STD Counseling
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City Care Family Practice
Family Medicine located in Lower Midtown, New York, NY
STDs, or sexually transmitted diseases, are extremely common in the U.S., affecting millions of people each year. Although the numbers are hard to pin down because many people don’t know they’re infected, it’s estimated that half of all sexually active adults contract an STD by the age of 25. At City Care Family Practice, the team of healthcare professionals provide expert counseling and treatment for STDs for their patients in the Lower Midtown area on the east side of Manhattan in New York. If you want confidential guidance for STDs, call or schedule an appointment using the online booking tool.
STD Counseling Q & A
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What are the most common STDs?
The most common STDs include:
- HPV, or the human papillomavirus, which leads to genital warts
- Chlamydia
- Gonorrhea
- Herpes
- HIV
- Syphilis
- Trichomoniasis
These diseases range in severity, but several can have far-reaching consequences if left untreated.
How often should I be tested?
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has developed the following guidelines for STD testing:
- HIV -- all adults between 13 and 64 should be tested at least once
- Chlamydia -- annually for sexually active women under the age of 25, and for older adults who have multiple partners or a partner with an STD
- Gonorrhea -- annually for sexually active women under the age of 25, and for older adults who have multiple partners or a partner with an STD
- Pregnancy -- pregnant women should be tested for syphilis, HIV, and hepatitis B
- Gay or bisexual men -- screen once a year for syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea
These guidelines are just that, guides. Your provider at City Care Family Practice can help you decide upon a screening schedule that best fits your situation, your medical history, and your lifestyle.
How are STDs treated?
The answer to this depends upon the disease, but your healthcare provider can treat most STDs with medications, including antibiotics and antivirals.
Your provider also works with you to prevent complications that can develop from your STD, such as infertility among women.
More important than treatment, however, are the measures you can take to protect yourself from contracting an STD. The team at City Care Family Practice is dedicated to working with their patients in a confidential and non-judgmental atmosphere in order to counsel them on best practices. Through education and awareness, there’s much you can do to keep yourself safe.
For example, using measures like PrEp for HIV or getting vaccinated against HPV are extremely effective preventive measures, which your healthcare provider discusses with you based upon your risk. Your provider also reviews with you how you can protect yourself through safe sex.
If you’re concerned about STDs, or suspect you have one, call City Care Family Practice, or use the convenient online scheduler to book a confidential appointment.
