With September being Sexual Health Awareness Month, the Berrien County Health Department is reminding everyone of the importance of getting tested for sexually transmitted infections.
Department Clinical and Community Services Supervisor Dionne Rigozzi tells us cases of chlamydia, syphilis, and gonorrhea have all gone up in Berrien County in the last five years. That’s not all.
“Year to date, I know for a fact that we’ve seen ten positive HIV cases as well,” Rigozzi said. “One is too many in my opinion, but for this year and considering that last year we were maybe half of that, that’s pretty high and it’s climbing.”
Rigozzi says increased testing for STIs is probably why more cases have been identified.
Just about every demographic is at risk of STIs, but the health department has a special advisory for expectant mothers. That’s as syphilis cases remain up and department staff learned some troubling state news at a recent conference.
“We learned that we have lost four infants to congenital syphilis, and it’s very sad because this is something that is preventable and avoidable by being treated.”
That’s why the Berrien County Health Department is recommending all expectant mothers be tested for syphilis.
Rigozzi says the health department offers testing for STIs based on a sliding pay scale, so even if you don’t have insurance and can’t pay, you won’t be turned away. The department also offers prevention tools like condoms and birth control.
Rigozzi notes the health department has been getting out into the community more lately with events at Lake Michigan College. It’s also planning to begin offering STI testing there.