#std test in houston

[seoyash]

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[labworkseo]

One of the sets of drugs whose misuse is harmful to health is called benzodiazepines. Healthcare practitioners prescribe the benzodiazepines test if there are any signs of misuse of benzodiazepines-containing medicines. Moreover, this test is also prescribed if the healthcare practitioner suspects an accidental overdose of this drug. The benzodiazepines drug test screens for the following drugs:

[coochiequeens]

Hey CNN how about a story mentioning the men spreading STIs?

Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle/Getty ImagesCNN — 

The Houston Health Department has reported a syphilis outbreak, with an increase of 128% among women in the city, and a ninefold increase in congenital cases in Houston and the surrounding Harris County area since 2019.

Rates of congenital syphilis are skyrocketing in the US. Here's why

Health officials announced the outbreak in a Thursday news release.

According to the department, new infections rose by 57% from 2019 to 2022. There were 2,905 new infections in 2022, compared to 1,845 new infections in 2019.

There were 674 cases among women in 2022, a steep increase from 295 cases in 2019, according to the release. And there were 151 cases of congenital syphilis in 2021, the latest year for which statistics are available, compared to just 16 cases in 2016.

Congenital syphilis happens when a pregnant person passes the bacterial infection to their baby in the womb. Untreated congenital syphilis can lead to stillbirth or damage the baby’s organs or bones.

“It is crucial for pregnant women to seek prenatal care and syphilis testing to protect themselves from an infection that could result in the deaths of their babies,” said Marlene McNeese Ward, deputy assistant director in the Houston Health department’s Bureau of HIV/STI and Viral Hepatitis Prevention, in the news release. “A pregnant woman needs to get tested for syphilis three times during her pregnancy.”

Pregnant women should be tested for syphilis at their initial prenatal visit, during the third trimester, and at delivery, according to the release.

The health department is waiving all clinical fees for sexually transmitted infections at its health centers, according to the release.

Additionally, the department “will expand the use of its HIV/STD mobile clinic to increase the number of community screening sites and set up in areas considered hot spots, selected from disease monitoring and case management data,” the release said.

Syphilis is a bacterial infection commonly spread through sexual contact. The disease usually starts with a painless sore on the genitals or mouth – direct contact with the sores spreads the infection.

When it’s caught early on, syphilis is easily treatable with antibiotics. But without treatment, the infection can lie dormant in the body for years or even decades before attacking the brain, nerves, eyes, and other organs. It can cause deafness, blindness, and death.

Congenital syphilis has skyrocketed across the US, particularly in the South and Southwest. Infections in newborns have risen about 700% across the country over the past decade, a CDC official previously told CNN. Experts attributed the rise to a combination of factors including lack of public funding for sexual health programs, a shortage of qualified personnel, and uneven coverage for screening by Medicaid.

Because syphilis in its early stages may not have obvious symptoms, pregnant people and their health care providers might not notice it or screen for it at all.

[beardedmrbean]

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- The City of Houston has a syphilis problem, and it's only getting worse.

The health department is reporting a whopping 128% increase in syphilis cases in women.

RELATED: More Texas babies are being born with syphilis, experts explain why

In 2022, 674 cases were reported compared to the more minor 295 cases reported four years ago.

That rise is attributed mainly to pregnant women, who are passing the bacteria to their unborn babies.

REPORT FROM 2019: Harris County ranked No. 1 for highest STD cases, state report says

"They need to test at their first prenatal visit, their third trimester, and at delivery," Lupita Thorton with the Houston Health Department said.

In response to the increase in cases, the city's health department is now waiving fees for STD testing because of the surge.

[cyarskj1899]

NEWS

Walker

Say What Now? Houston Woman Contracts Incurable STD After Janitor Puts Penis in Water Bottles [Video]

October 19, 2022 9:53 AM PST

A Texas woman has contracted an incurable STD in a bizarre way, according to reports.

via: Houston 13

A married mother of two daughters says she was infected after a janitor tainted her water bottles at her office.

Lucio Diaz, 50, has been charged with indecent assault and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Both charges are related to the same victim.

“This individual is a sick man,” the 54-year-old victim, who did not want to be identified, told ABC13.

In August, she noticed a foul smell in the employee water dispenser at the doctor’s office on the East Freeway where she works. Afterward, she vowed to drink only from water bottles that she brought to work.

Then, in late September, she thought her own water bottle had been tainted with urine. Court records show a urinalysis confirmed it. But it was the spy camera that she bought that left no questions, she said. She shared only a still image from the video but allowed ABC13 to watch it in its entirety.

“Pulls out his penis and puts his penis in my bottle, basically rinses his penis in the water,” she explained.

Further testing brought devastating news.

“I learned I acquired (a sexually-transmitted disease) for which he also tested positive for,” she said. “He gave me an STD I will have for the rest of my life. Nothing is going to change it. Nothing will make it better for me. In fact, I feel like, for the rest of my life, I will have to be careful.”

Court records show Diaz is in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody. The Mexican national’s immigration and work status are unclear. The victim said Diaz continued to work at the building even after management was notified. She is working with attorney Kim Spurlock.

“They have a duty to protect their tenants, and they wholly failed in those responsibilities,” Spurlock said.

The building’s owner, Altera Fund Advisors, responded with a statement from CEO Terry Quinn:

“Our management company immediately cooperated with the police department in this matter as soon as we were made aware of this potential issue by our tenant. They were advised by the police to not alert or approach the alleged perpetrator so that he could be arrested. He was arrested when he returned to the building.”

Investigators with HPD’s Major Offenders Division believe more people have been infected and say Diaz could face more charges.

“I want this to go to trial. I want him to be exposed for who he is, and I want him to pay for what he’s done to me and then be deported,” the victim said.

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[eden32]

Psychosis can be the most invasive when surrounded with sociopaths. I like to be in control of what touches my body. Sleeping outside, you become vulnerable to outside influence. I woke up with skin ripped off my foot and felt violated because I didn't know what had happened during the night. I was bombarded with doubt, humiliated on the street of downtown Houston by what was once my family to what is now out of town stalkers. Sexual humiliation is sadistic in nature. I have found my peace through precision measurement. I don't need anyone's approval because I have control through getting tested.

Syphilis after ten years will cause irreparable damage and tissue/bone loss throughout the body and especially the brain. The signs of infection can go unnoticed. In Houston there is a 128% rise of detection of infection in pregnancy.

Don't let your laziness destroy your possibilities.

[auspiciouslab12]

Rapid STD Testing Near Me

Auspicious Laboratory Inc. is a medical laboratory located in Houston, Texas, specializing in rapid and PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) testing for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Their mission is to provide accurate, confidential, and prompt testing services for individuals in need of STD screening.The lab offers various testing options, such as: Rapid testing: This type of testing provides quick results, often within a few hours or the same day, depending on the specific test being performed. Rapid testing is usually done using blood or saliva samples, and it detects the presence of antigens or antibodies related to specific STDs. PCR testing: PCR is a highly sensitive and accurate molecular testing method that amplifies small amounts of DNA or RNA to detect the presence of pathogens, including bacteria and viruses causing STDs. This method is particularly useful in diagnosing early-stage infections when the pathogen's levels may be low. Results for PCR tests may take a few days to a week, depending on the lab's workload and the specific test being performed. Auspicious Laboratory Inc. aims to provide a comfortable and discreet environment for patients to undergo testing. To ensure privacy, the lab follows strict protocols and adheres to HIPAA guidelines. Test results are kept confidential and are only shared with the patient and their healthcare provider.

