group accounting the highest number of cases are 35-44 year olds.13-15
In the state of New Jersey, men account for nearly 70% of all HIV diagnoses in the state, compared to 30% reported by women to the health department. The racial/ethnic group attributed to the highest percentage of infections of cumulative infections through December 2014 is the African American group with 51%, followed by Hispanics with 26%. The community group at the highest risk for HIV is men who have sex with men (MSM), reporting 43% of infections. Reaching out to these at-risk population and encouraging them to seek testing and linkage to care is an integral aim of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy, the official plan for lowering the incidence of HIV/AIDS all across the United States.16&17
Why not spend your free time in Jersey City doing what you most enjoy, like lounging with your friends and family along with Hudson Waterfront, rather than feeling stressed and uncertain about your sexual health status? Getting started is simple with STDtest.com. To begin, you’ll answer a few brief medical questions to receive your doctor-recommended panel of tests. There are different options for test sample collection.
If you select a local lab from a national network of thousands, no appointment is needed for your brief visit, usually lasting 30 minutes or less. You can also choose to have your samples taken at home by a Lab Collection Specialist. They can be at your front door within an hour, and this visit is usually 15 minutes or less. For both options, results are usually available in three business days or less. The medical team is available for a follow-up consult to discuss your diagnosis, answer any remaining questions and even to prescribe treatment, if medically appropriate and if permitted by state law. Get tested. It’s for your better health.