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Vermilion County IL Health Department


S
yphilis
, gonorrhea, chlamydia, herpes, genital warts, hepatitis, HIV......... These are Sexually Transmitted Diseases. Some STDs, such as gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis can be treated and cured. But they have to be found first. Some people have these diseases and don't even know it - they may have no symptoms.
Untreated gonorrhea and chlamydia can cause pelvic inflammatory infection, or can cause sterility or infertility. Left untreated, syphilis can can cause damage to the brain, spinal cord, and other organs of the body. A pregnant woman with syphilis can pass the disease to her unborn child. Syphilis could cause miscarriage or birth defects. Other Sexually Transmitted Disease such as herpes, genital warts, HIV, and hepatitis are not curable, but there is medication and treatment to relieve or eliminate the symptoms. However, taking the medication and/or treatment does not mean the symptoms won't return.

Are you at risk?
  • In your life, have you had sex (of any kind) with more than one person?
    Do you know how many partners your partner has had in the last week, or month, or year, or lifetime?
    Do you know the names of the person(s) with whom you have had sex?
    Do you know anything about your sex partners? Does he/she "look" or "seem" like the "type" of person who just could not possibly have any kind of sexual disease?
    Do you share needles with other people, or know of people who do?
    Do you buy or sell sex for drugs, money or other items - do you know of anyone who does?
    Have you participated in unprotected sex (sex without a condom)?
    Do you have a discharge, bumps, sores, or lesions in your genital area?
    Do you have a skin rash on your arms, hands, legs, or feet?
    Have you had sex with anyone who has any of these symptoms?
  • Do you have sex when you've been drinking, are drunk, or high, or not in control of what you're doing?
  • Have you had more than one sexual partner in your lifetime?
    Have you had sex with people you do not know?
    Has your partner had sex with other people, or shared needles with others?
    Have you had sex with people you know, but who you don't know if they have an STD?
    Have you had sex without a condom, or other barrier?
    Do you share needles?
    Have you had sex when you were drunk or high?
  • Have you had/do you have a genital discharge, bumps, sores, lesions, a rash, sudden hair loss
    |
sexThinking that a person doesn't "look" like the type

to have a sexually transmitted disease can be a dangerous assumption. People who believe they are "safe" because of the way their partner looks, or because he or she sincerely believes their relationship is monogamous, are very often surprised to find out that they have acquired a Sexually Transmitted Disease.
See your doctor. Or, come to the Vermilion County Health Department's STD Clinic. We're located at 200 South College Street, in Danville. The STD Clinic is open on Tuesday and Friday mornings from 9:30am to 11:00am. The clinic is free and confidential. There is an adolescent clinic on Tuesday afternoons during the school year. If you have questions, call us at 431-2662, extension 300, or via email email

STDs are spread during close sexual activity. Some STDs, like HIV and Hepatitis B can also spread by contact with infected blood. Anytime you have sexual contact with another person, you run the risk of getting an STD. Proper use of condoms can help, but the truth is, only abstinence works 100% of the time to protect you from an STD, HIV/AIDS, or from getting pregnant..
And the only sure way to know if you are infected is to get checked and get tested.
If you are having sex, protect yourself and your partner:

  • Limit the number of (sex) partners you have. ALWAYS use a condom or barrier for ALL types of sex. NEVER share needles with anyone. BEFORE you engage in a sexual relationship with someone, make sure BOTH of you have been screened for STD's.
  • NEVER have sex when you're high, or drunk.

We offer free, confidential walk-in STD clinics from 9:30am to 11:00am Tuesdays and Fridays. If you're in school, we offer free, confidential STD clinics during the school year on Tuesday afternoons from 2:30 to 4pm. Or call us at 217-431-2662. For more information, call the Illinois HIV/AIDS/STD Hotline at 1-800-243-2437
Don't play games with your future.

Family Planning/STD/HIV

last updated 8/7/08


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