STI Awareness Week

talk test treat

STI Awareness Week provides an opportunity to raise awareness about sexually transmitted infections, or STIs, and how they impact our lives; reduce STI-related stigma, fear, and discrimination; and ensure people have the tools and knowledge for prevention, testing, and treatment.

  • What you need to know

    Georgians: If you are sexually active, or thinking of becoming sexually active, it is important that you Talk. Test. Treat. to protect your health. These three small actions can have a big impact on your sexual health!

    Providers: While the idea of Talk. Test. Treat. is simple, STI prevention and treatment are not one-size-fits-all. We encourage you, our nation’s healthcare providers, to revisit the many ways that you can empower your patients to take charge of their sexual health. 

  • Talk

    Talk openly and honestly to your partner(s) and your health care provider about sexual health and STDs.

    Talk with your partner(s) BEFORE having sex. Not sure how? We have tips to help you start the conversation. Make sure your discussion covers several important ways to make sex safer:

    • Talk about when you were last tested and suggest getting tested together.
    • If you have an STD (like herpes or HIV), tell your partner.
    • Agree to only have sex with each other.
    • Use latex condoms the right way for every act of vaginal, anal, and oral sex throughout the entire sex act (from start to finish).

    Talk with your health care provider about your sex life as it relates to your health. This helps your health care provider understand what STD tests you should be getting and how often.

    Here are a few questions you should expect and be prepared to answer honestly:

    • Have you been sexually active in the last year?
    • Do you have sex with men, women, or both?
    • In the past 12 months, how many sexual partners have you had?
    • Do you have anal, oral, or vaginal sex?
    • What are you doing to protect yourself from STDs?

    Not all medical checkups include STD testing, so don’t assume that you’ve been tested unless you discuss it with your provider. If your provider does not discuss sex or STD testing with you, bring it up.

    Ask your health care provider whether certain vaccines, like the hepatitis B vaccine or the HPV vaccine, are right for you.

  • Test

    Get tested. It’s the only way to know for sure if you have an STD.

    Many STDs don’t cause any symptoms, so you could have one and not know. If you’re having sex, getting tested is one of the most important things you can do to protect your health.

    Learn which STD tests CDC recommends for you. Even if you’re pregnant, you can still get an STD. If you’re having sex, you’re still at risk.

    Find out what STD care options are available near you. In addition to traditional, in-person visits, other options that may be available include:

    • Video or phone appointments with your health care provider.
    • Express visits for STD testing and treatment without a full clinical exam.
    • Pharmacies and retail clinics, such as at a grocery store or big-box store, for on-site testing and treatment.
    • At-home collection where you collect your own sample and take or mail it to a lab for testing.

    If you’re not comfortable talking with your regular health care provider about STDs, find a clinic near you that provides confidential testing that’s free or low cost.

  • Treat

    If you test positive for an STD, work with your health care provider to get the correct treatment.

    Some STDs can be cured with the right medicine, and all STDs are treatable. Make sure your treatment works by doing these things:

    • Take all of the medication your health care provider prescribes, even if you start feeling better or your symptoms go away.
    • Don’t share your medicine with anyone.
    • Avoid having sex again until you and your sex partner(s) have all completed treatment.

    Your health care provider can talk with you about which medications are right for you.

STI stats U.S.

For more information about STI Awareness Week, visit the CDC at https://www.cdc.gov/std/saw/about.htm

STD Event Calender

Camden County Health Department
905 Dilworth Street, St. Marys
Thursday, April 13, 8–11 am and 1–6 pm.
Friday, April 14, 8–11 am.
No appointment is necessary. Walk-ins are welcome!
Several health departments in the Coastal Health District will offer free, confidential STD screening events in April as part of STD Awareness Week. 

Camden County Health Department
905 Dilworth Street, St. Marys
Thursday, April 13, 8–11 am and 1–6 pm.
Friday, April 14, 8–11 am.
No appointment is necessary. Walk-ins are welcome!
Several health departments in the Coastal Health District will offer free, confidential STD screening events in April as part of STD Awareness Week. 

Chatham County Health Department
1395 Eisenhower Drive, Savannah
Monday – Friday, April 10-14
Appointments required. Call 912-356-2441 to schedule.
Several health departments in the Coastal Health District will offer free, confidential STD screening events in April as part of STD Awareness Week.

