The Springfield-Greene County Health Department is expanding STD clinic hours beginning today.

Clinic services are now offered throughout the lunch hour each weekday, rather than closing for lunch. Additionally, on Wednesdays the clinic is now open until 6 p.m. in order to provide a regular window of availability after normal business hours each week. The STD clinic is a walk-in clinic, and no appointment is necessary.

“Offering even just a few additional hours each week will make it that much easier for people to make healthy choices and do the right thing,” said Kendra Findley, Administrator of Community Health and Epidemiology.

If left untreated, sexually transmitted diseases can cause serious complications. The Springfield-Greene County Health Department provides tests for Chlamydia, gonorrhea, genital herpes (if lesion is present), hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV, syphilis and trichomoniasis. There is no charge for testing, except for hepatitis B ($30 fee). All tests are confidential and are not restricted to Greene County residents.

All tests except for genital herpes are now conducted via a simple urine sample or blood draw, even if no symptoms are present. Results are typically available within 7 to 10 days. This relatively new type of testing replaces the traditional – and often uncomfortable – swab sample technique. The STD clinic has more than doubled its capacity since it began using this technology about two years ago.

If a client tests positive for any STDs, health department staff will work with them on treatment options. In 2011, clinic staff consulted with more than 3,000 clients and administered more than 1,100 treatments following positive test results.