Sexually Transmitted Infections and HIV

Get Yourself Tested

If you are sexually active, getting tested for STDs is one of the most important things you can do to protect your health! Have an open and honest conversation with your doctor about your sexual history and STD testing. This will help them understand what STD tests you may need.

To learn more about HIV and see if you are at risk, go to hiv.gov to take the HIV 101 lesson. Click on Basic HIV/AIDS information.

Get your free HIV test fast, free, and private!

Order now at https://together.takemehome.org/.
– Available for ages 17 and up
– You can order every 90 days
This test checks your HIV status using fluid from your gums – no needles or blood needed.

Ordena tu prueba de VIH gratuita rápida, gratis y discreta. Hazlo ahora en. http://tmhtest.me/juntos.
– Disponible para mayores de 17 años
– Puedes ordenar cada 90 días.
Esta prueba verifica tu estado de VIH utilizando fluido de tus encías – no se necesitan agujas ni sangre.

For more information preview the VBCDHD STI/HIV program brochure.

Click Here

Appointments

Appointments are needed for all services related to sexually transmitted diseases. However appointments can be arranged upon request for certain needs and accommodations.

Financial

There is a $10.00 service fee.
No one will be turned away or denied services because of an inability to pay.

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Clinic Services Survey

Locations

Dowagiac
HIV clinic / STD clinic
Thursdays
9-11 a.m. & 1-4 p.m.
Call 269-782-0064

Lawrence
HIV clinic / STD clinic
Wednesdays
9-11 a.m. & 1-4 p.m.
Call 269-621-3143

Free condoms available at both locations!

Confidential Clinic Services

Counseling, Testing, Referral and Treatment for:

Gonorrhea
Chlamydia
Syphilis

Counseling, Testing and Referral for:

Hepatitis B and C
HIV – Rapid (20 minute) results available

Counseling and Referral for:

Herpes
Genital Warts (HPV)

The STD clinic also offers a high-risk Hepatitis B Program. Those qualifying for the program can receive immunization free of charge. This program is in addition to the immunization services available through our immunization clinics.

Each year in June and December, the HIV clinic participates with HIV Awareness Week and World AIDS Day, providing confidential or anonymous no needle testing free of charge.

Which STD Tests Should I Get?

All adults and adolescents from ages 13 to 64 should be tested at least once for HIV.

All sexually active women younger than 25 years should be tested for gonorrhea and chlamydia every year. Women 25 years and older with risk factors such as new or multiple sex partners or a sex partner who has an STD should also be tested for gonorrhea and chlamydia every year.

All pregnant women should be tested for syphilis, HIV, and hepatitis B starting early in pregnancy. At-risk pregnant women should also be tested for chlamydia and gonorrhea starting early in pregnancy. Testing should be repeated as needed to protect the health of mothers and their infants.

All sexually active gay and bisexual men should be tested at least once a year for syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea. Those who have multiple or anonymous partners should be tested more frequently for STDs (i.e., at 3- to 6-month intervals).

Sexually active gay and bisexual men may benefit from more frequent HIV testing (e.g., every 3 to 6 months).

Anyone who has unsafe sex or shares injection drug equipment should get tested for HIV at least once a year.

HIV Treatment as Prevention

If you have HIV, start taking medicine as soon as you can. This medicine is called antiretroviral therapy (ART). When taken as directed, it lowers the amount of HIV in your body. This helps your immune system stay strong and prevents illness.

When the HIV in your body is very low, it’s called viral suppression. This happens when there are less than 200 copies of the virus in a milliliter of blood. In some cases, the virus becomes so low that tests can’t find it. This is called an undetectable viral load.

Keeping an undetectable viral load is the best way to stay healthy if you have HIV. It also helps prevent passing the virus to others through sex, shared needles, or from mother to child during pregnancy and breastfeeding. This is known as treatment as prevention. There is strong proof that this works for some ways HIV spreads, but more research is still needed for others.

Read more about HIV treatment as prevention information from the CDC.