STD Testing Los Angeles: Get the Facts

STD Testing Los Angeles: the stats are in. Unfortunately, it isn’t looking great. On the whole, the rates of sexually transmitted diseases and infections in the greater Los Angeles County area have been steadily rising in the past few years.

STD Testing Los Angeles: Infections on the Rise

There has been a steady increase in infections during the past few years. Throughout this blog post, we’ll be referring to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health’s 2014 Annual HIV/STD Surveillance Report.

According to this document, there were a total of 66,276 cases of HIV and STDs reported in 2013. Overall, this marks a 1.5% increase from 2012. Among all of the common STDs, chlamydia is the most rampant. In 2013, there were 48,096 reported cases in Los Angeles county. By 2014, that number rose to 52,098. From 2010 to 2014, we’ve witnessed a 17% increase in the number of reported chlamydia cases.

This increase in chlamydia is worrisome, but it’s not the only STD on the rise. Gonorrhea, or “The Clap” rates are surging as well. The Surveillance Report indicated that a total of 14,555 cases of gonorrhea reported in Los Angeles during 2014. This shows a 51% increase from 2010 to 2014.

Syphilis rates have been growing steadily as well. In 2014, there were a total of 3,841 cases of syphilis reported in Los Angeles. Syphilis is examined differently than other infections. The surveillance report separates cases by the stages of syphilis. Since 2010, the number of these reported cases has risen dramatically:

• Primary and Secondary Syphilis – 74% increase
• Early Latent Syphilis – 50% increase
• Late Syphilis – 31% increase

HIV: Good News and Bad News

Fortunately, it’s not all doom and gloom. The rate of HIV in the county has actually decreased. In fact, HIV diagnosis rates have been decreasing in Los Angeles since 2007. When examined in 2013, STD testing Los Angeles showed 1,820 newly diagnosed HIV cases. That’s a significantly lower number than previous years.

Obviously, HIV can affect anyone of any sex, race or lifestyle. We all should be tested for STDs on a regular basis. That said, certain groups may be at a greater risk and should take extra precaution. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that men account for over 90% of reported HIV cases. Additionally, the most common way an HIV infection was passed was between men who have sex with other men.

Test Regularly to Stay Safe

Screening for sexually transmitted infections is the key to a clean bill of sexual health. Everyone should get tested at regular intervals. Using a service like myLAB Box, makes the screening process easier than ever before.

Simply click “order” on our website and wait for a discreetly packaged testing kit to arrive at your door. myLAB Box’s tests allows you to test from the comfort of your house, dorm room or apartment.

You can order a test for a specific STD, or you can choose one of our multi-panel combination packs. These test combos, like the Total Box, Uber Box and Love Box, test for multiple common infections at once. It’s just that easy!

STD testing at home is a brave new step for self-care. It’s the least stressful way to make a responsible choice for your health and earn total peace of mind. If you need more information, please check out our FAQ page and the rest of the handy myLAB Box blog to learn more.