STIs or STDs (sexually transmitted diseases) are usually passed through sexual contact with an infected partner. They include many diseases such as HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea, genital herpes, genital warts, hepatitis, syphilis, and others.

STDs are widespread – more than 2.5 million people in the U.S. are infected each year. Having a STI can make you more likely to get HIV. 

Talk about your testing needs with your health care provider.

Partner Services

The Florida Department of Health in St. Lucie County (DOH-St. Lucie) provides partner services as an integral component of field services support. Partners should be informed if they have been exposed. The STD Program can assist you in informing your partner(s) to get tested and/or treatment. This is a fully confidential service. When a disease intervention specialist informs your partner(s) that they have been exposed to an STD your name will never be mentioned. Partner services is provided at no cost.

Disease Intervention Specialists

Staff at DOH-St. Lucie who are trained health care professionals who specialize in confidential counseling, testing and treatment for persons either diagnosed with or exposed to an STD.

Surveillance

Surveillance staff is responsible for verifying the diagnosis and treatment of all reportable STDs from public and private health care providers. Private and public hospitals, laboratories, physicians, and other health care providers are required by law to report positive STDs such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis between 24 – 72 hours of positive results. For more information on reporting for each disease, please refer to Reportable Diseases/Conditions and STD Reporting Form.