Information & Prevention

We provide inclusive services without judgment to ALL people, regardless of all sexual orientation, gender identity, race, ethnicity, religion, or any other factor.

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Contact Infectious Disease Clinic

Salt Lake Public Health Center

Phone Number 385-468-4242

Fax: 385-468-4246

Mailing Address 610 South 200 East (ENTER FROM 200 EAST)
Salt Lake City, Utah

Hours Monday through Friday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
CLOSED until 1:00 PM on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month

Risk Reduction Behaviors

Anyone who engages in sexual activity should develop a personalized plan on how to prevent the transmission of STDs and remain sexually healthy.

The following options can help reduce your risk for acquiring an infection through sexual activity:

Be prepared to be sexually active: Consider whether you're emotionally prepared for intimacy, and ensure you're knowledgeable about how sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are spread. If you choose to have sex, have a plan to protect yourself from infections and unplanned pregnancy, and get screened regularly for STIs.
Monogamy: discuss with your partner what this means and how it’s defined in your specific relationship.
Communication: talk with your sexual partner(s) about your and their sexual history and when they were last tested for an STD.
Reduce your number of sexual partners.
Condoms: using condoms and dental dams appropriately reduces the risk of acquiring an STD by almost 100%, and the health department offers free condoms to anyone who requests them.
Don’t have sex while impaired: anyone under the influence of alcohol or drugs is more likely to engage in higher risk sexual behaviors. Alcohol and drugs are one of the most common reasons that people modify their behaviors related to sexual activity and increase their risk of acquiring an STD.
Don’t assume: never assume a partner would tell you if they had an infection. Most people who are diagnosed with an STD report that they “knew” their partner’s status so they thought they were being safe.
Mutual masturbation: while this does allow for the transmission of bacterial infections such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis, the risk of transmission is much lower than during unprotected vaginal, oral, or anal intercourse.
Be comfortable talking to your doctor: Find a health care provider you are comfortable discussing sexual health with.

Symptoms

Up to 75% of people infected with an STD have no symptoms and do not know that they are infected.

Testing is the only way to know for sure.

When people do have symptoms, they vary by disease.

If you think you may have been exposed to an STD, if you have any of the symptoms below, or if you just want to get checked out and be sure, make an appointment at the STD Clinic.

Common symptoms of an STD:

Discharge from the penis, vagina, or rectum
Abdominal pain (females)
Abnormal vaginal bleeding
Frequent urination
Burning during urination
Pain during intercourse
Itching or irritation
Sores or bumps
Skin rash
Swollen or sore testicles

For disease-specific symptoms and information, visit the CDC's information page about sexually transmitted diseases.

Pregnancy & STDs

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that all pregnant women get routinely screened during the pregnancy for bacterial STDs in order to avoid maternal-to-child transmission during birth.

If a pregnant woman is infected with an STD, she can receive treatment to avoid infecting the baby.

If left untreated, the infection may be passed to the baby who may suffer from such consequences as low birth weight, eye infection, lung infection, developmental disorders, or premature death.

Complications

The longer an STD goes untreated, the more likely it is to result in a long-term complication.

Consequences of having an STD include:

Pelvic inflammatory disease
Infertility/sterility
Difficulty getting pregnant
Complications during pregnancy
Blindness
Premature delivery
Meningitis/encephalitis
Arthritis
Prostatitis