Don’t Guess. Get a Test. - Cook County Department of Public Health

Get Tested. Get Treated.

If you’re sexually active, get tested at least once per year. Chlamydia and gonorrhea are treatable with medication.

Practice Safer Sex

There are a lot of ways you and your partner(s) can make sex safer.

Maintain Healthy Relationships

Open, honest and safe communication is an important part of any healthy relationship.

Dont Guess. Get a Test.

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) often have NO symptoms, or can masquerade as other things. You may have an STD and not know it. That’s why we say, “Don’t guess. Get a test.”

Get the Facts.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) , there are 26 million new STD cases in the U.S. per year. One in 5 Americans are estimated to have an STD. In the past 10 years, chlamydia cases have increased nationally by 16% and gonorrhea cases have almost doubled. Half of all new infections in suburban Cook County are in people ages 18 to 24 years old.

Anyone who is having sex
can get an STD.

STDs can be passed from one person to another through anal, oral or vaginal sex, or direct skin-to-skin contact. If you’ve ever had anal, oral or vaginal sex, continue reading to learn how to protect yourself and others.

Protect yourself and others
from getting STDs.

Get Tested. Get Treated.

The only way to know if you or your partner has an STD is to get tested.

Learn More

Maintain Healthy Relationships

with your partner(s), parent(s) and healthcare provider(s.)

Practice Safer Sex

There are several things you can do to stay safe.

There are lots of reasons
to get tested for STDs.

Find a testing site near you

Find in-person STD testing sites near you

Parental Consent

If you are 12 years old or older you do not need parental consent to be tested or treated for an
STD. However, if you are able to speak with your parent(s) or a trusted adult, that is recommended.

Learn more about this law

Videos and Podcasts

Facebook LIVE on Amor 106.7 Entre Café y Café con Vicky and CCDPH Communicable Disease and Prevention Unit Assistant Director Mabel Frias, MPH, CIC (Video in Spanish with Spanish subtitles)

Don’t guess. Get a test. Protect yourself and others from contracting STDs
4/13/23

Thinking Beyond’s Mwanje speaks with a CCDPH Public Health Educator about STDs, Teens and Young Adults. #Parents start having the #STD conversation with your teen by listening to this podcast together.