The Health Department is closed Monday, Sept. 7, for the Labor Day holiday.

    • Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)

    Looking for STI testing or treatment?

    You have options.

    1. Contact your healthcare provider.
    2. Contact a healthcare clinic.
    3. Visit our Public Health Clinic, Monday–Friday, 8–11:30 a.m.
      Walk-ins welcome. Questions? Call (253) 649-1418.

    Protect yourself and your partners.

    STIs pass from person to person through blood, semen, vaginal fluid and oral sex. STIs are sometimes called STDs (sexually transmitted diseases).

    • STIs don’t always cause symptoms.
    • If your partner has an STI, you might already have it.
    • Untreated STIs can cause serious, lifelong complications.

    What to know about STI testing and treatment

    • Testing can be done in many medical settings, including our Public Health Clinic. There are three simple ways we test: blood, a swab, or urine.
    • We offer testing for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, HIV, and hepatitis C.
    • STIs are treated with oral antibiotics, antivirals, or injection antibiotics.

    What are the most common STIs in Pierce County?

    Chlamydia

    What does the Health Department do about STIs?

    Our priority is to ensure everyone at risk for STIs gets tested and treated. If you’ve been diagnosed, we’ll talk to you about your testing and results. Everything you share is confidential. We’ll help you get treated.

    We work to prevent disease transmission and manage outbreaks. Our role is to reduce STI rates and outcome disparities in Pierce County.

    More resources

    HIV/AIDS

    STI Info for Providers

    HIV/AIDS Info for Providers

    Staff

    Bocci, Alex
    Disease Investigation Specialist I
    (253) 649-1700


    Burns, Charlotte
    Disease Investigation Specialist I
    (253) 649-1752


    Gregersen, Emily
    Disease Investigation Supervisor
    (253) 649-1724


    Hemingway, LaShawn
    Clinic Coordinator
    (253) 649-1719


    Rodriguez, Jocelyn
    Disease Investigation Technician
    (253) 649-1729


    Thompson, Misha
    Registered Nurse
    (253) 649-1727
    mthompson@tpchd.org

    More Staff

    Syphilis spike in Pierce County

    A sharp increase in syphilis cases peaked in 2022, but cases are still much higher than they were before 2021.

    Syphilis stage 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024*
    Primary/ secondary cases 63 66 92 111 241 359 286 155

    The number of babies born with syphilis continues to rise at an alarming rate.

    Syphilis stage 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024*
    Congenital cases 0 0 < 5 < 5 14 14 14 22

    *2024 counts are preliminary.

    If you have sex, get tested.

    Learn more about syphilis and congenital syphilis (in newborn babies). Read above how to get testing and treatment.