5 Member Services: 1-888-301-1228/TTY 1-888-310-7347 Get tested for chlamydia Talk with your doctor about chlamydia and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). If you are sexually active, it’s recommended that you get tested for chlamydia and other STDs at your next office visit. Test for chlamydia with an easy urine or swab test during your routine Pap test. Most people with chlamydia have no symptoms. A test is the only way to know if you have it. Talk to your doctor about getting tested each year if you are having sex and are a woman 24 years of age or younger. You may also want to talk to your doctor about getting tested if you are 25 years of age or older. Treat chlamydia with antibiotics. The medication can clear up the infection within one to two weeks. The earlier it is treated, the less likely it is to cause health problems like: ❱ Infer tility. ❱ Contracting HIV. ❱ Bir th defects. NEXT STEPS: Make an appointment today if you have not been tested and are sexually active. HPV vaccine for adolescents Well-care visits: What to expect Routine checkups during the first three years of your baby’s life, also called well-baby, well-child or wellcare visits, are just as impor tant as taking your child to the doctor when they are sick. At a well-child visit, the doctor can: ❱ Check your child’s general health and development. ❱ Detect problems early. ❱ Give helpful tips. ❱ Answer your questions. These visits are also a good time to complete impor tant vaccines and screenings, such as for lead and development. After 3 years of age, visits to the doctor should be scheduled every year up to 21 years of age. NEXT STEPS: Call your doctor’s office if you are not sure if your child has completed these routine visits. Why does my child need the HPV vaccine? A human papillomavirus (HPV) infection can cause different kinds of cancer in both women and men. The HPV vaccine is the best way to protect your child against certain types of cancers later in life caused by an HPV infection. When should my child be vaccinated? ●The HPV vaccine should be given between their 9th and 13th birthdays. ●Each vaccine should be given six to 12 months apart. Is the HPV vaccine safe? HPV vaccination provides safe, effective and long-lasting protection against cancers caused by HPV. It has a safety record that’s backed by 15 years of monitoring and research. The most common side effects are mild and include pain, redness or swelling in the arm where the shot was given. Where can my child get their vaccine? Call your child’s doctor to schedule an appointment if your child is between 9 and 13 years of age. Getting the HPV vaccine does not cost any money. For more information, call Gold Coast Health Plan’s Health Education Department at 1-805-437-5718, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (excluding holidays). If you use a TTY, call 1-888-310-7347. Next steps: For help scheduling an appointment, you can call Member Services at 1-888-301-1228, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. If you use a TTY, call 1-888-310-7347.
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