866.204.8248
205.608.0100
1016 Mulberry Lane
Gardendale, AL
STDs/STIs &
Sexual Health
Looking for an abortion alternative in the Birmingham, Alabama area? Our center offers peer counseling and accurate information about all pregnancy options.
All information is kept confidential.
The North Jefferson Women’s Center does not offer abortion services or abortion referrals.
The North Jefferson Women's Center offers STD testing for
men and women
for the four most commonly reported STDs:
Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Syphilis & HIV.
If you have ever had ANY sexual contact (including skin-to-skin, anal and oral), you are at risk for STDs (sexualy tranmitted diseases), and the more partners you have had, the higher your risk.
The following chart shows your exposure risk if you and your partner(s) have
each had the same number of partners.
Contact us today for a
Free, Confidential STD Test.
*Donation requested.
Remember, we're here for you.
Sexuality is part of our everyday life. What are you doing to educate yourself?
- Alabama ranks #5 in the country for reported number of cases of
Chlamydia, #4 in Gonnorrhea and #4 in Syphillis.
- Nearly 1 in 10 teen girls has Chlamydia; nearly half of all cases are girls 15-19 years old
- Chlamydia can cause irreversible damage, including infertility, before a woman recognizes there is a problem.
- Gonorrhea is a major cause of Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) that can lead to serious outcomes in women such as tubal infertility, ectopic pregnancy and chronic pelvic pain.
-Studies also provide strong evidence that Gonococcal infections facilitate the transmission of HIV infection.
Of the more than 15 million new Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) in the U.S. each year:
- Two-thirds will occur in people under 25 years of age
- One in four will occur in teenagers
- Over 80% of teens with STDs/STIs show no symptoms and therefore never get medical attention, leaving them exposed to the risk of serious complications years later.
- Condoms do not eliminate the risk of contracting an STD or STI, they do little to prevent many viral infections spread by skin-to-skin contact, especially HPV and herpes.
- Today there are more than 30 STDs/STIs and over 200 strains of human papilloma virus (HPV). A British study found that HPV infects 46% of teenage girls after their first sexual intercourse. HPV is directly linked to 99.7% of all cervical cancers.
-Cervical cancer is the #1 killer of teen girls in America.
- Herpes increased 500% in the past 20 years among Caucasian American teens. Nearly 50% of African-American teens have genital herpes.
- In a national Kaiser Family Foundation survey, one out of every five sexually active teens reported that oral sex is safe sex. However, HIV, herpes, HPV, chancroid, intestinal parasites, gonorrhea, syphilis and hepatitis A & B can all be contracted through oral sex.
- New studies show that clinical depression in adolescents is related to sexual activity and drinking.
Don't be a statistic.
Contact us today for a
Free, Confidential STD Test.
*Donation requested.
Remember, we're here for you.
What are the benefits of abstinence?
If this is a question you're asking, here are a few things to think about. Abstinence is the ONLY 100% way to prevent pregnancy. Considering that 1 in 10 teenage girls become pregnant each year could make abstinence more desirable. Pregnancy cannot be ignored and whatever is done about it will have a permanent effect on the mother's life. The woman is usually left with the consequences and responsibilities. Think about your goals, plans, and dreams. How would caring for a child for the next 18 years fit into those plans? Abstinence also prevents sexually transmitted infections. In America today, 1 out of every 5 people are infected with a viral STD/STI.
There are other issues that abstinence prevents besides the physical ones. Premarital sex provides NO ASSURANCE of security, love, or commitment from the other person. Many times it might be all of these that teenagers are looking for. A secure marriage can provide these. It will also assure you that this is the right person for more than just one night. Premarital sex can also bring future guilt and regret. Think about how hard it would be to tell your husband or wife that you had not saved your virginity until marriage when he had saved his virginity. Abstinence is not saying to give up sex forever, but to wait until marriage. Think about how much more enjoyable things are when you wait for them. You might think that you are safe if you are not having actual intercourse. Remember that STDs/STIs do not only transfer through sexual intercourse; they can also be transferred through ANY sexual contact (including skin-to-skin, anal and oral).
Four Stages of Building Healthy Relationships
Stage One-Exploring Similarities
In this initial stage of the relationship, the man and woman focus upon their similarities and generally do not see imperfections in each other or potential areas of incompatibility.
Stage Two-Exploring Differences
In this stage, differences in interests, perceptions, and goals may arise. Also, it is a time when weaknesses in the other person become apparent. If positive steps are not taken to address and negotiate these issues, there is a good chance that the relationship will not advance to the next stage.
Stage Three-Dealing with Similarities and Differences
At this stage, the couple must engage in a serious assessment of their relationship to determine whether it should lead to marriage. A solid foundation for marriage requires that difficult issues be resolved before the marriage, not afterwards.
Stage Four-Life-long Commitment
Marriage requires a lifelong commitment. Without a high degree of commitment, the relationship cannot last.
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RESOURCES:
*Centers for Disease Control adn Prevention (CDC) STD Surveillance Reports, http://cdc.gov/std/Chlamydia2009/default.htm, Jan 2011
*CDC STD Surveillance Reports, http://cdc.gov/std/Gonorrhea2009/default.htm, Jan 2011
*CDC STD Surveillance Reports, http://cdc.gov/std/Syphillis2009/default.htm, Jan 2011
* US Centers for Disease Control "Epidemic: Tracking the Hidden Epidemics: Trends in STDs in the United States 2000".
* US Centers for Disease Control "CDC Issues National Report Card on STDs: Gonorrhea and Syphilis Down, But Not Beaten: Chlamydia Continues to Spread Widely" 1998.
* National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases, NIH, USHHS, "An Introduction to Sexually Transmitted Diseases" July 1999.
* NIAID & National Institutes of Health, Workshop Summary: Scientific Evidence on Condom Effectiveness for Sexually Transmitted Disease STI Prevention, 2001.
* The Medical Institute on Sexual Health, "Oral Sex and STDs" Fall 2003.
* UPMC News Bureau: "Magee-Women's Research Institute Study Finds Undiagnosed Sexually Transmitted Disease Infection Rate of Nearly 1 in 5 Among Adolescent Females"
June 7, 2001.
* The Medical Institute on Sexual Health, General Information, studies, statistics, more.
* US Centers for Disease Control, Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Information.
This information on this website is intended for general education purposes only and should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional and/or medical advice.