Sexually Transmitted Diseases/Infections

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Program Mission, Goals and Objectives

Fees

What is a Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI)

How will You know if you have a Sexually Transmitted Infection?

The mission of the Communicable Disease Prevention Branch is to assist the Fulton County Department of Health and Wellness in promoting, assuring and protecting the health of people in Fulton County by eliminating and/or reducing communicable diseases. The program focuses on sexually transmitted infections (STI), HIV and Tuberculosis infections. The federal and state guidelines that govern the health department’s actions relating to health are based on the Rules of the Georgia Department of Human Resources Public Health Chapter 17 that require “reporting a diagnosis or treatment” of sexually transmitted infections to health authorities.

The goals and objectives of the Fulton County STD program is to reduce the incidence of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV, in Fulton County through a comprehensive strategy including surveillance, prevention, education, screening, treatment, contact notification and appropriate medical and social referrals to prevent the spread of diseases.

Services are available to Fulton County residents based on a sliding fee scale.

• Some STIs infect only your sexual and reproductive organs. Others (HIV, hepatitis B, syphilis) cause general body infections.
  
• Sometimes you can have an STI with no signs or symptoms. Or the symptoms may go away. Either way, you still have the STI until you get treated.
  
• STI is spread during vaginal, anal and oral sex, and sometimes by genital touching.
  
• Some STI s (HIV and hepatitis B) are also spread by contact with infected blood.
  
• STI germs need to live in warm, moist areas. That's why they infect the mouth, rectum and sex organs (vagina, vulva, penis and testes).

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Many people have STIs with no symptoms, you can be infected without knowing it.

If you have symptoms, you may notice any of the following signs of STIs:

For Females

• unusual discharge or smell from vagina
• itching and burning around your vagina
• pain in your pelvic area
• bleeding from the vagina that is not part of the regular period
• pain deep inside the vagina during sex

For Males

• discharge or drip from the penis

For Males and Females

• burning and pain on urination or bowel movement
• sores, bumps or blisters around sex organs, anus or mouth
• need to urinate often
• itching around the sex organs
• swelling or redness in the throat
• flu-like feelings with fever, chills and aches
• swelling around the sex organs

• Bacterial Vaginosis
• Candida
• Chlamydia
• Genital Warts-Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
• Gonorrhea
• Hepatitis B
• Herpes
• Pediculosis Pubis (Pubic lice)
• Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
• Syphilis
• Trichomonasis

STIs are spread through contact with:

• infected blood and body fluids such as vaginal secretions or semen
• infected skin or mucous membranes - for example, sores in the mouth

Activities that expose you to infected body fluids or skin include:

• vaginal, anal, or oral sex WITHOUT proper use of a latex condom or other barrier methods. Anal sex is especially risky because it often causes bleeding.
  
• sharing needles or syringes for drug use, ear piercing, tattooing, etc.
  
• Having an STI may increase your risk of getting HIV. STIs can break down the body's most important defense - the skin and mucous membranes, causing sores and thus provide a way for HIV to enter the body.

How you can protect yourself from STIs, including HIV:

Abstinence is the only sure way to avoid getting an STI.

If you have sex:

• Use latex condoms with a water-based lubricant every time you have vaginal, anal or oral sex. Latex condoms will help protect from STIs much of the time. Both men and women should carry condoms
  
• Use plastic (polyurethane) condoms if you are allergic to latex. These come both male and female styles.
  
• Talk to your partners about past sex partners and about needle drug use. Avoid having sex with someone that you think may have an STI.
  
• Look closely at your sex partner for signs of STIs such as a rash, sores or discharge. If you are not comfortable, do not have sex!

Take action!

• Have regular physical exams. If you think you've been exposed to an STI get tested, get treated! Regular tests help find STIs early, when treatment can be most effective.
  
• Know the signs and symptoms of STI. If you notice a symptom that worries you, get checked!

If you have an STI, be sure to:

• Talk to your sex partner(s). Encourage them to get tested and treated. Partners need to be treated to avoid reinfection.
  
• Avoid sex until your physician says it's okay to resume. Follow your treatment plan and finish all medications, even if you feel well. Follow up exams can make sure treatment was effective.
  
• Get counseling if you're worried or upset about having an STI. Your physician or STI clinic can recommend a counselor.

Condoms help protect from STIs and unwanted pregnancies. To use a condom properly:

• Use a new condom every time you have sex, even oral or anal. Discard any "new" condom that's damaged, sticky, or brittle.
  
• Squeeze tip of condom to remove any air. Excess air could cause condom to break.
  When penis is hard (before any sexual contact), place condom on tip and roll down all the way.
  
• After ejaculation, withdraw penis while still hard.
   
• Hold on the rim of condom as you withdraw so nothing spills. Discard properly.
  
• If more lubrication is needed, use K-Y Jelly or other water-based or silicone lubricant.
  
• Do not use oil-based lubricants such as Vaseline petroleum jelly, mineral oil, vegetable oil or cold cream as these could break the condom.

• Don't inject drugs. Sharing needles or syringes can expose you to infected blood. Not injecting drugs is an essential part of protecting yourself from STIs.
  
• Avoid alcohol and other drugs. They can make you more likely to take chances when having sex.
  
• Don't douche if you think you have an infection. You may force germs farther into the vagina or alter the natural balance of vaginal fluids.

From the North: From I-75 and I-85 go south toward Atlanta. Take axit 248A for Martin Luther King Jr. Drive toward state Capitol. Stay in the right lane and turn right at Jesse Hill Jr. Drive. Go about 0.2 mile. Aldredge Health Center is at the corner of Jesse Hill Jr Drive and Gilmer Street, across from Grady Memorial Hospital.

From The South: From I-75 and I-85 go north toward Atlanta. Take axit 248A for Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. Turn left toward State Capitol. Stay on the right lane and turn right at Jesse Hill Jr. Drive. Go about 0.2 mile. Aldredge Health Center is at the corner of Jesse Hill Jr. Drive and Gilmer Street, across from Grady Memorial Hospital.