Contact Information: Business Name - Auspicious Laboratory Inc. Rapid & PCR, STD Testing Houston Address: 3707 Westcenter Dr # 100, Houston, TX 77042 Owner Name - Dr. Chan Phone No. - +17132660808 Email - doctor@auspiciouslab.com Website - https://www.auspiciouslab.com/

[saidigital]

Find STD Test in Houston. Auspicious Lab offering most common kinds of STD testing in Houston. We know that an STD (STI) test can be embarrassing, so patient privacy is a priority with us. At Auspicious Laboratory, we understand our patients’ concerns and we strictly follow HIPAA rules, keeping each patient’s personal information very confidential. For self-paying patients, a doctor’s referral is not required. Any or all medical records are released only to the patient.

For More Visit: https://www.auspiciouslab.com/std-testing/

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[ramp-it-up]

Damage, Pt. 2

Pairing: Rafael Casal x OFC Holly Woods

Word Count: 3.8 K

Warnings: 18+ Only, Minors DNI. RPF  Read at your own risk. Pining, angst, FWB, graphic sex, protected sex, talk of getting tested for STD’s, Krispy Kreme, and all the feels.

A/N: It’s my birthday and I missed Rafa and Holly, so I wrote my own deliverance. At this point, these two are so oblivious, it isn’t funny. This happens just after Last Christmas.

This December adventure began early that morning, as Daveed and Rafa taught your writing classes and then hosted a Holiday showcase for your kids. 

They donated their time and talents as a favor for you. It was so damn cute and thoughtful that you’d thanked Rafael and then kissed him under the mistletoe. Almost as if you were in a relationship.

Almost.

You weren’t in a relationship, however. You’d only shared two nights together, as friends who fucked, and you had an understanding that it wouldn’t be any more than that. Rafael and you had an agreement to service each other for the time being, no commitment, no feels. 

And who were you to him? He was a creative, a star who could jet off around the world in a moment’s notice for a glamorous affair.  You were just a school teacher who worked every day in LA. Rafael would never want you for his girl. So this situationship served a utilitarian purpose, not a romantic one. 

After the kiss, Rafael’s mind was whirring. He slowly backed away and checked the time, noticing that it was just after 9 pm. The night was young. He didn’t want the night with you to end. 

Rafael felt the urge to be with you again, but he didn’t want to push his luck. You were so dope and the fact that you didn’t know it made you even more so.  You were refreshing with your intelligence, adding to the facts that you did not give a fuck who he was, did not play to his ego, and did not want him to wife you.  

That last part was refreshing, but also troubling as he evaluated his feelings for you. But there were no feelings to be involved; you’d made that clear.  If he fell for you, you’d probably end it. You clearly didn’t want to be bothered with his lifestyle, and frankly, he didn’t deserve you. 

But he could possibly have tonight. It would be the last chance to be with you before you went to Houston to visit your family for Christmas, and the thoughts of you he’d had since Tuesday couldn’t wait another week.

You gathered yourself together and got your emotions in check.  You told yourself that you were just fond of him as a friend, but that’s where the sentiment ended.  You only had to repeat that to yourself about three times before your heart started to slow down.

Rafael smiled at you, crossing his legs and leaning on your desk while watching you work, finally getting your things together so that you could leave.  It had been a long day.

You were wearing your work clothes, white button down shirt, black pencil skirt and heels. Your Christmas cardigan had been discarded when you started cleaning up. That skirt was fit. ting.  Damn, that ass.  You were all covered up, but the clothes got him a little hard. 

You watched him watching you and gave him a smile that made his blue-greens light up.

“Did you have fun with my badass kids today?” 

Rafa laughed at your joke. He saw how much you loved your students. 

“They’re not bad. Some kids just need different ways to learn and show that they’ve learned. But you know that already.”

He shook his head at you. He could read you like a book.

“You try to pretend that you’re mean Ms. Woods but I know better. They wouldn’t love you so much if you were mean to them. Like young Timothy. He sure does love you a lot. You’re… what is it he called you?  His Cutie Pie?” Rafa looked at you with a cocked eyebrow. Timmy was his nemesis.

There was something in his voice that made you stop and look.  Could Rafa be jealous of a kindergartner?  Nah. But he was certainly worked up.

You smiled mischievously, walking towards him with some workbooks in your hand.

“I am ‘Mean Ms. Woods.’” 

You came close to him and leaned beside him to put the workbooks on your desk. Standing in front of him, your legs on either side of his, Rafael got caught up. He kept his hands clasped in front of him and eyes on you as you got close. But he couldn’t help but lean in, try to look down your shirt and kiss you on your neck.  

You stepped back before his lips made contact, teasing him.  The way he huffed and clenched his jaw got you going. That smoldering look and flashing green eyes always did.

You  definitely wanted to give him some, if he wanted, after what he had pulled off today for your kids.  You were happy that he seemed to want you too. But you were chilling. You wondered about other women in his rotation. 

You laughed a little and smiled, shaking your head at yourself.

“What?” 

Rafa smiled, seeing that you were flustered about something and hoping that something was him. He knew the cat and mouse game was just beginning.

It had been just three days but he was feening for you. Especially after seeing you with your kids this morning. You were something special. Someone he couldn’t let… He stopped his train of thought as you started talking.

“Timothy is a handful.  Mischievous, hella smart, quick witted. And a little charmer. He’s always trying to get a kiss. He has a ton of potential. Reminds me of someone else…” 

Rafael’s quick wit turned you the fuck on. Not to mention his face. And... Whew. Your thoughts were getting out of control. 

The way you were smiling at him made Rafa‘s heart leap. He tried to push the emotions down and just feel the physical.  But he did care about you. A lot. 

“Ok, enough about Timenstien.  Let’s talk about adult things…”  He just wanted to pick you up and carry you outta here the way you cocked your head at him.

“...Like the arrangement for benefits without borders. The tests, the shot… “ You just continued to stare at him.  When you licked your lips, Rafa put his hands in front of him to cover up his hard on.

You laughed again. “‘Benefits Without Borders,’ you should copyright that.”  

“Yeah, or call it, ‘FWB Raw’” Rafael had jokes.

You cracked up.  “I can’t with you, Rafa.”

Rafael’s face fell. “I mean your jokes, I can’t with your jokes. Sheesh.” 

You turned around to gather more books. Rafa fixed his face, but his eyes couldn’t leave your ass.

“Anyway, I already started the process. I went and was able to get an appointment Wednesday after school, so the shot should take effect next week.”

After the night you’d had Tuesday, you definitely wanted to experience that again. It was fortunate that your doctor had an opening on such short notice.

Rafa’s heart leapt when he heard that, but his face showed no emotion, just a cocked eyebrow when you turned back around.

“Word?”

“Word. Yeah, I’m actually leaving Sunday morning, Christmas Eve, and won’t be back until the 30th...So.”

“So…” Rafa’s eyes, they were changing colors on you. It put you off balance.

“So, if we go get the tests tonight, next week might be available for no barrier method benefits between friends  That is if you still want to….” You bit your lip. Rafa cleared his throat and you saw a smile playing around his mouth.

“Let’s think about the last time when that almost happened.” And he paused so you could go there. You had to lean on one of the children’s tables to think of the shower. You were most definitely wet right now.  

