Of all 3,000 counties in the nation, Los Angeles County had the highest rates of Chlamydia, Gonorrhea and Syphilis in 2014.

STD rates in California are the highest they’ve been in 25 years, and national health experts are sounding the alarm. “Cases of syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia are going up in California at a concerning rate,” said Dr. Karen Smith, director of the California Department of Public Health. “This is the second year in a row that we have seen increases in all three diseases.”

What’s even more tragic is that Chlamydia, Gonorrhea and Syphilis are all curable with simple medicines, but left untreated they can severely damage your body, often without any outward symptoms to alert you. The infection won’t go away on its own and you may unwillingly spread it to other sexual partners.

In 2015, there were 479 chlamydia cases per 100,000 people in the United States, compared with a rate of 486 in California and 560 in Los Angeles County. There’s a similar trend with gonorrhea and syphilis, with rates in L.A. County exceeding California, and California exceeding the nation. Syphilis cases in particular increased to levels unseen since the mid-1990s.

Experts say there are a variety of reasons for these skyrocketing statistics. California has one of the most robust sexual education curriculums in the nation, mandating that comprehensive lessons start in middle school and include information about abortion, sexual assault, and sexual harassment. But the statistics show that many young people still face barriers to getting and using condoms, with one study finding that 43% of California high school students admitting to not using a condom the last time they had sex.

Private Testing Center strives to educate the public about the best safe sex practices, and provide convenient, safe and discreet testing for STDs and HIV. We have over 2,000 locations nationwide, including 100+ locations within a 50 mile radius of Los Angeles. The nearest location to you is probably only blocks away. Same day appointments are available and testing is completely confidential.

The only way to tell for sure that you have an STD is to get tested. You owe it to yourself and to your loved ones to get answers about your sexual health. Schedule a test today and get peace of mind.