Your Sexual Health is Important — STD Testing for Women and Men in Central PA
Sexual activity not only puts you at risk for pregnancy, but also for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), commonly known as sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
Nearly half of all Americans will contract an STI at some point in their life. But many people infected with STIs don’t experience any symptoms.”
Whether you’re looking for STD testing for women or STD testing for men, you’ve come to the right place. Call Morning Star in Harrisburg, Middletown or New Cumberland to schedule an appointment.
How do you test for STIs?
Our medical professionals will help you assess which infection you are at the greatest risk for and which tests are recommended.
- Gonorrhea – urine sample
- Chlamydia – urine sample
- Syphilis – blood work
- HIV – blood work
FACT: STIs are transferred from an infected person to another person through sexual intercourse (oral, anal, vaginal) and from skin-to-skin contact.
It’s important to be tested to know for sure if you have an STI/STD.
Where to get tested for STIs in the Harrisburg area
Morning Star provides FREE STI testing and treatment for women and men. No cost to you at all.
Just remember — early detection is key.
Schedule your appointment at one of our offices in Harrisburg, Middletown, or New Cumberland. We offer confidential and informative sexual health services— STI testing and treatment (for men and women), and school/community presentations.
You can learn more about our other services by clicking here.
Why should you get tested for STIs or STDs?
Many people with an STI don’t have any symptoms so they may not know they’re infected. Even if you’ve had just one sexual partner, it’s important to be tested to know for sure if you have an STI.
Are you at risk for an STI?
If you are sexually active, you are putting yourself at risk for STIs.
Some statistics for you (source: https://www.ashasexualhealth.org/stds_a_to_z/):
- Every year in the U.S. there are an estimated 20 million new infections.
- Nearly half of all new STI cases occur in people 15 to 24 years of age.
Testing for Gonorrhea
In 2016, about 468,000 people in the U.S. reported cases of gonorrhea (source: https://www.cdc.gov/nchhstp/newsroom/docs/factsheets/std-trends-508.pdf). Many men and women with gonorrhea do not have any symptoms.
Those who have symptoms often experience a burning sensation when urinating. In women, these symptoms are often mistaken for a bladder infection or a vaginal infection. Untreated gonorrhea can cause serious and permanent health problems in both men and women.
Getting tested and treated right away is the best decision for your health.
Testing for Chlamydia
Chlamydia is the most frequently reported bacterial STI in the U.S. Any sexually active person can be infected with chlamydia. The greater the number of sex partners, the greater the risk of infection.
Because the cervix of teenage girls and young women is not fully matured, they are at particularly high risk for infection.
What can happen if you DON’T get STI treatment?
Many health issues can occur if you don’t receive proper treatment for STIs, including:
- permanent damage to a woman’s reproductive system
- sterility (the inability to conceive a child)
- pregnancy complications (if you’re pregnant)
- health risks to your baby (if you’re pregnant)
The link between STIs and abortion
If you’re considering abortion as a solution to an unplanned pregnancy, it’s important to be tested for STIs BEFORE making a decision.
- Many women with STIs are asymptomatic and don’t realize they’re infected. But women who undergo an abortion with an untreated STI are up to 25% more likely to develop Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) following the abortion procedure.
- PID can lead to serious health issues including infertility, ectopic pregnancy, abscess formation and chronic pelvic pain.
Call or request an appointment online us today for STD testing for women and men
If you think you and/or your partner has an STI/STD or you’re at risk for having an STI/STD, call us today to schedule your free STI testing and treatment appointment. Our centers are located in Central PA (Harrisburg, Middletown, and New Cumberland).
Morning Star offers men and women free testing and treatment for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and HIV.
All of our services are free and confidential. You will also receive information on safe sex practices and how to reduce your risk of contracting an STI.