Rafa watched you as you had to open your mouth to breathe.Yes, he was definitely about to get some tonight. He wanted more than just sex, but right now he would take what he could get. Then your face changed to uncertainty.

“By the time I get back, you’ll probably have other plans for New Year’s weekend…”

Rafa was confused. “Nah, I’m going next door for Utkarsh and Naomi’s party… aren’t you?”

“Yeah, but you-- we-- might have dates or something.”

Ohhhhh. That’s what was up. Rafa nodded.  Shit.  You might have someone else in the rotation.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. True that.  There’s a couple of people, I mean. A few.”

Rafa was lying through his teeth, no one in his phone could hold a candle to you. Sure, they were ready, willing and able. But they were not you. And you didn’t have to know that.

“See, so…”

Rafa mourned the lost vibe.  He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair, not caring how it looked anymore. You watched him and longed to have your fingers in his mane, but you were chilling.

“Look. The other night we said that this was a special deal between us. I don’t wanna tie you down.  We’ll just see how things go, I mean, you might hook up in Houston…” He watched you, waiting for you to deny it.

You didn’t deny it simply because you did not know how to say that the only one you wanted to take advantage of the situation was him. You just stared at him. When you didn’t say anything, he went on.

“...old flames, new boos, whatever.  The tests will be good information to have in any circumstance.  I say we go for it.”

"Let's get it!"

An hour later you were at the Krispy Kreme donuts on Crenshaw on the way to your place. You had already dropped your car off and were now chilling with the homie after getting tested for STDs. 

You were staring in the window of the bakery, watching the donuts getting that hot glaze now and licking your lips.  They were so tempting. You were thinking donuts and Rafa was thinking the same about your lips.

"I don't think these will help with my anemia."  Your little laugh was so cute to Rafa.

The only bad news you’d got from the blood tests was that you needed more iron. You were both clean and ready to go.

"Let's get some. That glaze does something to me. I just want to lick some of that creamy stuff from around that hole..." Rafa was staring at you while he spoke, the “Hot Donuts Now” sign casting an eerie red light on half of his face.

"You’re so nasty...." you giggled.

Rafael screwed up his face. 

"What? I'm talking ‘bout some donuts.  I don't know what you're talking about." Rafa felt irrationally happy being here with you. Because you were a great friend. Yeah, that was it.

You got a dozen and left on the way to your house.  You stole a donut while riding. You looked at him while licking your fingers.

You’d decided that you wanted to have him before you left, even if you had to use protection. After you ate the donut, you put your thumb in your mouth, sucked for a second, and removed it with a loud pop, still staring at Rafa.

He almost pulled over to the side of the road.  But he was determined. "Hmmmm." Was all he replied as he tightened his grip on the steering wheel.

You put your hand on Rafael’s knee and moved it up a few inches to his dick. It was appropriately swollen. You smiled and started stroking it through his pants.  You felt it get harder. 

"I’ve been thinking about you a lot tonight. What you did for the kids was so… It was nice. On the other hand, I can’t wait for you to fuck my throat."

Rafa almost choked on nothing. You always surprised him and made him feel like an insecure, horny teenage boy.  But he wasn't going out like that. You were just a few minutes from your place.

"You know what. I'd love to see those tits right now."

“Right now? While you are driving?”

“I’m grown. Been driving since I was 15. I got this.”

You giggled, but reached up and unbuttoned your shirt. Your breasts were bathed in the moonlight, sitting perky and upright in your sheer black bra. Holy fuck. Your nipples were calling to him.

He'd distracted you from his dick, but his mouth was watering.  All he wanted was to fulfill your dirty fantasies. He reached your apartment and turned off the car.  You leaned back against the window. Rafael turned towards you, appraising you impassively. He had to use his acting skills to seem calm. Damn, you had him twisted.

"Touch them for me."

You licked your lips at his command.

"But I think I still have some glaze on my..."

Rafa just stared at you.

You did as you were told and pulled your bra cups down, freeing your breasts.  You started feeling and pulling on your nipples.  Your eyes were half closed in ecstasy as you started moaning and fogging the windows of Rafa’s car. He was right there with you as he palmed himself through his pants and feasted his eyes on you for a few minutes.

He leaned over and took over your breasts with his mouth. He licked and sucked each of them, making you wet all over again.

“Mmmmm. So sweet.” He looked up at you, his breath fanning your face from below.

You giggled. “It’s the icing from the donut.”

“Nah girl, it’s just how you taste. Like the sweetest ambrosia.”

Damn, his words. Rafael Casal and his damn words. You just stared at him, speechless.

Rafael drew in a ragged breath and reached over to pull your bra up and button your shirt just enough to be decent going into your apartment. It was so tender. But in a no feels kind of way.

“Let’s go on up.”

Rafa peered into your soul. Sure, you wanted him. But was it really just for friendship and occasional dick?

“Eager, are we?”

His voice did something to you. The soft tenor and the earnestness of his requests of you made you melt. How did he do things to you without touching you? You didn’t want to analyze it too much, so you threw the question back on him.

“You’e not?”  Your challenge threw him off. He chuckled to hide his nerves.

“Yes, I’m eager Holly.  I’ve been thinking about the last time since the last time. I want you.”

You closed your eyes and licked your lips, trying to center yourself. “That’s cool.”

You reached for your bag and moved to get out of the car.

“Hold on,” Rafa moved quickly to get out and go around to open the door for you, his chivalry not unnoticed by you. Again, the little things made you want him even more.  This was not going to be good for your heart when he decided to move on.

You led the way to your place and started up the stairs to your apartment before him.

It seemed as if that ass was going left to right in slow motion as Rafael watched it intently. He shook his head to see if he was bugging. When you glanced at him over her shoulder, he knew.

He grinned at you and looked back at it when you turned back around, catching a glimpse of a garter belt on your thighs through the slit in your skirt as you climbed the stairs.

Holy fuck! He had to have you. He rubbed his fingers right before reaching out to verify, then drew them back, because it wouldn’t do to fuck you outside on the stairs of your apartment building.

Rafa gave you some space as you opened the door, but as soon as you were inside, he pushed you up against the wall, hands everywhere.  It seemed as if he’d waited forever and not just three days. You had him addicted. 

You moaned as Rafael started kissing down your neck to your cleavage, dropping your bags on the floor by your feet. He saw a peek of your black bra through your shirt. He remembered the garter set and had to see the entire affect. He backed up, taking you in from head to toe.

"You wanna take those clothes off, or do you want me to rip them off?"

You smiled. "I guess I'll choose the first option."

You slowly unbuttoned your blouse, and peeled the skirt from your hips. It was so seductive that by the time you were done, Rafa had undressed as well, his thick dick in his hands, getting it ready for you.

You stood before him, in a sheer black lace bra and garter set, with no panties. The fact that you had been like that all day under your clothes made him get even harder. And you were looking at what he was holding and licking your lips.

"You hungry?"

"Yes. Please."

"C'mere."

Rafael laid you down on the couch. He turned your head and filled your mouth as he stood at one end of the sofa. He used his free hand to twist and flick your rock hard nipples through your bra. Damn, he loved it when you moaned with his dick in your mouth.

“You like that Holly? This what you wanted?”

