Free STD Testing in Covington, LA

Covington is the seat of St. Tammany Parish and part of Public Health Region 9, also called the Hammond/Slidell Region. St. Tammany Parish had the second-highest number of chlamydia and gonorrhea infections and the highest rate of primary and secondary syphilis cases in the Hammond/Slidell Region in 2018.

Louisiana’s chlamydia cases rose about 4.5% statewide in 2018, and 69.5% of all diagnoses were among women. Of Louisiana’s nine public health regions, the Hammond/Slidell Region only accounted for 9% of the state’s reported chlamydia cases, which is the same percentage the area recorded the previous three years. Cases in St. Tammany Parish comprised nearly 32% of the region’s total, recording the second-highest number next to Tangipahoa.

Gonorrhea infections in Louisiana decreased in 2018, but only by 0.25%, while diagnoses in the Hammond/Slidell Region increased by about 4%. The region was responsible for 8% of the state’s total gonorrhea cases in 2018, while it accounted for only 7% the previous year. Although other parts of the state have had some success in lowering gonorrhea diagnoses, reported incidences in the Hammond/Slidell Region have more than doubled since 2014. In 2018, cases in St. Tammany Parish accounted for about 28% of the region’s total, which again was second only to Tangipahoa.

Louisiana recorded a 1.5% drop in primary and secondary syphilis infections in 2018. The Hammond/Slidell Region only contributed 4% to the state’s total, the same percentage recorded in 2017. However, although other public health regions have been relatively successful in significantly cutting their P&S diagnoses, the Hammond/Slidell Region’s numbers have risen. In 2016, the region had the fewest number of P&S diagnoses in the state, but it jumped up to second-lowest in 2017, then third-lowest in 2018, as its infection rate continued to climb. St. Tammany Parish had the most P&S cases in the region, accounting for nearly 52% of its total.

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) remain one of the most critical public health challenges facing the United States, with approximately 26 million new STD infections occurring every year. Nearly half of these new infections affect young people ages 15 to 24.

Community-based organizations are a vital first line of defense in the fight against STDs and HIV/AIDS in particular. They generate awareness and foster social change while providing access to testing and treatment.

You may not be aware of all the STD resources available in Covington that can help prevent the spread of STDs. Get connected with these community organizations that are leading the fight against STDs and HIV/AIDS with resources and support:

START Community Health Center

START Community Health Center provides low-cost chlamydia, gonorrhea, HIV, hepatitis B and C, syphilis, and herpes testing. It also offers hepatitis A and B and HPV vaccines and accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance. If you’re uninsured, ask about its sliding scale discount based on your income and household size. Appointments are required during clinic hours, which are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

1505 North Florida Street
Covington, LA 70433
985-900-1626
Website

DePaul Community Health Center

DePaul Community Health Center in Metairie offers chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, HIV, and hepatitis C testing, and hepatitis A and B vaccines. It accepts commercial insurance, Medicare, and Medicaid but also offers a sliding fee scale for self-pay patients. If you qualify for discounted services, you may pay a nominal $35 fee for health visits, but there’s an additional fee for lab work. You must schedule an appointment during the community health center’s operating hours, which are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

111 North Causeway Boulevard
Metairie, LA 70001
504-482-0084
Website

LDH Jefferson Parish Health Unit

The Jefferson Parish Health Unit provides HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis testing, and HPV and hepatitis A and B vaccines. Some of its services are free, but others have an administrative fee and additional costs charged on a sliding scale. The clinic also accepts Medicaid and private insurance and requires appointments. The Jefferson Parish Health Unit is open Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

111 North Causeway Boulevard
Metairie, LA 70001
504-838-5100
Website

Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast Incorporated

Planned Parenthood offers HIV testing and syphilis, chlamydia, herpes, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, genital warts, bacterial vaginosis testing and treatment at its New Orleans Health Center. It also offers HPV vaccines, PrEP, and male/female condoms. Interpretation services are available for most languages, but you must request this service when scheduling your appointment. Payment is expected when you receive service unless you make other arrangements in advance. Planned Parenthood is open Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Fridays from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

4636 South Claiborne Avenue
New Orleans, LA 70125
504-897-9200
Website

CrescentCare

CrescentCare offers walk-in rapid HIV testing Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Take-home HIV tests are available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. It offers chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, herpes, and HIV testing and treatment by appointment on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Wednesdays and Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Services in Spanish are available on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. You may qualify for a sliding fee discount.

1631 Elysian Fields Avenue
New Orleans, LA 70117
504-821-2601
Website

• Louisiana Department of Health | CDC’s latest national STD rankings show Louisiana’s prevention efforts are paying off
• LDH | Louisiana 2018 STD/HIV Update
• LDH | 2018 STD/HIV Surveillance Report