Texas is ranked 11th out of 50 states with the highest rates of reported STDs

Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) are pervasive and on the rise in Houston and across our great nation. Of all four major Texas cities, Houston does have the lowest percentage of people with STDs, though that’s hardly something to brag about, as the rates are still at an all-time high.

There are nearly 20 million new sexually transmitted infections every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Rates of contracting STDs are at record highs in the U.S.

There are some misconceptions that STDs are a young person’s problem or a gay man’s problem. In reality, anyone who is sexually active can get an STD. A decade ago, the Houston Health Department decided to prioritize the population the HIV/AIDS virus was hitting hardest: Hispanic and African-American men. Houston’s success lies in their ability to effectively reach this key demographic. The program produces annual hip hop concerts and sporting events for the city’s youth, where the only price of admission is getting tested for HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases (STD).

The direct impact of these events is measurable. Of the 57,000 tests given at the events, one in 193 people have tested positive for HIV, one in 48 have tested positive for Gonorrhea, while one in nine have tested positive for Chlamydia. Pre- and post-assessments have found significant positive changes in knowledge level and beliefs about the diseases.

Private Testing Center wants to partner with Houston to help stop the spread of HIV and STDs. That’s why we maintain over 40 different testing locations in and around Houston. Getting the answers you deserve is never more then a short drive away. And we’ve worked hard to make it convenient to get tested, with same-day appointments and the average lab visit taking just 15 minutes.

You owe it to yourself and your loved ones to get tested regularly. Don’t be a part of perpetuating this epidemic, and don’t let these treatable — and in many cases curable — diseases cause permanent damage to your body. Get tested today.