You were ravenous, stroking off what you couldn’t fit in your mouth naturally. And you were busy, so you just nodded. Rafa continued to torture your nipples with one hand, but moved his other hand down to your clit, swirling insistent and concentrated circles around it.

You were so worked up that it did not take too long for him to manipulate an orgasm from you. “Damn, girl.” 

He was in heaven as you came with your mouth around his dick. Good thing, it muffled the sound. He was concentrating on not shooting off down your throat as he watched you, writhing in your garter set and licking his fingers, and then moving down to eat some of your delicious cream. 

Rafa held your hips down mercilessly as you fought your next orgasm.  He tongued you through it, taking all that you had to give him and successfully keeping you from running from it.

When he rose from between your legs, and wiped his face with the back of his hand, you looked as if you were going to sleep, your eyes vacant and rolling back in your head.  You were in shock from all the pleasure.

"Get that ass up."

You languidly obeyed and stood before him, eyes glowing and sexy ass lips smiling. Something in Rafael’s heart lurched and he couldn’t explain to anyone why. He was mad for some reason. 

Conflicted with different emotions, he just grabbed your waist and roughly turned you around, grabbing your arm and twisting it behind your back as he bent you over the arm of the couch.

You looked amazing in what you were wearing. He rubbed your ass before he smacked it, hard. Rafa was rewarded with a moan and an arched back. 

“Are you ready for this dick?” He smiled as he put the tip alllllmost in.

“Wait…”

Then he remembered.  “Shit.” 

He went into your bedroom, seeing your suitcase set up and mostly packed for the trip.  He brushed away the feeling that he had at what that meant and quickly went to your bedside table for a condom. He didn’t want to lose the vibe.

He came back into the living room to the sight of you still bent over, head resting on the couch cushion.  He stroked himself to full staff again, put the condom on, and lined up with your cunt.

“Still ready?” 

He didn’t have to ask as he heard your moan and felt you try to push back to take him.  He stilled your movement with this hand on your hip, wanting to prolong the anticipation.  His heart skipped a beat as you asked him for it.

“Please, Rafa, please give it to me…”

“Damn.”

He sank into you, none too easily. 

“Fuck, you’re so tight. And so wet. I love to see you cream for me, Holly. Can’t wait to feel it again.” He couldn’t wait until you returned, so that he wouldn’t have to worry about condoms. That is if you hadn’t…

He brushed the thought of you with another man out of his mind and slapped your ass, angry again.  You whimpering beneath him had him almost out of control.  You, it seemed, were on the same page.

“Oh, Rafa.  I’m so close already. I’m going to….” Rafa just kept hitting that spot, making your knees buckle. You were grateful for the support of the couch arm.

“Fuck, Rafa… I’m gonna c-c-cummmmmm.” You started pounding around him, and he grabbed the back of your neck.

“Fuck, fuck, FUCK, fuck, fuck.” Rafa had no other words at the moment.

You were screaming into the couch cushion as he emptied his cum into the condom, his hips stuttering and erratic in their rhythm. 

He leaned over you and onto your back after he was spent, for just a few moments. Then, he straightened up and made his way to your bathroom to get rid of the condom. 

Rafael washed up a little and looked at himself in the mirror. It was hopeless.  He brought out a washcloth for you and found you curled up on the couch.

“Let me..” Rafa approached you to clean you up, and you let him, trying not to register the intimacy and tenderness of the act.  He was just being a good friend.

When he was done, you thanked him and went to the bathroom, shaking your head at yourself in the mirror. You felt helpless and a slave to the feelings that weren’t supposed to be there.

You made your way back into your bedroom, took off the garter and hose, and pulled on some sweats and a tee.

In the living room, Rafa was dressed as well. And standing by the door. Your heart sank a little. But you smiled and went toward him.

“Thank you, that was just what I needed after a long week. You headed out?”

Why didn’t you just invite him to stay over?

“Yeah, I better go. You probably have a ton to do before you leave.”

Rafael didn’t know how to say that he wanted to stay, but if he did, he would wind up saying too much. “Can I have a hug?” He needed you in his arms, just one more time.

You smiled at him. “Is it even a question, after what we just did?”

You were sad that he didn’t want really to hug, he just wanted to fuck. He was just being nice, but that didn’t keep you from burying your head in his chest and squeezing tight as you went into his embrace. 

Rafael inhaled the scent of your hair and closed his eyes as he cradled you, holding you close to his heart. “You have a safe trip, and a good time with your people. Merry Christmas again, Holly.”

Your eyes welled up as you kept your head in his chest. “I will, Rafa. Thank you so much again for today. It was everything. Merry Christmas, Rafa. Have a good one.”

You lowkey wiped your eyes on his shirt before you looked up at him and smiled. You gazed at each other for a minute before he let you go.

“See you in a few days. You know, maybe.” He fumbled for the doorknob behind him.

You laughed and smiled, catching his heart. “Yeah, see you next week. Possibly.”

“Bye Holly.” He’d finally found the doorknob and was backing out of it.

“See ya, Rafael.” You were shaking your head at him as you closed the door.

You leaned against it for a long time as Rafa made his way to the car, and banged his head on the steering wheel.

You both were idiots in love. And you didn’t even realize it.

-------

Let me know if you liked it! Like, comment, reblog, please. 😁

Taglist: @braidedchallah @theatrenerd86 @sebastianabucknettastan @imatyoursurrvicesurr @riiyy @ivycomet @lonelydance @jbrizzywrites @delaber @honeysucklechocolatedrippin @janthonystan @anh1020 @sillyteecup @ohsoverykeri  @theselilwonders  @biafbunny @summerofsnowflakes @honeysucklechocolatedrippin  @wreakhavoconmacroissantdiggs  @einfachniemand 

[labwork360]

labwork

Labwork provides convenient and credible diagnostic testing for a broad range of abnormalities and diseases. Recently, it has set out new plans for COVID-19 testing, to test it at a large scale and to deliver accurate results in a short time. COVID-19 vaccination process has also increased the need for an antibody test. Labwork continues to provide efficient testing service for all COVID-19 tests too, including the diagnostic tests and the antibody test. Labwork has the staff and resources to check for COVID-19 on a large scale, and it ensures the safety of specimens and timely delivery of results. The panels and tests available at lab work help you monitor different aspects of your health in an all-inclusive way. The tests are comprehensive, providing a detailed report of your health to help you get relevant treatment.

