POZitive Attitudes

Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD’s) are infections. You can get STD’s through sexual contact; vaginal, oral or anal.

More than 20 STD’s have been identified so far.

Most STDs are easily cured if they’re caught early.

Unfortunately, many people don’t seek treatment because they have no symptoms and thus don’t even know they have an infection.

Other people have symptoms, but don’t go to the doctor because they are embarassed or don’t realize that their symptoms are a warning sign of a serious infection.

This is tragic, because untreated STDs can cause severe health problems and may even result in death.

Also, when left untreated, they’re likely to continue spreading from one person to another.

Laboratory test can help your doctor detect most STDs but these infections can’t be diagnosed unless you decide to seek medical help.
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InSPOT
Internet Notification Service for Partners or Tricks
-Tell them if you’ve been exposed to an STD – send an anonymous ecard.
-An easy way to tell them you have an STD. You can send E-Cards anonymously or from your email address.

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Free HIV Testing:
GLCC The Pride Center at Equality Park
2040 N. Dixie Hwy, Wilton Manors, FL 33304
954-566-3553.
Confidential Rapid Testing (20 minutes)
Monday to Friday 10 AM to 8:30 PM
Saturdays 12 noon to 5:00 PM

FT. Lauderdale Out of The Closet Thrift Store
1785 East Sunrise Blvd
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33304
954-462-9442

Monday – Friday 12 p.m.– 7 p.m.
Saturday – Sunday 12 p.m. – 5 p.m.

FT. Lauderdale Out of The Closet Thrift Store
2097 Wilton Drive
Wilton Manors, FL 33305
954.358.5580
Monday – Saturday 12 p.m.– 7 p.m.
Sunday 12 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Miami Out of the Closet Thrift Store
2400 Biscayne Blvd.
Miami, FL 90291
305.764.3773
Monday – Friday 3 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Saturday & Sunday 12 p.m. – 5p.m

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STD & HIV Testing:

Wellness Center-Walk in STD Clinic
750 SE 3rd Ave Fort Lauderdale FL 33316
Monday – Friday 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM 954-767-0273

FT. Lauderdale Out of The Closet Thrift Store
2097 Wilton Drive
Wilton Manors, FL 33305
954.358.5580
Friday – Saturday 10 a.m.– 6 p.m.

Latino Salud
1401 NE 26th St
Wilton Manors, FL 33305
954.765-6239
Monday – Saturday 10 a.m.– 9 p.m.

Broward County Health Department
780 SW 24th Ave. Ft Lauderdale, FL 33315
STD’s 954 527-8783

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STDs and Symptoms

HIV/AIDS: Flu-like symptoms, Unexplained weight loss

Syphillis: Painless sores on mouth, penis or vagina. Flu-like symptoms

Gonorrhea: Unusual discharge from penis, vagina or anus. Pain or burning sensation during urination or sex. Abdominal pain.

Chlamydia: Unusual discharge from penis, vagina or anus. Pain or burning sensation during urination or sex. Abdominal pain. Bleeding between periods.

Herpes: Bumps, blisters, or warts on penis, vagina or anus. Pain or burning sensation during urination or sex. Itching or burning around penis, vagina or anus. Flu-like symptoms.

Tricomoniasis: Unusual discharge from penis, vagina or nus. Pain or burning sensation during urination or sex. Itching or burning around penis, vagina or anus. Yellow-green discharge from vagina with strong odor. Abdominal pain.

Yeast Infection: Unusual discharge from penis, vagina or anus. Itching or burning around penis, vagina or anus.

HPV: Bumps, blisters, or warts on penis, vagina or anus.

Public lice, Crabs: Itching or burning around penis, vagina, or anus.

*although these are the most common symptoms of STDs, there can be others. In addition, many of the symptoms above can be caused by diseases and conditions that are not sexually transmitted. It’s important that you discuss any symptoms with your doctor right away, so that he or she can determine the cause and begin treatment, if necessary.

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Testing Definitions:

Confidential – Testing in which results are recorded, but are not given out without permission of the person tested, except as required by state law.

Anonymous – Testing in which no information that identifies a person is recorded. Only the person tested can obtain the results.

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Are Undetectable Viral loads still infectious?
Swiss study that stated that a person with an undetected viral load was non-infectious. Link to discussion.

Contradicting that Swiss study was a French study that found detectable viral loads in the semen of some men who had undetectable viral loads in their blood further complicating this issue.

Is HIV Superinfection a real threat?
What about the possibility that someone already living with HIV could be infected with another strain of the virus? This is called HIV superinfection. Is this a concern or just a theory? How could we study this? The Gladstone study in San Francisco attempted to do this. Report from the Gladstone study. Explaining the difference between coinfection and reinfection from The Body.

Are some people immune to HIV
The majority of HIV strains in the USA use the CCR5 receptor to attach to the CD4 T-Cell. Some people don’t have this receptor. Another strain of the virus uses the CXCR4 receptor into the CD4 T-Cell.