Why is STD testing important?
Even if you practice safe sex with a single partner, STD testing is important for several reasons. Not only does it protect your own reproductive health, it also reduces the spread of STDs from one person to the next.
STDs, or sexually transmitted diseases, are very common and spread easily; many STDs can be transmitted without sexual intercourse, through skin-to-skin contact alone. Approximately 20 million new infections are diagnosed in the United States each year.
Common STDs include:
- Herpes
- Syphilis
- HIV/AIDS
- Chlamydia
- Gonorrhea
- Trichomoniasis
- Human papillomavirus (HPV)
Unfortunately, most STDs don’t have symptoms, so routine STD testing is the best way to detect an infection.
What are the symptoms of an STD?
STD symptoms vary depending on your specific disease, but they might include:
- Painful intercourse
- Strong vaginal odors
- Lower abdominal pain
- Bleeding between periods
- Swollen or painful testicles
- Burning or painful urination
- Discharge from the vagina or penis
- Itching or irritation in the penis, vagina, or anus
Some STDs have symptoms that are similar to those of the flu, such as fever, headache, sore throat, fatigue, and swollen lymph glands.
Without treatment, some STDs can cause significant health problems.
What are the risks of an untreated STD?
In addition to the risk of spreading an STD to your partner, untreated STDs can lead to a variety of reproductive health problems, including:
- Infertility in men and women
- Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) in women
- Increased susceptibility to HIV infection
Some STDs like herpes and HIV have no cure, but knowing that you’re infected can reduce your risk of spreading them to your sexual partners. You can reduce your risk of contracting an STD by discussing sexual histories with your partner, using condoms, and through regular STD testing.
What can I expect during my appointment?
Getting an STD test is a simple and relatively quick process that often occurs during your regular men’s or women’s health exam. During your appointment, Dr. Stevanovic reviews any symptoms you might have, discusses your sexual history, and performs a physical exam of your body.
STD testing might require a urine or blood sample, or a tissue sample from your genitals, mouth, or anus.
To protect your reproductive health, call Ithaca Primary Care or schedule an STD test online today.