Labwork

also offers special panels and tests for women and men. It also tests children for any genetic or non-genetic abnormalities. If you cannot visit the lab to submit a specimen, then you can always avail of the mobile phlebotomy service whereby a phlebotomist from lab work visits your place to collect a sample according to the standard procedures. It is a certified lab, fully equipped with state-of-the-art equipment for testing. We identify potential risks and existing health hazards with thorough testing. Labwork has all equipment for confirmatory tests too. The special panels for women and men analyze their specific diseases and health problems by testing the systems in conjunction with other systems in the body to provide a complete analysis of health. The lab has all tests for routine health examination, and tests to check for drugs, STDs, allergies, cardiovascular health, diabetes, and several diseases. Labwork is a certified lab having experts to guide every testing procedure. The centers of this lab are open at many locations in Houston, the USA to help you get a test at your nearest location. Labwork strives to make health management and treatment easier for you with its affordable tests, available at market competitive prices. If you want further information on any diagnostic tests, head over to our website or call us on our helpline. You can order a test, a panel, or special panels that consist of different panels and tests in one package. We guide you about pre-test procedures and post-test management of your health. Be it diagnostic testing, or a confirmatory test, lab work helps you take the right steps to protect your health. The procedures for testing are meticulous, carefully implemented to ensure accurate testing. Most diagnostic tests are risk-free, so you must not wait to get a test if you identify any symptom and abnormality in your health. The risk of side effects is also minimal in most of the tests. The lab continues to update its tests according to the new guidelines and research. It includes tests for most frequently abused, and harmful drugs. Lab work helps you make better health choices, to effectively manage your health, as diagnostic tests are a prerequisite for medical treatment. Getting a diagnostic test timely helps you manage your health productively.

labwork is a lab providing lab services in houston

Labwork is providing a vast variety of standard drug tests whose results are also legally admissible. These drug tests are also frequently ordered by employers in many sectors to test new hires and existing employees. Lab work provides both drug screens and drug tests. The difference is that drug screen results are not officially valid, but the outcomes of a drug test are very accurate and totally acceptable.`1 Labwork also ensures full confidentiality and privacy of your data and information. It does not share the DNA profiles of the test participants with any third party. Lab work is a trusted name in providing secure and reliable medical diagnostic testing services. It is a proven fact that laboratory-based testing provides accurate results. The use of home test kits to extract samples does not ensure the same accuracy of results and the outcomes from such tests are also not legally valid. Home test kits are used to extract samples that could be sent to the medical diagnostic lab for testing. However, the results of diagnostic tests are more accurate when sample collection is done at a certified medical diagnostic lab. At lab work, professionals guide every stage of testing and ensure correct methods and equipment for sample collection too.

Labwork Providing

Labwork also provides several tests to confirm biological family relationships. It provides maternity tests, paternity tests, sibling determination legal, grandparent DNA matching legal, and avuncular informational tests. All these tests use DNA samples thus their results are very accurate. These tests also help to determine the medical history of the biological family of a patient to find out if a specific ailment was due to genetic reasons. Diagnostic tests are required for several diseases. Medical diagnostic tests are a part of your routine health examination. These tests help you understand several important aspects of your health and inform you about any potential risks to your health. Labwork provides diagnostic tests for all age groups. You can also search for diagnostic tests for children in the vast database of tests provided at Labwork. Moreover, there are special diagnostic tests for men and women too. It provides tests for several contagious diseases such as Hepatitis, and many STDs. It also provides tests to help you manage your health. The Nutrition & Wellness Panel helps you understand your dietary deficiencies so that you can get relevant consultation to plan your diet. There are several tests to check different types of allergies. Diagnostic testing is an inevitable need to take care of your health. Not only those diagnostic tests are essential to get treatment for a disease, but they are also important for you to manage your health and reduce the risk for any potential ailment. These diagnostic tests also help understand if the reasons for a disease are genetic. You must get a diagnostic test soon as possible as several diseases are also asymptomatic, but they gradually keep on harming the body and you don’t get to know about it too. Some diseases only show symptoms in one gender and stay asymptomatic in the other. Contagious diseases may also spread to others, and it is necessary to get a timely diagnosis for their treatment.

[labworkseo]

MOST POPULAR PANELS Price: $159 Urinalysis Cholesterol (LIPID) Panel Luteinizing Hormone (LH) Complete Blood Count (CBC) Complete Metabolic Panel (CMP)

[trans-advice]

WINDY CITY MEDIA GROUP

NATIONAL Biden tracker, Task Force, trans journalist, Cuomo, West Virginia

by Windy City Times staff

2021-03-14

GLAAD announced the launch of its Biden Equality Accountability Tracker—a real-time record of the Biden administration's executive orders, announcements, legislative support and speeches that impact LGBTQ people and rights, a press release noted. GLAAD has tracked at least 24 pro-equality moves in the first 50 days, as well as noted LGBTQ Cabinet and staff appointments in the first days of the administration. GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis introduced the tracker in her op-ed in Reuters, and in the statement. See https:// Article Link Here .

The National LGBTQ Task Force announced the addition of two new staff members and the consolidation of two departments as part of the organization's growth and restructure under the leadership of recently named Executive Director Kierra Johnson, a press release noted. Former Creating Change Conference Director Andy Garcia will now head a combined department of conference, policy and advocacy staff as director of the Advocacy and Action Department. Also, Ashawnda Fleming joins the Task Force Development Department and Leadership Team as the new chief development officer and Desiree Luckey has been appointed senior policy counsel, focusing on the organization's democracy work.

Trans sports journalist Christina Kahrl—a longtime ESPN senior editor and co-founder of both the Baseball Prospectus think tank and the Baseball Writers' Association of America—announced on Twitter that she will be the next sports editor of the legendary San Francisco Chronicle newspaper, Outsports noted. She will become the first out transgender editor of a major, metropolitan mainstream media outlet in the country when she takes the reins of sports coverage of the largest newspaper in Northern California. The Chronicle is the state's second major newspaper after the Los Angeles Times. In a message to Outsports, Kahrl said she recognizes the importance of her platform.

Many of New York's LGBTQ lawmakers are echoing growing calls for Gov. Andrew Cuomo to resign in response to numerous disturbing allegations of inappropriate behavior and sexual harassment, Gay City News reported. U.S. Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, became the highest-ranking LGBTQ elected official in the state to call on Cuomo to step down when he issued a statement on March 12—the same day that new allegations surfaced. Congressmen Mondaire Jones and Ritchie Torres have also asked for the governor to step down.

Researchers at UCLA partnered with a researcher at West Virginia University (WVU) to publish a report addressing discrimination against the LGBT community in West Virginia, WDTV.com reported. Some of the key findings were that LGBT people in West Virginia experience discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations. For example, data show 39% of LGBT adults in West Virginia reported having a household income below $24,000, compared to 26% of non-LGBT adults.

A Houston bakery is facing two separate lawsuits from former employees alleging they were fired due to anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination, out.com noted. Gilbert Johnson and Katherine Phillips told OutSmart the Dessert Gallery Bakery & Cafe fired them because Johnson is gay and Phillips is a lesbian. Johnson further alleged he was fired in part for hiring a transgender employee. "We take seriously any allegations like those outlined in these complaints but stand firm that these allegations are simply not true," Dessert Gallery said in a statement. "We believe the proper place to disclose the facts of this case is in the courtroom and look forward to that opportunity."

A bill to strengthen the sexually transmitted disease public-health infrastructure of California is better than a similar effort that had initially been introduced last year, a principal co-author of the legislation told the Bay Area Reporter. Gay state Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) co-authored Senate Bill 306 with Sen. Dr. Richard Pan (D-Sacramento), who introduced it Feb. 4. According to a news release from Wiener's office, the legislation will "permit the Family [Planning Access Care Treatment] program to offer covered benefits to income-eligible patients, even if contraception is not discussed during the patient encounter; update California's [Expedited Partner Therapy] statute to include provider liability protections used in other states; permit HIV counselors to administer rapid STD tests; update state law to require congenital syphilis testing during the third trimester of pregnancy; [and] require coverage of home STD tests by public and private insurers."

