TABLE OF CONTENTS
Positive Link
Futures Family Planning Clinic
Bloomington Health Center
Bloomington is the seat of Monroe County, with nearly 58% of the county’s population residing in the city. In Monroe County, the two most prevalent STDs, chlamydia and gonorrhea, both had more reported cases in 2018 compared to 2017, while the counts for primary and syphilis remained the same.
Monroe County’s chlamydia cases rose from 913 in 2017 to 951 in 2018, which translated to a rate of 647.3 per 100,000 residents. Diagnoses among women continued to be higher than men, with 574 female cases in 2018 compared to 376 male cases. Young adults aged 20-24 were the group with the most chlamydia cases, but this number dropped slightly in 2018. There were 499 reported cases in 2017, compared to 496 in 2018. The second-highest incidences were reported among adolescents aged 15-19, with 226 cases in 2017, jumping to 235 in 2018.
Gonorrhea cases in Monroe County rose from 213 in 2017 to 256 in 2018, translating to a rate of 174.2 per 100,000 residents. Cases among men remained higher than those among women, with 150 male diagnoses in 2018 compared to 106 female diagnoses. Young adults between the ages of 20 and 24 were the group with the highest incidence of gonorrhea, with 68 cases in 2017, rising to 77 in 2018. However, between 2016 and 2018, the group with the second-highest incidence flipped from adults aged 25-29 to adolescents aged 15-19, and then back again.
Indiana saw a relatively large jump in syphilis reports, with 788 confirmed diagnoses of all stages of syphilis in 2017, spiking to 985 cases in 2018. Incidents of primary and secondary syphilis, the most transmissible stages of the disease, increased from 319 in 2017 to 367 in 2018 statewide, translating to a rate of 5.5 per 100,000 residents. The numbers in Monroe County didn’t change with five primary and secondary syphilis reports in 2017 and 2018, for a rate of 3.4 cases per 100,000 residents. Since the breakdowns by gender and age groups all resulted in numbers under five, exact counts are suppressed for confidentiality.
Left untreated, STDs can cause long-term health issues, pregnancy complications, and even death. Infected persons don’t always have symptoms, but they can still develop complications and pass the STD on to others. Getting tested is the only way to know for certain whether an STD infection is present. Bloomington has several medical resources offering free or low-cost testing and treatment to help curb the spread of STDs.
Bloomington Health Center operates the Planned Parenthood program, which offers testing for HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, bacterial vaginosis, trichomoniasis, herpes, and genital warts. Treatments are also available for some infections. STD prevention services are provided, including condoms, Gardasil (HPV) and hepatitis B vaccines, and STD and safer sex education. Services are available by appointment Mondays from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesdays between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m., Wednesdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and every other Friday and Saturday between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m.
421 South College Avenue
Bloomington, IN 47403
812-336-0219
Website
The Monroe County Health Department provides HIV testing, STD testing and treatment for chlamydia, gonorrhea, and herpes, as well as free condoms. Services are provided on a sliding fee scale based on income. Appointments are preferred, but walk-ins are accepted if openings are available. Spanish-speaking interpreters are available by appointment only. Clinic hours are Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 8 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Tuesdays between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
119 West 7th Street, Lower Level
Bloomington, IN 47404
812-349-7343
Website
Community Capacity for Prevention and Education is funded by a grant through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, with the goal of reducing HIV and substance abuse. It provides free rapid blood HIV testing via an oral swab with results in 30-45 minutes. It also offers one-on-one counseling and referrals for treatment. Free testing is only available to Monroe County residents aged 13-24. Services are provided Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
822 West 1st Street, Suite 8
Bloomington, IN 47403
812-340-4630
Website
Fletcher Sport and Family Health offers conventional blood HIV testing and chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, herpes, and hepatitis B testing. It also provides HPV and hepatitis A and B vaccines. There’s a fee for services. Clinic hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
101 West Kirkwood Avenue, Suite 8B
Bloomington, IN 47401
812-322-5779
Website
IU Health Positive Link offers free rapid blood HIV and hepatitis C testing. It also provides conventional blood HIV testing, syphilis testing, and access to PrEP for HIV prevention. For those diagnosed with HIV, IU Health offers a full continuum of services at no cost to ensure positive health outcomes. Besides medical care, these services may include assistance paying bills, mental health care, transportation assistance, nutritional assistance, and supportive care.
333 East Miller Drive
Bloomington, IN 47401
812-353-9150
Website