Sexual counselors say many patients know little about STDs

Nurses at a Planned Parenthood facility in Warrensburg, Missouri told DigitalBurg that few people who come to them for counseling know good safe sex practices.

The organization provides counseling, pregnancy exams, contraceptives and counseling for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

A nurse from the Warrensburg branch told the news source that women often report not using condoms because they or their boyfriends do not want to. She added that men who eschew condoms often avoid getting tested for STDs.

Government funding cuts and reduced hours mean the patient load can be overwhelming at times, the news organization reported.

Planned Parenthood provides testing services for most STDs, like HIV, chlamydia, herpes and gonorrhea. However, the organization’s personnel told DigitalBurg that most of its female patients visit just once or twice, and mainly for birth control.

Testing is crucial in preventing the spread of STDs. For those who are at risk of contracting them, online testing services may provide valuable information about the state of their sexual health.