Protecting Your Sexual Health
The Pregnancy Resource does not current offer STI Testing & Treatment. However, below is good information regarding protecting your sexual health.
Any time a person engages in sex or sex-like activity with a partner, there is a chance of contracting a sexually transmitted disease (STD) or sexually transmitted infection (STI). You can contract an STD through oral, anal, or vaginal intercourse and genital touching. There are estimated to be 20 million new sexually transmitted diseases/infections each year in the United States alone.
Even if a person looks perfectly healthy, they can still transmit an STI and not even know it because symptoms are not always obvious. Many STIs/STDs are curable if they are caught early. If left untreated, many can cause serious medical conditions. Additionally, having an untreated STI at the time of an abortion can increase your risk of developing a post-abortive infection, such as Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID). Testing regularly and early detection is extremely important.
Symptoms of Some STIs
Sexually transmitted infections can have a wide range of signs and symptoms, but unfortunately, many have no symptoms at first. That is why they often go unnoticed and can result in future health problems. Watch for these signs:
- Sores or bumps on the genitals
- Painful or burning urination
- Unusual vaginal bleeding
- Pain during sex
- Sore, swollen lymph nodes, particularly in the groin area
- Lower abdominal pain
- Fever
- A rash over certain parts of the body
The CDC recommends yearly testing for chlamydia and gonorrhea for all sexually active individuals younger than 25 years old and for any sexually active individual with risk factors such as new or multiple sexual partners.
How often should I be tested?
The CDC recommends yearly testing for chlamydia and gonorrhea for all sexually active individuals younger than 25 years old and for any sexually active individual with risk factors such as new or multiple sexual partners. Additionally, all individuals should be tested at least once for HIV. Certain populations may benefit from additional screenings for Hepatitis B & C, syphilis or other STIs. You may need to be screened more frequently if you are at higher risk for contracting an STI, such as if you have multiple partners or change partners. You can learn more about your personal risk and what testing is recommended for you at STDWizard.com.
What is the difference between an STI and STD?
What can I do to prevent STIs?
You can be exposed to an STI through vaginal, oral, or anal sex or mutual masturbation and sharing of sex toys. The only way to guarantee you do not get an STI is to practice abstinence, i.e. to avoid having sex. There are many benefits to waiting for sex until you are in a long-term, committed relationship with just one partner. This can significantly reduce your risk of an STI. We call this mutual monogamy. This means that you only have sex with your partner and your partner only has sex with you. Make sure to be tested before becoming sexually active if you or your partner has had past partners and take the time needed to know that you are both committed to only each other.
It is important to know, that not all STIs cause symptoms, and an individual may contract an STI and subsequently pass it to a partner without knowing it. The more partners you have (or that your partner has had), the more likely it is that you may be exposed to an STI. Additionally, condoms can reduce the risk of contracting certain STIs. However, they cannot provide 100% protection against any STI/STD, even when used correctly and with every sexual encounter.