Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are on the rise worldwide, and according to the World Health Organization (WHO), they cause 2.5 million deaths each year. In the United States alone, half of sexually active teens and young adults below age 25 have been diagnosed with an STI.
This is particularly concerning because if people don’t get tested for them routinely, STIs can spread without their knowledge, since many don’t cause noticeable symptoms.
At Primary Health Walk-In Clinic, Dr. Pankaj Chopra and Dr. Neha Maheshwari offer comprehensive testing and treatment for STIs. They’re also committed to educating patients about STIs and removing the stigma that patients can feel around them.
Dedicated to excellence, the team honors the patient always and works to establish trusting, long-term relationships with each one.
Patients often ask when they should pursue STI testing, but the truth is, this shouldn’t be a rare or random practice. Rather, STI testing should be part of every sexually active patient’s annual wellness exam — along with a frank discussion about the number of partners you have and if and how you take measures to protect yourself from contracting an STI.
Many of us were raised with distorted, shame-based beliefs about sex — or perhaps we’re ignorant because we weren’t taught much at all. This is where our compassionate team members can really help patients.
We aim to discuss STIs and your sexual life and health openly, honestly, and without judgment. Only then can we build a rapport with you that’s based on medical facts and honest conversation.
We offer STI testing for a wide range of conditions, including hepatitis B (which puts you high risk for liver failure, cirrhosis, and liver cancer), chlamydia (a bacterial STI that causes reproductive organ damage), gonorrhea (an STI that causes pelvic inflammatory disease in women and infertility in men and women, though it’s rare in men), and syphilis (a multi-staged STI that causes serious complications).
We are also able to test for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), herpes, and more.
The dangers of STIs not only include a wide range of severe symptoms in the person affected, but some STIs can also be transmitted to a woman’s unborn baby.
Your Primary Care Walk-In Clinic provider will evaluate factors like how many sexual partners you have, whether you’re a gay or bisexual man, what other chronic conditions you may be living with, and other considerations to devise a customized STI screening plan for you.
Testing for STIs is easy, comfortable, and quick, and takes the form of a blood, urine test, or testing with a swab where a sample of cells is taken from your mouth, vagina, anus, or penis. If you have any types of sores or blisters, our team member may take a sample of the fluid from them with a swab as well.
Some STIs are curable, like syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea, while others aren’t curable but treatable, such as HIV and herpes. For incurable STIs, there are also ways that you can prevent spreading the infection and still have a satisfying, safe intimate life with your partner.
STI treatments include everything from medications (often antibiotics or antivirals) and topical medications to preventive measures, like using condoms and dental dams. A fairly recent development of a preventive treatment is the HPV vaccine, which pre-teens are advised to get.
As we noted, many people feel nervous about talking to their providers about STIs because they dread the judgment. The fact is that few people have never had sex, so learning how to discuss your sexual life openly with us allows our team to screen and treat you for STIs in the most sensitive, efficient, and safe way possible.
We also explain what you owe your partner or partners in terms of transparency if you’re tested and you get diagnosed and treated for an STI.
Don’t hesitate to make an appointment at our Mesa, Gilbert, Fountain Hills, or Scottsdale office, or you can reach out to us through our website to book one.
