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(Source: Texas Department of State Health Services,
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention, The American Social Health
Association)
While substantial progress has been made in preventing,
diagnosing, and treating certain STDs in recent years, the CDC estimates
that 19 million new infections occur each year, almost half of them among
young people ages 15 to 24.
STD stands for Sexually Transmitted Diseases, which can be caused by bacteria,
virus, or other organisms. Bacterial STDs include Chlamydia, Gonorrhea,
Syphilis, Trichomoniasis, and Bacterial Vaginosis. Viral STDs include
Herpes, Genital Warts, and HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus). Although
most people with STD infections do not experience any signs or symptoms
of the disease, the following are some possible signs and symptoms:
- Painful or painless sores in vaginal, oral, or anal area.
- Unusual discharge
- Burning during urination
- Pelvic, lower abdominal, or groin pain
- Itching
- Warts on genitals, anus, or urethra
In most cases, bacterial STDs can be treated and cured
by simple antibiotics. Viral STDs, however, in most cases can only be
treated but not cured. STDs are spread through intimate person-to-person
contact such as oral, vaginal, and anal sex. They can also be spread through
the sharing of needles. Pregnant women may spread STDs to their babies
before giving birth, during birth, or after birth through breast-feeding.
STDs have harmful effects on babies and can cause stillbirth, low birth
weight, conjunctivitis (eye infection), pneumonia, neonatal sepsis, neurologic
damage, and even blindness and deafness. In adults, STDs can cause other
complications such as cervical or other cancers, chronic hepatitis, pelvic
inflammation diseases, infertility, or make the infected person more susceptible
to acquiring HIV.
The most proven way to stay healthy and prevent STD
infection is to practice abstinence, use of condoms during sex, maintaining
an exclusive sexual relationship with only one partner, and not sharing
needles. It is important to be tested and treated for STDs in a timely
manner. If you think you have a STD, get tested. If you know you have
a STD, get treated.
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The mission of Collin County STD/HIV Clinic is to provide quality education,
screening, counseling and treatment services in order to prevent, control,
and eliminate the spread of STDs in the county. To ensure the protection
of the public, we continually strive to maintain close communication with
clients, health providers, and other agencies to facilitate the exchange
of information and strengthen our epidemiologic investigations of cases.
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Diagnostic Services
Our STD/HIV clinic offers quality diagnostic services
in compliance with federal and state regulations for the screening and
diagnosis of sexually transmitted diseases. We offer testing for the following
conditions:
- Gonorrhea
- Chlamydia
- Syphilis
- Bacterial Vaginosis
- Trichomoniasis
- HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)
Clients are tested for all the above conditions during
the same visit. Additionally, some women will also be tested for pregnancy.
The base price for STD services at our clinic is $20. This fee covers
screening and treatment if necessary.
Hepatitis A & B vaccinations are also available
for an additional fee.
Counseling and Treatment Services
Our clinical staff are professionals trained in the
diagnosis, treatment, counseling, and follow-up of STD cases. We provide
counseling and treatment to patients who have been diagnosed with Syphilis,
Gonorrhea, Chlamydia, Bacterial Vaginosis, or Trichomoniasis. It is important
for patients to work closely with clinic staff to ensure that they understand
their condition and are treated appropriately and not get reinfected or
exposed to another STD. Clients who test positive for HIV can receive
treatment from his/her private physician or be referred by our clinic
to the Dallas County HIV Early Intervention Clinic located at the Dallas
County Health and Human Services.
In addition to providing evaluation, treatment, counseling,
and referral services to help clients deal with the newly infected STD,
our clinic also works closely with the Health Department Epidemiologist,
who will work with patients with the partner notification process. This
ensures that possible contacts receive timely testing and treatment of
STDs.
Patient Confidentiality
The Collin County STD/HIV clinic understands the importance
of patients' rights to privacy and emphasizes maintaining patient
confidentiality.
Health Education Services
Collin County Health Care Services is committed to providing
quality health care education to the general public of the county. Our
Health Educator is available to make presentations to schools and community
groups regarding STDs and HIV/AIDS. To obtain more information or schedule
a presentation for your group/organization, contact Nichol Andrews (Health
Educator) at nandrews@collincountytx.gov.
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Collin County STD/HIV clinic is located at:
Collin County Health Care Services
825 N. Mc Donald St. # 130
McKinney, Texas 75069
Our clinic hours are:
Monday - Friday, 8 am - 11 am and 1 pm - 4 pm
Please note that even though our clinic does take
walk-ins, we recommend that clients make appointments before coming
to ensure timely service. Clients should plan to arrive at least
15 minutes before appointment in order to complete registration
and consent forms. You will also need to bring a Photo ID for identification
purposes.
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