Former First Lady Michelle Obama spoke candidly in a People Magazine interview about her struggles with low-grade depression during the COVID-19 pandemic and the challenges of 2020, encouraging people to speak more openly about their mental health, CNN.com noted. Obama told People magazine that she "needed to acknowledge what I was going through, because a lot of times we feel like we have to cover that part of ourselves up, that we always have to rise above and look as if we're not paddling hard underneath the water." She added, "We had the continued killing of Black men at the hands of police. Just seeing the video of George Floyd, experiencing that eight minutes. That's a lot to take on, not to mention being in the middle of a quarantine."

Thousands of Texans are slated to lose their healthcare provider after Travis County Civil District Court Judge Lora Livingston allowed the state to remove Planned Parenthood from its Medicaid program, CNN.com reported. Texas has long sought to ban Planned Parenthood, which provides abortions in Texas, from Medicaid. Medicaid funding does not cover abortions except in cases of rape or incest or when the woman's life is at risk, due to the Hyde Amendment, dating back to 1976. In 2019, Planned Parenthood provided health care to more than 8,000 Medicaid recipients in Texas.

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem signed Senate Bill 124, a religious refusal bill that could grant a license to discriminate against LGBTQ people across a wide range of goods and services in the state, a Human Rights Campaign (HRC) statement noted. HRC President Alphonso David said, "While she may see discrimination as a path to the national far right spotlight, she should understand the damage she is doing to the state of South Dakota and LGBTQ people who are simply looking to live their lives free of fear and exclusion." Noem also signed legislation that would bar transgender girls and women from participating in female sports leagues.

Over objections from Democrats, Georgia House Republicans passed a sweeping elections bill that would enact more restrictions on absentee voting and cut back on weekend early voting hours favored by larger counties, among other changes, NPR reported. The bill's sponsor—GOP Rep. Barry Fleming, who chairs the House Special Committee on Election Integrity—said the 66-page measure "is designed to begin to bring back the confidence of our voters back into our election system" after Republicans lost confidence in the GOP-backed voting system following Democrats' victories in the November presidential contest and both of Georgia's U.S. Senate races.

The National AIDS Memorial announced Isabel Fatima (Ima) Diawara, of Los Angeles, as the first recipient of the Mary Bowman Arts in Activism Award, a press release noted. The newly created and inspiring program, funded through a multi-year grant from ViiV Healthcare, offers support to artist-activists who are working and committed to making a difference in the fight against HIV/AIDS. The Mary Bowman Arts in Activism Award honors the life of Mary Bowman—a poet, advocate, author, singer and young person living with AIDS who passed away in early 2019 at age 30.

A statue of late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was erected in her hometown of Brooklyn on March 12—three days before her 88th birthday, USA Today noted. The unveiling also comes in the middle of Women's History Month as another way to honor Ginsburg's legacy and her fight for women's rights. The statue is part of a larger series called Statues for Equality, which has worked to increase the representation of women in public sculptures around New York City and beyond.

LGBTQ-rights advocates are uniting to support Noel Koenke, a former employee at St. Joseph's University who's appealing the dismissal of her LGBT-related anti-bias case against the university before it could reach a jury, Philadelphia Gay News reported. Koenke worked as an assistant director of music and worship at the university; however, pressure to stay in the closet eventually caused her to attempt suicide and resulted in the dissolution of her marriage�and she resigned in November 2017. Koenke filed suit in October 2019, claiming the university violated Title IX, which prohibits sex discrimination in educational programs receiving federal funds.

New York-based fashion designer Alexander Wang responded, again, to a growing number of sexual assault and harassment allegations, out.com reported. Wang had previously called the initial allegations "baseless," and said they were "fabricated"—but now, his tenor has changed starkly. On Instagram, he posted, "It was not easy for [the alleged victims] to share their stories, and I regret acting in a way that caused them pain. While we disagree with some of the details of these personal interactions, I will set a better example and use my visibility and influence to encourage others to recognize harmful behaviors. Life is about learning and growth, and now that I know better, I will do better." Attorney Lisa Bloom—who reportedly is representing 11 of those who have allegations against Wang—responded on Twitter, "We have met with Alexander Wang and his team. My clients had the opportunity to speak their truth to him and expressed their pain and hurt. We acknowledge Mr. Wang's apology and we are moving forward. We have no further comment on this matter."

Fox personality Geraldo Rivera posted a tweet announcing that he was pondering running for the seat that will be left vacant by retiring Republican Senator Rob Portman of Ohio, who will not be seeking re-election in 2022, Yahoo! noted. Rivera—who regularly butts heads with Sean Hannity and Fox News contributor Dan Bongino for his moderate stances on things like immigration—said he would have run as a moderate Republican. But his political ambitions didn't last long as he posted another tweet less than 24 hours after the first one, saying that the run is not going to happen.

Lawyers for former U.S. Rep. Katie Hill and her ex-husband, Kenneth Heslep, told a Los Angeles judge that they remain hopeful of settling her allegations of harassment and years of abuse—but they still asked that the groundwork be laid for a possible trial of whether Hill's stay-away order should be extended, the Los Angeles Daily News reported. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Lawrence Riff ordered both sides to prepare lists of witnesses and exhibits they would use during the trial and submit them a week in advance of April 8, when a trial-setting hearing is scheduled. The judge said he was extending the temporary restraining order Judge Anne Richardson granted Hill on Dec. 8 until April 30. Heslep has denied allegations of abusing Hill, who resigned her seat in 2019 after nude photos of her were published and news emerged that she had a three-way relationship with her husband and a female campaign staffer.

On March 8, the Cambridge (Massachusetts) City Council passed a historic domestic partnership ordinance aimed at recognizing and protecting polyamorous and other multi-partner families and relationships, according to an item from the Polyamory Legal Advocacy Coalition (PLAC). The ordinance was developed with detailed input from the PLAC, and is the first of what advocates hope will be a wave of legal recognition for polyamorous families and relationships in 2021. Last year, Somerville (also in Massachusetts) became the first U.S. city to allow domestic partnerships of three or more partners.

In California, the second annual "Pride Ride" returns to Homewood Mountain Resort March 25-28, The Bay Area Reporter noted. Along with skiing and riding, there will be a variety of mini-events on and off the mountain, including a dual slalom drag race, ski parade down Rainbow Ridge, virtual scavenger hunt and more. See https:// Article Link Here .

[anonhoustoncplverydiscreet]

ALL FREAKS READ THOROUGHLY..... yes it's a little long but for a fun ass night it worth the read.

Location Houston or surrounding areas for the event.... only this 1 time will we have a event open to everybody.... Do you want a nsa hookup ? Do you love nsa hookups? What about a nsa party? Who's interested? We will only take about 30 people. Everybody is welcome to through their hat In the ring. We are looking at may 31st or June 1st. Time will be around 8 to 7am. Those pick will vote and majority wins on what day to have it. If somebody can't make it then we will find a substitute. If interested message us and give us the basics. What you like, what you dislike, what your curious for, donation will be asked from all attendees. If you don't make it then you will have credit for a future event. The location can be anywhere and anything. Just a few examples of past events. Downtown luxurious hotels, parks in the middle of no where. And our favorite adult video stores.... message if interested... Everybody attending will need a std test within 3 weeks of the event. If you don't have it you will not be allowed into the premises. No refunds on a dirty private parts. Anybody with a dirty std test will be on a minimum 3 month suspension from all events and will have to increase their donation 3 folds to be let back in with a legit clean std report. If we have enough people we will do a event for people who felled a std test and all safety (condoms) will be supplied and it's up to all attending parties to sign waivers that they take all risk and liabilities on themselves. Message with any questions or concerns. This is not our first. We have provided anonymous party's for the past 5 almost 6 years in 3 major city's. We have loyal customers for 5 plus years. Majority don't want anybody to know anything what happened their night and we respect it.

