Out of all 50 states, Florida is ranked 1st for number of HIV diagnoses in 2015.

The love bugs are biting — and that’s not a good thing.
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including HIV, are experiencing a rapid spike in the Sunshine State, following a nationwide trend. And Florida has the dubious honor of being the #1 states for new HIV infections in the nation. Not a list any state wants to rank high in, let alone top.

At least one major contributor to the massive increase in STD rates is the modern dating landscape dominated by social hookup apps. “These [apps] are just meant to hook up and have anonymous sex, and that is very, very risky,” said Dr. Alina Alonso, director of Palm Beach County’s Health Department. “You have no idea what you’re getting or who you are getting, and those are just another component of the risky behavior that is occurring.”

“People aren’t terrified of getting [HIV] like they used to be, especially with the younger set,” said a gay South Florida professional who wished to remain anonymous. “They don’t even care anymore. A lot of the younger ones are HIV positive and they are fine with it. People see it as a chronic disease and all they have to do is take some pills. That has caused a lot of risky behavior.”

But such thinking fails to take into account several things. For starters, HIV treatment costs a lot of money. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates the current lifetime cost of HIV treament is $379,000. Plus, you can dramatically lower your risk of infection by practicing just a few simple safe sex tips, so why wouldn’t you?

Private Testing Center strives to combat the ongoing STD/HIV epidemic in the United States by providing safe, easy, and confidential STD testing at over 2,000 locations around the country. There are 50 testing labs in and around the Miami Area, meaning the answers about your sexual health are never very far away. And with same-day appointments and most lab visits wrapping up within 15 minutes, there’s no reason not to schedule a test.

Don’t leave this aspect of your health to chance. Undiagnosed and untreated, STDs can cause irrepairable harm to your body, and you may unwillingly propagate the disease by infecting other sexual partners. Schedule a test with us today.