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Accredited Health Department
Onondaga County Health Department is nationally accredited and meets rigorous public health standards necessary to best serve the needs of our community.
 

Get Tested!

Hey Girl

Did you know you could have an STD and not even know it?
The only way to know for sure if you have an STD is to get tested. The good news is, testing and treatment for an STD is free and confidential…so read on!

Need to know:
At the STD Center, everyone is seen on a walk in basis (first come, first serve). It is best to come to the STD Center up to an hour before clinic begins because there is a limited number of openings to see patients.

STD Center Location:
The STD Center is located at 421 Montgomery Street in Syracuse in the John H. Mulroy Civic Center in the lower level (basement level) Room 80. Just follow the signs!

 

Hours

 

 

What to bring to the STD Center:
Please bring a photo ID if you have one and a list of all medications that you are taking (and how much you take).

Good to Know:
The STD Center does testing for HIV and testing and treatment for gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia, and other STDs. Anyone who is 12 years old and older may be seen at the STD Center without parent’s permission. All testing and treatment is free and confidential.

Other places to get tested for STDs:
There are other places to get tested for STDs in Onondaga County, find out here. Remember, it is important that if you are having sex (vaginal, anal, oral) that you get tested every six months even if you do not have symptoms. Protect yourself and your partner(s). Take care of yourself and get tested today.

 

Be Smart. Be Well.

 

 

 
So what is chlamydia anyway?
Chlamydia is a common STD that can affect men and women. It can cause serious and permanent damage to a woman’s reproductive system which can make it difficult or impossible for a woman to become pregnant.

 

 

Chlamydia  

How do you get chlamydia in the first place?
You can get chlamydia by having vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who already has chlamydia. If your sex partner is male, you can get chlamydia from him even if he does not ejaculate (cum). If you have had chlamydia before, you can get infected with it again if you have unprotected sex (sex without using a condom) with someone who has chlamydia. Because chlamydia does not always have symptoms, it is best to use a condom each time you have sex.

 

 

How can I tell if I have chlamydia?
Some people who have chlamydia do not even know it because sometimes there are no symptoms. Some people may have symptoms such as:

  • unusual vaginal discharge that is yellow and has a bad odor
  • a burning feeling when you pee and/or you pee a lot more than usual
  • bleeding between your period or heavier periods than usual
  • painful sex or bleeding after having had sex
  • pain in the lower part of your stomach (sometimes with nausea and fever)
  • swelling in the skin inside the vagina or around the anus

Chlamydia

 

 

How do I find out for sure if I have chlamydia?
The only way is to get tested. When you come into the STD Center, you will be asked to urinate (pee) in a cup (this is one step to find out if you have chlamydia). A nurse will also take a swab sample from your vagina, penis, throat, or anus. The good news is, you get the results in about five days. Do not have sex until you know the test result.

 

Chlamydia Fact Sheet
 

So if I find out I do have chlamydia, then what?
You will be given antibiotic pills (they are free). After you take the pills correctly, you will be CURED! Always use a condom when having sex to reduce your risk of getting chlamydia or any STD again. Notify your partners to get tested and treated.

What if I find out I have chlamydia and I am pregnant?
If you are pregnant and have chlamydia, you can pass chlamydia to your baby when you give birth. This may cause your baby to get an eye infection or pneumonia. Also, some women who have chlamydia when they are pregnant end up having the baby too early (which is called a premature birth). If you are pregnant, you should be tested for chlamydia at every prenatal appointment. If you have chlamydia, get treatment to protect your baby.

 

 

Step Up, Get Tested

 

 

Gonorrhea? Get rid of it!
Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted disease caused by bacteria. Gonorrhea infects the cervix, uterus, and the fallopian tubes in a woman. It infects the urethra in both women and men. Gonorrhea can also infect the mucous membrane of the mouth, throat, eyes, and rectum. This can be a little confusing to understand, but this is easy…if you have had unprotected sex, you should get tested for gonorrhea!

Should I get tested for gonorrhea?
Anyone who is having anal, oral, or vaginal sex should be getting tested. Click here for STD Center hours.

 

Gonorreha Fact Sheet

 

 

Will I have symptoms of gonorrhea if I have it?
When people have gonorrhea, they may have these symptoms. But even if you don’t have symptoms and you are having unprotected sex (sex without a condom) then you should get tested.

  • Pain or burning when peeing
  • More than usual vaginal discharge (usually with a bad odor)
  • Bleeding between your periods
  • Irritation, itching, or discharge from the anus
  • Pain in the abdomen or pelvic area (sometimes with nausea too)
Gonorrhea  

 

How do people get gonorrhea in the first place?
Gonorrhea is spread when someone by having oral, anal, or vaginal sex with an infected person. Someone with gonorrhea does not have to ejaculate (cum) to give it to another person. Gonorrhea can also be spread from mother to baby during childbirth.

Okay, I’ll get tested… but what do they do?
When you come into the STD Center, you will be asked to urinate (pee) in a cup, which is one step to find out if you have gonorrhea. A nurse will also take a swab sample from your vagina, penis, throat, or anus. The results are available in about five days.

 

Gonorrhea
 
Does gonorrhea affect my pregnancy and my baby?
If you are pregnant and you have gonorrhea, you may give the infection to your baby during childbirth. This can cause blindness, joint infection, or life-threatening blood infection in your baby. If you are pregnant, you must get tested for gonorrhea. Pregnant women who have gonorrhea will get medicine right away and it will reduce the chances of a bad birth outcome.
 
   
   
   
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