ASK ANY AND ALL QUESTIONS TO US. WE HAVE DONE THIS FOR YEARS. We have made many fantasies come true. From rape , torture, gang bangs, men / women (wife and husband) being abducted and raped by jailhouse convicts on the run. We make it very realistic. And the people who want it have no clue it's happening. They are scared for their lives.

WE MAKE FANTASIES TO REALITIES

[rodneygoodie]

The Importance of a Yearly Well Women's Exam

A yearly exam of your overall health is an important part of preventative care. Even a quick but thorough examination of your body can tell a trained doctor a lot about your health.

 Women are tough. Some survive and cope with serious health struggles without ever reaching out for help. Unfortunately, it’s difficult to know the root cause of health problems and how to effectively treat them without having an examination performed. For women, it is especially important they undergo a yearly exam catered to their specific biological needs.

 During a well-woman exam, a gynecologist and obstetrician (OB/GYN) conducts exams specifically tailored to a woman's body, including their reproductive system, hormones, breasts and thyroid.

 The extent of an examination depends on age. By 20 years of age, women should have the following performed at their yearly visit:

 · Physical exam

· Pap smear with STD and HIV testing

· Breast exam

· Pelvic exam

· Cervical exam

· Neck exam

 Additional testing is necessary for diabetes, high cholesterol, bone density and colon health after the age of 40.

 A well-woman exam provides an opportunity to prevent serious diseases and cancers at any age, including cervical cancer, breast cancer and thyroid cancer.

  Breast Cancer Screening and Prevention

Women's wellness and breast care is an essential part of examinations. Approximately 281,550 women in the U.S.��will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in 2021. A yearly well-woman appointment can help women catch cancer early. Breast cancer screenings save the lives of thousands of women every year. The sooner breast cancer is detected, the better.

  Cervical Cancer Screening and Prevention

An additional concern is cervical cancer, which is most often diagnosed between the ages of 35 and 44 years of age. It is still crucial to test for cervical cancer in earlier stages of life. Cervical cancer can only be detected through an internal examination. Signs of cervical cancer can be monitored early on and prevented from progressing. Your doctor may do a pelvic test and check for any cysts or discomfort.

  Thyroid Cancer Screening and Prevention

The thyroid gland regulates the body's metabolic rate, which controls the heart, muscle and digestive system. Both men and women can get thyroid cancer, but it is more common in women. Thyroid cancer is on the rise among women, with case numbers growing each year.

 More high-tech testing has been able to detect thyroid disorders sooner. Women should make thyroid screenings a regular part of their well-woman exam. Hormones play a significant role in thyroid function, which is why women tend to experience thyroid issues more often.

  Pregnancy and Contraception in Well-Woman Care

Well-woman exams also offer an opportunity for women to discuss their reproductive plans. If you are pregnant or suspect you're pregnant, consistent care and regular check-ups are necessary for you and your baby's health.

 If children are not in the foreseeable future for you, you can discuss preventative measures with your OB/GYN. Birth control options and sexual health matters should be discussed at your yearly exam. If you have been prescribed birth control, an annual well-woman exam may be mandatory to renew the prescription.

 Your OB/GYN can monitor your body's interaction with the contraceptive, see if there have been any changes in sexual activity that may be cause for concern and ensure there are no signs of disease.

  Menopause

Well-woman care and exams are just as imperative for women experiencing hormonal changes related to menopause. During this time, the reproductive system stops, and women experience hormonal imbalances. The ovaries stop producing as much estrogen and the body must adapt to the changes. It can be a frustrating time, but a physician can help ease the transition.

  Get Attentive, Friendly Women’s Health Care in Houston

If you have not had your well-woman examination this year, talk to your primary medical care physician about meeting with an OB/GYN for well-woman care. St. Hope provides a center for health and wellness for women in Houston along with other specialty and primary care doctors. We provide comprehensive care for women, including check-ups and treatments using state-of-the-art technology to detect disorders and cancers early.

[rodneygoodie-blog]

The Importance of a Yearly Well Women's Exam

A yearly exam of your overall health is an important part of preventative care. Even a quick but thorough examination of your body can tell a trained doctor a lot about your health.

Women are tough. Some survive and cope with serious health struggles without ever reaching out for help. Unfortunately, it’s difficult to know the root cause of health problems and how to effectively treat them without having an examination performed. For women, it is especially important they undergo a yearly exam catered to their specific biological needs.

During a well-woman exam, a gynecologist and obstetrician (OB/GYN) conducts exams specifically tailored to a woman's body, including their reproductive system, hormones, breasts and thyroid.

 The extent of an examination depends on age. By 20 years of age, women should have the following performed at their yearly visit:

 · Physical exam

· Pap smear with STD and HIV testing

· Breast exam

· Pelvic exam

· Cervical exam

· Neck exam

 Additional testing is necessary for diabetes, high cholesterol, bone density and colon health after the age of 40.

 A well-woman exam provides an opportunity to prevent serious diseases and cancers at any age, including cervical cancer, breast cancer and thyroid cancer.

  Breast Cancer Screening and Prevention

Women's wellness and breast care is an essential part of examinations. Approximately 281,550 women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in 2021. A yearly well-woman appointment can help women catch cancer early. Breast cancer screenings save the lives of thousands of women every year. The sooner breast cancer is detected, the better.

  Cervical Cancer Screening and Prevention

An additional concern is cervical cancer, which is most often diagnosed between the ages of 35 and 44 years of age. It is still crucial to test for cervical cancer in earlier stages of life. Cervical cancer can only be detected through an internal examination. Signs of cervical cancer can be monitored early on and prevented from progressing. Your doctor may do a pelvic test and check for any cysts or discomfort.

  Thyroid Cancer Screening and Prevention

The thyroid gland regulates the body's metabolic rate, which controls the heart, muscle and digestive system. Both men and women can get thyroid cancer, but it is more common in women. Thyroid cancer is on the rise among women, with case numbers growing each year.

More high-tech testing has been able to detect thyroid disorders sooner. Women should make thyroid screenings a regular part of their well-woman exam. Hormones play a significant role in thyroid function, which is why women tend to experience thyroid issues more often.

  Pregnancy and Contraception in Well-Woman Care

Well-woman exams also offer an opportunity for women to discuss their reproductive plans. If you are pregnant or suspect you're pregnant, consistent care and regular check-ups are necessary for you and your baby's health.

If children are not in the foreseeable future for you, you can discuss preventative measures with your OB/GYN. Birth control options and sexual health matters should be discussed at your yearly exam. If you have been prescribed birth control, an annual well-woman exam may be mandatory to renew the prescription.

Your OB/GYN can monitor your body's interaction with the contraceptive, see if there have been any changes in sexual activity that may be cause for concern and ensure there are no signs of disease.

  Menopause

Well-woman care and exams are just as imperative for women experiencing hormonal changes related to menopause. During this time, the reproductive system stops, and women experience hormonal imbalances. The ovaries stop producing as much estrogen and the body must adapt to the changes. It can be a frustrating time, but a physician can help ease the transition.

