Community Resources & Partners
Sexually transmitted infections, hepatitis and tuberculosis can have long and sometimes deadly consequences, so it’s important to treat sexual health and harm reduction as essential components of the healthcare system. That means being comfortable speaking to your healthcare provider openly and honestly about sexual health, getting tested regularly, and protecting yourself and your partners.
General Information & Resources
Symptoms of Infections
Syphilis has been called ‘the great imitator’ because it has so many possible symptoms, many of which look like symptoms of other diseases:
- The painless syphilis sore you might find after first getting syphilis can be confused for an ingrown hair, zipper cut, or other seemingly harmless bump.
- The non-itchy rash that develops during the second stage of syphilis can show up on the palms of your hands and soles of your feet, in other places, or all over your body.
- Syphilis can affect the vision and hearing, and can lead to permanent blindness and hearing loss.
- You could also have very mild symptoms or none at all.
Symptoms of gonorrhea can include:
- Abnormal periods or bleeding between periods
- Painful or burning sensation when urinating
- Increased vaginal discharge
- Discharge from the penis
- Painful or swollen testicles (this is less common)
- Painful intercourse and/or bleeding/spotting post intercourse;
- Anal pain, anal discharge, anal bleeding, anal itching
- Sore throat, fever, chills
- Swelling and pain in joints, tendons, and wrist; and skin rash.
Symptoms of Chlamydia can include:
- Abdominal or low back pain
- Abnormal vaginal or rectal (if you have anal sex) discharge
- Anal pain, anal discharge, anal bleeding, anal itching
- Bleeding between menstrual cycles (periods)
- Burning sensation when urinating
- Discharge from the penis
- Fever
- Nausea
- Pain and/or swelling in the testicles
- Pain/bleeding post intercourse
- Pain during sexual intercourse
- Painful intercourse
- Herpes Simplex 1 (HSV-1) typically causes cold sores/fever blisters on the mouth, and herpes simplex 2 (HSV-2) typically causes genital sores/blisters.
- Both viruses can cause sores in either area, and many people have no symptoms.
- An outbreak can start as red bumps and then turn into painful blisters/sores.
- The first outbreak may lead to flu-like symptoms, such as fever, headaches and swollen glands.
Symptoms of HIV can include:
- Generally, within two to four weeks after contracting the virus, a person may experience a flu-like illness. Symptoms can include
- Fever
- Chills
- Rash
- Night sweats
- Muscle aches
- Sore throat
- Tiredness/fatigue
- Swollen lymph glands
Symptoms of HPV can include
- Burning discomfort;
- Painful sex;
- Itching;
- Bleeding during sex, urination, or bowel movements;
- An unusual discharge from the vagina;
- Pain in the pelvic region.
- Genital warts usually cause no symptoms; however during pregnancy, warts may increase in size, blocking the birth canal and increasing the chance the mother may need a C-section.
- Symptoms of oropharyngeal cancer may include a long-lasting sore throat, earaches, hoarseness, swollen lymph nodes, pain when swallowing, and unexplained weight loss. Some people have no symptoms.
Hepatitis includes several different infections that all affect the liver. While some people have no symptoms, some may experience:
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Dark urine
- Clay-colored stool
- Stomach pain
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea
- Joint pain
- Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes)
Cervicitis often has no symptoms, but some signs and symptoms include:
- Vaginal discharge
- Spotting between periods or after vaginal sex, and pain during or after vaginal sex.
- The bacteria that cause Cervicitis can also cause a urethral (the opening to the bladder) infection that may cause pain while urinating.
Free or low-cost testing is available through county health departments and community-based organizations.
- Order condoms
- County Health Departments
Ryan White Program
In addition, the Ryan White Program helps low-income people with HIV by connecting them to medical care, medication and support services.
To be eligible for the Ryan White HIV Drug Assistance Program, a person must meet the following criteria:
- Must be an Oklahoma resident.
- Have documented HIV infection and/or a documented AIDS diagnosis.
- Have a physician’s prescription(s) for the drugs listed on the HDAP formulary.
- Have a monthly family household gross income of not more than 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines for those with no health insurance and 400% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines for those with health insurance and applying for health insurance assistance for premiums and program drug formulary prescription co-payments through HDAP.
- Applicants with health insurance & Medicare D prescription coverage may qualify for health insurance premium and prescription co-pay assistance.
- Applicants eligible for any third party coverage including Medicaid, COBRA, Insure Oklahoma, employer, Federal Marketplace must make application and access prescription coverage available.
Get more information about Ryan White programs by contacting the Sexual Health and Harm Reduction Service.
Contact Information
Mailing Address:
Oklahoma State Department of Health
Sexual Health and Harm Reduction Services
123 Robert S. Kerr Ave, Ste 1702
Oklahoma City, OK 73102-6406
Physical Address:
Oklahoma State Department of Health
Sexual Health and Harm Reduction Services
123 Robert S. Kerr Ave.
Oklahoma City, OK
Phone: (405) 426-8400
Email: SHHRFax@health.ok.gov
