Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) are infections you can contract through sexual contact. Central District Health (CDH) offers education, testing and treatment for communicable diseases.

Counseling and testing for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, herpes, hepatitis B and C and HIV are available. The cost of testing is based on a sliding fee scale and risk factors. Additional fees may be incurred from the Idaho State Laboratory for processing the requested tests.

Vaccines have been developed and approved by the FDA to prevent two STIs, Hepatitis B and HPV (genital warts.) Talk with your health care provider to see if you might be an appropriate candidate for either of these vaccines.

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Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) at CDH

CDH offers Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) for appropriate candidates. PrEP is a way for people who do not have HIV but who are at substantial risk of getting it to prevent HIV infection by taking a pill every day.

The pill (brand name Truvada) contains two medicines (tenofovir and emtricitabine) that are used to prevent HIV infection. When someone is exposed to HIV through sex or injection drug use, these medicines can work to keep the virus from establishing a permanent infection.

Effectiveness of PrEP
When taken consistently, PrEP has been shown to reduce the risk of HIV infection in people who are at high risk by 92 to 99 percent.

PrEP is much less effective if it is not taken consistently. PrEP is a powerful HIV prevention tool and can be combined with condoms and other prevention methods to provide even greater protection than when used alone. But people who use PrEP must commit to taking the drug every day and seeing their health care provider for follow-up every 3 months.

IS PrEP RIGHT FOR YOU?

PrEP may benefit you if you are HIV-negative and ANY of the following apply to you.

You are a gay/bisexual man and

• have an HIV-positive partner.
• have multiple partners, a partner with multiple partners, or a partner whose HIV status is unknown –and– you also
• have anal sex without a condom, or
• recently had a sexually transmitted disease (STD).

You are a heterosexual and

• have an HIV-positive partner.
• have multiple partners, a partner with multiple partners, or a partner whose HIV status is unknown –and– you also
• don’t always use a condom for sex with people who inject drugs, or don’t always use a condom for sex with bisexual men.
  

You inject drugs and

• share needles or equipment to inject drugs.
• recently went to a drug treatment program.
• are at risk for getting HIV from sex.
  

To talk to a health care provider about PrEP, please call CDH at 208-327-7400 to make an appointment. For more information on PrEP, click HERE.

Contact

Ada County: 208-327-7400
Elmore County: 208-587-4407
Boise County: Please call our Boise office at 208-327-7400
Valley County: 208-630-8002

Links

cdc.gov

Know Your HIV Status? To find HIV Test Centers near you: Text: Your Zip Code To: KnowIt or 566948 or visit the CDC's GetTested website.