As Pride celebrations kick off in the region, Buncombe County Health and Human Services celebrates inclusivity and highlights the importance of taking care of yourself and others. Services to support everyone’s reproductive health are available in Buncombe County for anyone seeking more information about reproductive health, testing, treatment, and more.
We encourage you to take pride in your sexual health by following simple preventative measures and getting vaccinated and tested often.
If you have been tested and diagnosed with an STI, know that it is not the end. Treatments are available and many STIs can be cured, or at least controlled, with treatment.
Here are some steps you should take:
-Seek treatment – if needed, treatment should be sought promptly after a diagnosis. Untreated STIs can lead to significant complications including permanent infertility and an increased risk of cancer and HIV infection. Consult with your healthcare provider about the best options for you. Many STIs are easy to treat and can be as simple as taking a few pills while others require more treatment.
-Discuss with partners – it is important to tell your partners about your positive diagnosis so they can get tested and treated as well. This conversation can be difficult, but important to have to protect their health. Read more about how to tell your partner that you have an STI.
-Retest and consider additional tests – it is common to get infected with certain STIs such as gonorrhea and Chlamydia again which is why getting retested is important. Additionally, if you test positive for an STI, it is recommended to get tested for others.
-Take time to process – there are a lot of stigmas surrounding STIs. Know that they are common, treatable, and don’t always cause symptoms. You may feel strong emotions, but you should remember that you are on the right path by getting tested and treated.
Treatment options can be at no or low cost at the Buncombe County Health and Human Services clinic which provides a variety of STI testing and treatment options to all individuals including men, women, transgender, and nonbinary individuals.
The clinic, at 40 Coxe Avenue in Asheville, is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Appointments are available by calling 828-250-5109 during clinic hours. Skilled nurses, nurse practitioners, and doctors can recommend the best treatment for you.
The clinic tests for HIV, hepatitis B and C, herpes (only when rash present), mpox (only when rash present), chlamydia, bacterial vaginosis, syphilis, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, and yeast infections, and provides treatment for most of these infections when indicated. (Referrals are made for treatment of HIV, Hepatitis B, & Hepatitis C)
In addition, the clinic offers one-on-one consultation with an expert, free condoms, and reproductive health service referrals.