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What is HIV?

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) attacks the body’s immune system. If untreated, it can lead to AIDS. Right now, there is no cure for HIV. But people with HIV who start and continue treatment can live long, healthy lives. Treatment with HIV medicines also prevents people with HIV from passing it to a partner.

Getting Screened for HIV 

The only way to know if you have HIV is to get tested. There are three different types of HIV screenings. Your doctor can tell you which type you need. Depending on the test, you will need to provide a sample of saliva (spit), blood, or urine.

Who Should Get Screened?        

• Everyone ages 13 to 64 should get screened for HIV at least once as part of routine health care.
• Some people should get screened at least once a year, including:
  • Men who have had sex with another man.
    
  • People who have had anal or vaginal sex with someone who has HIV.
  • People with more than one sex partner since their last HIV test.
  • People who have shared needles, syringes, or other drug injection equipment.
  • People who have exchanged sex for drugs or money.
  • People who have been diagnosed with or treated for another sexually transmitted infection, hepatitis, or tuberculosis (TB).
  • People who have had sex with someone who has done anything listed above or if their partner’s sexual history is not known.

What is HPV?

Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is the most common STI in the United States. There are more than 40 types that can infect the genitals, mouths, and throats of men and woman. Some types of HPV cause warts on the penis, vagina, or other body parts. Other types of HPV can cause cancers. The HPV vaccine can prevent cancer-causing infections and precancers in both men and women.

Getting Screened for HPV

Most people who become infected with HPV do not know they have it. Screening for HPV (human papillomavirus) in women is recommended as part of cervical cancer screening.

Who Should Get Screened?

• Women should start getting cervical cancer screenings at age 21. If your HPV result is negative, your doctor may tell you that you can wait three to five years until your next HPV test. 
• Women ages 21 to 64 should talk to their health care provider about how often they need a cervical cancer screening.

What is Syphilis?

Syphilis is an infection that can cause minor symptoms at first, like painless sores on the genitals, rectum, or mouth. Syphilis is curable with antibiotics in its early stages. But if syphilis is not treated, it can cause permanent damage including dementia, blindness, and hearing loss.

What is Congenital Syphilis?

Congenital syphilis is the disease that happens when people pass untreated syphilis to their babies during pregnancy. It can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, death shortly after birth, or babies to be born premature or with a low birth weight.

Babies born with congenital syphilis could have serious and life-long health problems like deformed bones, enlarged organs, blindness, and hearing loss. If syphilis is found and treated before 26 weeks of pregnancy, there is a much lower chance that the baby will be born with syphilis or health issues caused by syphilis.

Getting Screened for Syphilis

Your provider will screen for syphilis using a sample of your blood.

Who Should Get Screened

Due to rising syphilis rates, the Louisiana Department of Health recommends that all men and women should be screened for syphilis.

Some people should get screened once a year or more often, including:

• Everyone who is pregnant.
• All gay and bisexual men, transgender persons, and gender-diverse persons.
• People living with HIV. 

STI screening is especially important when you’re pregnant. Many STIs can be passed from parent to child during pregnancy or as the baby passes through the birth canal.

Your Primary Care Provider (PCP) or OB/GYN can test for STIs during a routine wellness, sick or prenatal visit. If you have an STI, your health care providers can give you medicines to treat the infection and prevent it being passed to your baby.  

• Everyone who is pregnant should receive syphilis testing at their first prenatal visit. Some pregnant people need to receive syphilis testing again during the third trimester at 28 weeks and at delivery.
• Everyone who is pregnant should also be tested for HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C starting early in pregnancy. Repeat testing may be needed.
• Pregnant people at risk should also be tested for chlamydia and gonorrhea starting early in pregnancy. Repeat testing may be needed.