Sexual Health

Mend offers free testing and treatment to women for two of the most common Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs): gonorrhea and chlamydia.

It is recommended that sexually active women get tested every year if they are younger than 25 or if they have new or multiple sex partners.

What are Gonorrhea and Chlamydia?

Gonorrhea and chlamydia are two of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STD). They are contracted by having vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who has gonorrhea and/or chlamydia.

The infected person often has no symptoms but if any of the following are experienced, the infection may be severe: discharge, burning during urination, unusual sores, bleeding between periods or a rash, In this case, sexual activity should stop and testing should take place as soon as possible. Whether there are symptoms or not if these infections are left untreated they can have a negative impact on a women’s fertility. Mend does free testing and treatment for gonorrhea and chlamydia contracted through vaginal sex.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the only way to completely avoid STD’s is to not have vaginal, anal, or oral sex, although being in a long-term mutually monogamous relationship can significantly decrease your risk.

It is common to have an STD and not have symptoms.

Want To Take Control of Your Sexual Health?

Ask Yourself:
Am I okay with getting pregnant?
Is my partner someone I could trust if I became pregnant?
Do I want to avoid STDs?
Are my sexual health choices having a positive impact on my mental, emotional, and spiritual health?

Be specific about your next steps. For example: “I do not want to be in a sexual relationship until I have my degree.” If you are in a relationship, tell your partner about your goals and boundaries. A sign of a healthy relationship is respecting one another’s boundaries.

Mend offers testing and treatment to women for gonorrhea and chlamydia. According to the CDC, chlamydia and gonorrhea are highly common, affecting more than 2 million Americans in 2020 and 50% of the new cases of STDs are among 15 – 24 year olds. 

If you are considering an abortion, it is particularly critical for you to be tested for STDs as these can spread during abortion procedures. Mend does not perform or refer for abortions.