Effingham County Health Department
802 Hwy. 119 South, Springfield
Tuesday, April 11, 1–3:30 pm.
Appointments required. Call 912-754-6484 to schedule.
Several health departments in the Coastal Health District will offer free, confidential STD screening events in April as part of STD Awareness Week. 

Glynn County Health Department
2747 Fourth Street, Brunswick
Thursday, April 13, 8 am – 5 pm.
Appointments required. Call 912-264-3961 to schedule.

Liberty County Health Department
1113 East Oglethorpe Highway, Hinesville
Wednesday, April 19, 8:30 am – 3:30 pm.
No appointment is necessary. Walk-ins welcome!
Several health departments in the Coastal Health District will offer free, confidential STD screening events in April as part of STD Awareness Week. 

Long County Health Department
584 N. Macon Street, Ludowici
Monday – Friday, April 10-14
On April 13, appointments are available, but walk-ins are welcome 8:30 am – 5:30 pm.
On all other dates (April 10, 11, 12, and 14), free STD testing is available by appointment. Call 912-
545-2107 to schedule.
Several health departments in the Coastal Health District will offer free, confidential STD screening events in April as part of STD Awareness Week. 

SEHD OIDS/GSU Testing Event
Audience: Young adults aged 18-24
Date: April 11, 2023, 10 am - 2 pm
The Southeast Health District and Georgia Southern University have partnered to provide HIV testing opportunities to those who want to #KnowYourStatus. We will be offering in-person HIV testing services and condoms to anyone interested.

STI Awareness & Education/ Rapid Syphilis Testing Event 
April 11, 8 am-11 am 
Public
Education & Testing
Hall Co HD                 
1290  Athens St., Gainesville, GA 30507

STI Awareness & Education/ Rapid Syphilis Testing Event 
April 11, 1 pm-4 pm
Public
Education & Testing
Lumpkin Co. HD           
60 Mechanicsville Rd., Dahlonega, GA 30533  

STI Awareness & Education/ Rapid Syphilis Testing Event 
April 13, 2023, 1 pm-3 pm
Public
Education & Testing
Franklin Co. HD       
6955 Hwy. 145 S Carnesville, GA 30521

Hartwell Pride Event
April 15, 2023, 12 pm-4 pm
LGBTQ
Education & Testing
Railroad St. Park          
87 S. Jackson St., Hartwell, GA 30643

Vagina Dialogues @ Brenau University
April 19, 2023, 5:30- 6:30 pm
Female Athletes/ University Students
Education & Testing 
Brenau University                       
Gainesville, GA

District 2 STI Marketing/ Digital Campaign/
Entire Month of April
Public- mainly aged 18-35
Digital campaign utilizing CDC's Safer Sex Game Plan Campaign- Be Prepare- will be showcased on multiple social media platforms- Meta platforms (Facebook, etc.), Snapchat, etc.    
Social Media Platform

90's Block Party, National Transgender HIV Testing Day

April 15, 12:00 pm-6:00 pm
Trans community
Vendors 90’s Block party provides personalized sexual health education and resources to support safer sex in the trans community. Provide alternative safer sex resources and education.
Best Friend Park, Norcross

Prepare Before You're There
April 10-14
GNR Public Health clients
All clients seen at GNR Public Health Clinics seen April 10-14 will gain awareness of STD risks. Interested parties will receive access to the Prepare Before You're There Risk Assessment game. Clients will also receive resources to support safer sexual health.
GNR Public Health Clinics

STD Awareness for Public Health Clinicians
April 10
GNR clinicians
Clinicians will receive vital tools to support accurate diagnosis and treatment of STIs. During STD Awareness Week, GNR clinicians will actively display risk mitigation tools to reach audiences outside of adult health. Each clinical staff member will receive a lanyard with a Prepare Before You're There badge. The badge has a QR code that will be used to engage clients in life skills to prepare for safer sex in advance. Nurses will receive an STI Treatment poster, STD picture cards, an STD Awareness lapel pin, a Prepare Before You're There shirt and an STI Treatment Guidelines Book.
GNR Public Health Clinics