Gynecological Services Detailed Descriptions
STD Testing & Counseling:
CHOICES knowledgeable staff has over 30 years training in recognizing and treating sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
If you think you have been exposed to an STD or are experiencing the symptoms of an STD, call (718) 729-2273 to make an appointment for testing, treatment,
and counseling on how to make responsible decisions regarding your sexual health.
CHOICES also offers compassionate, informed and up-to-date HIV/AIDS testing and treatment.
If you feel that you may have been exposed to HIV/AIDS or an STD, it is important to remember that you can still transmit HIV/AIDS or STDs to
others via sexual intercourse and needle sharing even if you are not currently experiencing any symptoms.
Most methods of birth control DO NOT PROVIDE PROTECTION against HIV/AIDS or sexually transmitted diseases. Only properly used
LATEX condoms and barriers provide protection against HIV/AIDS and STDs.
Some common sexually transmitted diseases:
• Gonorrhea
Possible signs: about 12-10 days after infection, you may notice discharge
from the penis, vagina or rectum; painful or difficult urination; in women,
abdominal pain, bleeding between periods.
Possible results: damage to joints, heart, brain; in women, pelvic
inflammatory disease (PID) causing problems with pregnancy; infertility.
Treatments: Cured with antibiotics, but damage can be permanent.
• Syphilis
Possible signs: About 2-6 weeks after infection, painless sore(s) on or near
genitals, anus, or mouth; goes away. About 3-6 weeks after sore appears, you
may experience a rash on hands, feet or other body parts; may come and go
over 1-2 years.
Possible results: damage to heart, blindness, insanity, death.
Treatments: Cured with antibiotics, but damage may be permanent.
• Genital Herpes
Possible signs: About 2-10 days after infection, you may experience itching,
burning, pain in legs, buttocks or genital area, vaginal discharge, pressure
in abdomen, small red bumps that crust over and heal in days.
Possible results: Signs can reoccur throughout life, possibley set off by
sun or stress.
Treatments: NO CURE. Medication can help symptoms; sores should be kept
clean and dry and NOT be touched. Wash hands if touched.
• Chlamydia
Possible signs: About 1-3- weeks after infection, you may experience
discharge from penis or vagina, burning urination.
Possible results: In women, PID and infertility.
Treatments: Cured with antibiotics.
• Hepatitis B
Possible signs: About 4 weeks or more after infection, you may experience
fatigue, diarrhea, dark, foamy urine, pale feces, abdominal pain, yellowing
of skin and whites of eyes, pain in joints.
Possible results: Lifelong infection, possibly fatal liver problems,
including cancer; immune system problems.
Treatments: Most people recover, but some become carriers for life. No cure,
but medication, diet rest and avoiding alcohol help.
• Genital Warts
Possible signs: About 3 months or more after infection, you may notice
small, hard, painless bumps inside or around vagina, penis, or anus, or in
the mouth. Bumps can develop tops like cauliflower.
Possible results: during pregnancy, can make delivery difficult; some kinds
of HPV, the virus that causes genital warts, have been linked to genital
cancers.
Treatments: Surface medications, freezing or laser surgery can remove warts.
There is no cure for the virus, and the warts may come back.
• Trichomoniasis
Possible signs: About 1-2 weeks (or more) after infection, you may
experience discharge from the vagina; itching swelling or redness in
vagina; pain during sex; burning urination. Men rarely have symptoms but can
infect others.
Possible results: problems during pregnancy, including premature breaking of
waters and premature delivery; passing of infection to newborn during birth.
Treatments: cured with antibiotics. |
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Back to Gynecological Services
HIV Testing & Counseling:
In response to community needs, Choices now offers a confidential HIV Counseling and Testing Program for both women and men. All Choices counselors have been New York State trained.
The program encompasses two visits. In the first visit, there will be pre-test counseling, followed by the lab test. Post-test counseling, along with the test results, will comprise the second visit.
Facts About HIV
HIV is not transmitted from one person to another through any form of casual, non-initimate contact. HIV is transmitted through direct blood-to-blood or semen-to-blood exchange. Direct contact with other body fluids containing blood of an infected person also may increase the risk of HIV infection.
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Some Questions and Answers about HIV and AIDS:
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| • | Who is at risk for HIV infection? |
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Most cases of AIDS are linked with unprotected sexual activity and intravenous (IV) drug use. |
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| • | How do women get HIV infection? |
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Women become infected by engaging in unprotected sexual intercourse or by sharing IV drug needles and works.
More than 50% of women with HIV infection and AIDS have used drugs. |
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| • | Can a person with no symptoms transmit HIV? |
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Yes. Initially, most HIV infected people have no symptoms and are not even aware they are infected.
Any infected person may transmit the virus to another person through sexual contact or sharing drug injection equipment. |
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Choices accepts HIV positive patients for all services. There are no special procedures or requirements for HIV positive patients. |
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| At CHOICES, we emphasize our philosophy of Patient Power, which means being an
informed consumer of medical treatment with the knowledge and information that enables each individual to make appropriate decisions about medical care, whether in the area of general health, surgery or birth control.
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