FALL 2023 IMPACT REPORT
TALK, TEST, TREAT: STI AWARENESS
Using the term STD (sexually transmitted disease) can
contribute to stigma and misinformation. Disease
happens when an infection causes symptoms, damages
parts of your body, and leads to illness. Infection
happens when a virus, bacteria, or parasite enters your
body, and your immune system kicks in to fight it. Most
of the time, STIs will never become diseases.
Here’s the thing: “STD” has been around much longer.
More people use this term and search for it on the
internet. This is why you may see “STD” on our website.
We want information to be easily searchable for those
who need it, but we encourage thoughtful, accurate
use of these terms.
Don’t call it a disease!
STIs (sexually transmitted infections) are bacterial or
viral infections that can be passed through bodily fluids,
direct skin-to-skin contact, or anal, vaginal or oral sex
with an infected partner. While less likely, it’s also
possible to get STIs through contact that isn’t sexual.
Some can be transmitted from parent to baby during
pregnancy or birth or through sharing needles. STIs are
common and can impact anybody. One in two sexually
active people will experience a STI by age 25.
What’s an STI?
Central to nearly all our patient visits are STI testing, screening,
and education. Our non-judgmental providers dismantle STI
stigma, celebrate sex positivity, streamline care, and offer
revolutionary preventive medications. LA County’s STI rates have
been increasing for a decade. Learn how your local Planned
Parenthood has been confronting this crisis, and how you can too.
Every day, we champion safer sex for all.
Adolescents & adults in
their early 20s account for
about half of new STI cases
annually but comprise only
a quarter of the sexually
active population.
CS occurs when syphilis is passed to a baby
during pregnancy. It can cause serious
health problems including miscarriage, low
birth weight, and stillbirth.
LA County cases
of congenital
syphilis (CS)
have increased
1600%
in the last decade.
THE FACTS
135,076
Last year, we provided
STI tests.
PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) is a daily pill or
bimonthly injection that can reduce the chance of
acquiring HIV by up to 99%. Think of PrEP almost
like birth control but preventing HIV instead of
pregnancy.
PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) is a month-long
prescription started within 72 hours of possible HIV
exposure. Much like the morning-after pill is taken
to prevent pregnancy, PEP is a time-sensitive
medication that can stop HIV infection.
PPPSGV has offered these life-changing
medications at all health centers since 2018. Last
year, we wrote 391 PEP and PrEP prescriptions,
but our care does not stop there. Our Care Team
works with local pharmacies to ensure seamless
prescription fulfillment and to connect patients with
prescription payment assistance.
A PILL THAT CAN PREVENT HIV?
END THE STIGMA
STIs are a common part of life. Like with colds, flus, and other infections, you can do your
best to protect yourself, but sometimes they happen. An STI diagnosis—or the lack of one
—does not make someone “dirty” or “clean.”
Negative and unhealthy attitudes about sex create stigma that is harmful to everyone. All
people should feel comfortable and safe talking about STI transmission, treatment, and
prevention. When someone is sick, they need care, not criticism.
Beyond
HIV with
DoxyPEP
New evidence suggests that
taking a one-time dose of the
antibiotic doxycycline within
72 hours of unprotected sex
significantly reduces chances
of contracting chlamydia,
gonorrhea, and syphilis.
Known as DoxyPEP, this new
preventive medication is
now offered at all of our
health centers.
Nearly 60,000 people across LA County live with
HIV, and there are about 1,400 new HIV transmissions
here every year. A cornerstone of all public health
efforts to end HIV is prevention, and in recent years,
two medications have changed the landscape of
HIV prevention.
The revolutionary medications PEP & PrEP
FASTER ACCESS &
PEACE OF MIND
Planned Parenthood has always been near and dear to my heart. I used it when I was a youth
with no health insurance to get low-cost birth control and well-person appointments—
everything that people go to Planned Parenthood for now. When the Laboratory Manager
position opened up, I was like, you know what, let's see. It's been wonderful to work with
people who are all about the mission and caring for our patients.
What led you to your role as Laboratory Manager?
According to the World Health Organization, over 1 million STIs are acquired every day. Most
of these are asymptomatic, so like with all communicable diseases, the easiest way to track
infection rates is through screening and testing. This work really is a cornerstone of the
community. Our patients feel safe at Planned Parenthood, and this is often the only form of
health care they get. The more we are testing, treating, and providing education, the closer we
are to stopping the spread.
Can you talk about the role of the lab in curbing the STI epidemic?
We opened our first in-house lab at our Baldwin Park Health Center in 2022. We chatted
with Maria to learn more about how her team helps to address the STI epidemic.
Get Tested
Most of the time, STIs cause NO symptoms, so it’s important to
test regularly, including before and after every new sexual partner.
Get Treated
Having an STI can be serious, but it doesn't have to be scary.
Most STIs are curable and all STIs are treatable.
Prioritize Prevention
Using a barrier, like condoms or dental dams, is one of the best
ways to protect against STIs.
Do Your Part
to Stop the
Spread
SAFER
IS SEXY
An in-house lab allows us to send patients their results within 24 hours, compared to the 5 to 8
day wait for external labs. This means more peace of mind and faster access to treatment. Our
lab also generates revenue that we can use to further invest in our health centers. In every way,
the lab makes it more convenient for patients to come back to see us and get tested over and
over again, which really gives us a clear picture of how STIs are moving through the community.
How is the lab helping patients?
A conversation with Laboratory Manager Maria (she/her)
“Teaching STIs can be difficult because the instruction can easily become
very science specific. We’ll use analogies instead of technical terms. Like
with Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV), for instance. Some people have a hard
time understanding HSV of the mouth versus HSV of the genitals. So we
have a metaphor. I’ll say that the different types of HSV are like how
different kinds of plant life grow in different environments.”
Alex, Community Health Educator (they/them)
“Culture is a large component of teaching sex ed. Being aware that youth may not feel free to
have these sorts of conversations with their parents or other family members, so they rely
on Dr. Google or their peers. During the lessons we're able to be that trusted adult at that
time to answer any questions they have without judgement.”
Zoe, Community Health Educator (she/her)
“Before teaching about STIs, it’s important that someone understands the
basic anatomy of their bodies. I once taught a group of moms that
didn’t understand where an STI came from. Making our community
aware of how STIs are contracted and can be prevented is an essential part
of my work.”
Zarreah, Community Health Educator (she/her)
Drawings of Alex and Zarreah by a former student.
HOW OUR COMMUNITY
EDUCATORS TALK ABOUT STIs
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