STI Testing
Loreto House provides free STD and STI Testing in Denton, Texas.
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are diseases passed from person to person during sexual activity, typically through bodily fluids and, in some cases, skin-to-skin contact.
STDs and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) often go undetected and can lead to serious health concerns. Left untreated, some of these infections can cause irreversible damage to your reproductive system. In addition, both STIs and STDs can be passed on to newborns during childbirth if the mother is infected and remains untreated before giving birth.
It’s important to note that not everyone infected with an STD will experience signs or symptoms, meaning they can be passed along to your partner(s) without your knowledge. To better serve our community, we offer STI testing for gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, and HIV free of charge at our center in Denton, Texas, as well as referrals for treatment. All testing is by appointment only; give us a call today to get scheduled.
APPOINTMENT
STD and STI Testing in Denton, Texas
GONORRHEA
Gonorrhea can be passed to both men and women by having sex and most commonly affects those in the 15-24 year age demographic. With this STI, women often show mild to no symptoms at all, making it hard to know if you have it without regular STI testing. Gonorrhea is both treatable and curable; If left untreated, complications can occur down the road. If you are sexually active and under the age of 25, the CDC recommends getting STI testing once each year.
CHLAMYDIA
Chlamydia is a common STI that can be passed to both men and women. If you are positive for chlamydia, you will not always have symptoms, but the infection is still present and will require treatment to avoid permanent damage. Severe repercussions such as Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) in women, complications or complete inability to conceive, risk of contracting HIV, or in rare cases, sterility for men, can occur if the STD is not treated. In addition, even if you are cured of chlamydia, you are able to contract the disease again, so it is important to get STI testing regularly if you are sexually active.
SYPHILIS
Syphilis is an STD that is generally divided into four stages: primary, secondary, latent, and tertiary. Syphilis can often cause sores, and direct contact with these sores on a sexual partner during can transmit the infection. Even if syphilis is not treated, many people affected by this STD never reach the tertiary stage. If one does enter this stage, however, consequences can be severe. Organ systems like the heart and nervous system, and in rare cases, the brain, can become affected.
HIV
Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a dangerous STD that causes your immune system to weaken. The virus is incurable, but it can be managed with medication, allowing many people with HIV to live a long and healthy life. HIV is contracted through sexual contact and can be passed from a pregnant mother to her unborn child. HIV is divided into three stages: acute HIV infection, chronic HIV infection, and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). HIV spreads throughout the body, making it very easy to pass on to your partners; if left untreated and if it progresses to the third stage, severe damage to your immune system and eventual death can occur. This is why it is so important for STI testing if you are sexually active.
ADDITIONAL RISKS
If not treated prior to an abortion, STDs can be carried from the vagina up into the uterus. When this occurs, a second condition called Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) may develop. Immediate symptoms of PID can be mild and even non-existent, but the effects are long lasting. According to the CDC, women with a history of PID can experience difficulty getting pregnant in the future and can lead to an increased risk of an ectopic pregnancy, resulting in serious medical complications and, in some cases, death.
Your health and well-being is the most important thing. We offer free of charge STD and STI testing to women and men in our community. All testing is done by appointment only.
Text 940-380-8191 to schedule a free and confidential appointment.
STDs and STIs – What’s the Difference?
The terms STD and STI are often used interchangeably, but contrary to popular belief, they do not mean the same thing. The term STI is used to describe the presence of an infection in the body, which may or may not be accompanied by symptoms. The term STD, on the other hand, describes an STI that has progressed from an infection to a disease that has caused damage in a person’s body (again, this can be with or without symptoms).
To sum it all up, all STDs are STIs, though not all STIs become STDs.