By Paige Gurgainers

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) there are more than 20 million new Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) cases in the United States every year with an estimated 110 million total STIs among Americans.  

With April being STI Awareness month many health units, hospitals and doctor offices are offering free STI testing including the Webster Parish Minden Health Unit. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Springhill Health Unit is currently closed due to flooding and operating out of the Minden office.  

The STI testing is confidential and free. It can be as simple as getting swabbed or giving a urine sample.  

Many believe they would know if they have become infected because they would show symptoms such as itching, burning, sores, etc., but many times there are no physical and obvious symptoms. That is why the term STI is more commonly used versus STD (Sexually Transmitted Disease) because you can be infected and still have shown no obvious signs of disease.  

That is why testing is so crucial if you are sexually active. The only way to truly know if you have been infected with an STI is to get tested.  

There are a few campaigns for 2024’s April STI Awareness Month that you can get involved in to spread awareness and encourage others to get tested including, “Prepare Before You Are There.” This campaign encourages participants to have a prevention game plan in place before being sexually active.  Other campaigns include, “Talk, Test, Treat” and “GYT: Get Yourself Tested.” 

To become involved and spread awareness, you can visit:  

https://www.cdc.gov/std/saw/index.htm 

For those interested in getting tested at the Minden Health Unit, they are located at 1200 Homer Road, Minden, La. For questions, please call 318-371-3030.