Springfield-Greene County Health will offer testing for sexually transmitted illnesses, by appointment, every Tuesday beginning Nov. 1 from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. until 3:30 p.m.
Appointments for STI testing on Tuesdays can be made up to 7 days in advance, online using the STI screening and intake form at health.springfieldmo.gov/STI. These new hours are in addition to walk-in STI testing and consultation on Monday and Wednesday from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. The form will inform some individuals meeting certain criteria that requires them to come on Monday or Wednesday in order to speak to a Health Department nurse.
This expansion of testing services is in response to the growing number of STIs in Greene County, with increases in gonorrhea, chlamydia and syphilis. According to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, there were nearly 3,400 cases of these three STIs reported in Greene County in 2021, a 12% increase from the previous year. This year, there have been more than 1,400 cases of gonorrhea, chlamydia and syphilis reported as of June 30.
The increase in syphilis is particularly concerning with the rise of congenital syphilis cases, where the virus is passed on to babies in those who are pregnant. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, congenital syphilis can lead to several health issues in newborns and increases the risk of miscarriages, premature birth, stillbirths, and death in newborns.
Kendra Findley, Administrator of Community Health & Epidemiology, states “it is important to get tested for syphilis if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant to ensure you do not pass it on to your baby. Regardless of whether you have symptoms, are in a monogamous relationship, sexual orientation or gender, you need to get tested if you are sexually active.”
More information on STIs, how to prevent them, a list of illnesses the Health Department tests for and other resources for testing and treatment are available at health.springfieldmo.gov/STI or by calling 417-864-1684.
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Media may contact the Health Department PIO Team by call or text at 417-380-2556 or email at [email protected].
Springfield-Greene County Health Department
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