  Get Attentive, Friendly Women’s Health Care in Houston

If you have not had your well-woman examination this year, talk to your primary medical care physician about meeting with an OB/GYN for well-woman care. St. Hope provides a center for health and wellness for women in Houston along with other specialty and primary care doctors. We provide comprehensive care for women, including check-ups and treatments using state-of-the-art technology to detect disorders and cancers early.

[gordonwilliamsweb]

Strides Against HIV/AIDS Falter, Especially in the South, as Nation Battles Covid

Facing a yearlong siege from the coronavirus, the defenses in another, older war are faltering.

This story also ran on NPR. It can be republished for free.

For the last two decades, HIV/AIDS has been held at bay by potent antiviral drugs, aggressive testing and inventive public education campaigns. But the COVID-19 pandemic has caused profound disruptions in almost every aspect of that battle, grounding outreach teams, sharply curtailing testing and diverting critical staff away from laboratories and medical centers.

The exact impact of one pandemic on the other is still coming into focus, but preliminary evidence is disturbing experts who have celebrated the enormous strides in HIV treatment. While the shift in priorities is nationwide, delays in testing and treatment carry particularly grievous risks in Southern states, now the epicenter of the nation’s HIV crisis.

“This is a major derailing,” said Dr. Carlos del Rio, a professor of medicine at Emory University in Atlanta and head of the Emory AIDS International Training and Research Program. “There will be damage. The question is, how much?”

Clinics have limited in-person visits and halted routine HIV screening in doctors’ offices and emergency rooms, with physicians relying instead on video calls with patients, a futile alternative for those who are homeless or fear family members will discover their status. Rapid-testing vans that once parked outside nightclubs and bars and handed out condoms are mothballed. And, in state capitals and county seats, government expertise has been singly focused on the all-hands-on-deck COVID response.

Concrete signs of the impact on HIV surveillance abound: One large commercial lab reported nearly 700,000 fewer HIV screening tests across the country — a 45% drop — and 5,000 fewer diagnoses between March and September 2020, compared with the same period the year before. Prescriptions of PrEP, a preexposure prophylaxis that can prevent HIV infection, have also fallen sharply, according to new research presented at a conference last month. State public health departments have recorded similarly steep declines in testing.

That dearth in new data has led to a precarious, unknowable moment: For the first time in decades, the nation’s lauded HIV surveillance system is blind to the virus’s movement.

Nowhere will the lack of data be felt more profoundly than in the South: The region accounts for 51% of all new infections, eight of the 10 states with the highest rates of new diagnoses, and half of all HIV-related deaths, according to the most recent data available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Even before the COVID pandemic, Georgia had the highest rate of new HIV diagnoses of any state, though lower than that of Washington, D.C. The Georgia Department of Public Health recorded a 70% drop in testing last spring compared with spring 2019.

The slowdown in HIV patient services “could be felt for years,” said Dr. Melanie Thompson, principal investigator of the AIDS Research Consortium of Atlanta.

She added, “Every new HIV infection perpetuates the epidemic and will likely be passed to one or more people in the months to come if people are not diagnosed and offered HIV treatment.”

Coronavirus testing has commandeered the machines previously used for HIV/AIDS testing, further straining surveillance efforts. The polymerase chain reaction — or PCR — machines used to detect and measure the genetic material in the human immunodeficiency virus are the same machines that run COVID tests around-the-clock.

Over the decades, as HIV migrated inland from coastal cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York, it took root in the South, where poverty is endemic, lack of health coverage is commonplace, and HIV stigma is pervasive.

“There is the stigma that’s real. There is legacy racism,” said Dr. Thomas Giordano, medical director of Thomas Street Health Center in Houston, one of the largest HIV clinics in the U.S. The state’s political leaders, he said, view HIV as “a disease of the poor, of Blacks, Latinos and gay. It’s just not mainstream at the state level.”

Black people represent 13% of the U.S. population but about 40% of HIV cases — and deaths. In many Southern states, the disparities are stark: In Alabama, Black residents account for 27% of the population and 70% of new diagnoses; in Georgia, Black people make up 33% of residents and 69% of people with HIV.

HIV clinics that serve low-income patients also face limitations using video and phone appointments. Clinic directors say poor patients often lack data plans and many homeless patients simply don’t have phones. They also must contend with fear. “If a friend gave you a room to sleep and your friend finds out you have HIV, you might lose that place to sleep,” said del Rio of Emory University.

Texting can be tricky, too. “We have to be cautious about text messages,” said Dr. John Carlo, chief executive officer of PRISM Health Care North Texas in Dallas. “If someone sees their phone, it can be devastating.”

In Mississippi, HIV contact tracing — which was used as a model for some local efforts to track the coronavirus — has been limited by COVID-related travel restrictions meant “to protect both staff and client,” said Melverta Bender, director of the STD/HIV office at the Mississippi State Department of Health.

Of all regions in the U.S., the South has the weakest health safety nets. And Southern states have far fewer resources than states like California and New York. “Our public health infrastructures have been chronically underfunded and undermined over the decades,” said Thompson, the Atlanta researcher. “So we stand to do worse by many metrics.”

Georgia’s high HIV infection rate and the state’s slow pace of COVID vaccinations “are not unrelated,” Thompson said.

The porous safety net extends to health insurance, a vital need for those living with HIV. Nearly half of Americans without health coverage live in the South, where many states have not expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. That leaves many people with HIV to rely on the federal Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program and state-run AIDS drug assistance programs, known as ADAPs, which offer limited coverage.

“As a matter of equity, insurance is critical for people to live and thrive with HIV,” said Tim Horn, director of health care access at NASTAD, the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors. Ryan White and ADAPs “are not equipped to provide that full sweep of comprehensive care,” he said.

Roshan McDaniel, South Carolina’s ADAP program manager, says 60% of South Carolinians enrolled in ADAP would qualify if her state expanded Medicaid. “The first few years, we thought about it,” said McDaniel. “We don’t even think about it nowadays.”

Enrollment in the Ryan White program jumped during the early months of the pandemic when state economies froze and Americans hunkered down amid a grinding pandemic. Data from state health departments reflect the increased need. In Texas, enrollment in the state’s AIDS drug program increased 34% from March to December 2020. In Georgia, enrollment jumped by 10%.

State health officials attribute the increased enrollment to pandemic-related job losses, especially in states that didn’t expand Medicaid. Antiretroviral treatment, the established regimen that suppresses the amount of virus in the body and prevents AIDS, costs up to $36,000 a year, and medication interruptions can lead to viral mutations and drug resistance. But qualifying for state assistance is difficult: Approval can take up to two months, and missing paperwork can lead to canceled coverage.

Federal health experts say Southern states have generally lagged behind getting patients into medical care and suppressing their viral loads, and people with HIV infections tend to go undiagnosed longer there than in other regions. In Georgia, for example, nearly 1 out of 4 people who learned they were infected developed AIDS within a year, indicating their infections had long gone undiagnosed.

As vaccinations become widely available and restrictions ease, HIV clinic directors are scouring their patient lists to determine who they need to see first. “We are looking at how many people haven’t seen us in over a year. We think it’s over several hundred. Did they move? Did they move providers?” said Carlo, the doctor and health care CEO in Dallas. “We don’t know what the long-term consequences are going to be.”

KHN (Kaiser Health News) is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues. Together with Policy Analysis and Polling, KHN is one of the three major operating programs at KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation). KFF is an endowed nonprofit organization providing information on health issues to the nation.

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