Sexual Health
Sexually Transmitted Infections and Your Body
Any time a person has sexual contact with a partner, there is a chance of contracting a sexually transmitted infection (STI). Condoms and other barrier methods may help reduce the risk of contracting an STI, but these methods are only risk reduction, not risk elimination. Many STIs show no signs or symptoms. Therefore, it is important to be tested regularly. How regularly you should be tested depends on your sexual behaviors and other risk factors.
Could I Have an STI?
If a person is sexually active, they are at risk for a sexually transmitted infection. If you have had sex but have no signs or symptoms, you could still have an STI and you can still transmit it to your partner(s). Some STIs are curable if they are caught early and have no long-term effects. But if left untreated, many STIs can cause damage which can be permanent. This is one reason why testing and early detection is important.
How Do I Prevent an STI?
If you are engaging in any type of sexual activity, you are at risk for a sexually transmitted disease. Condoms and other barrier methods are risk reduction, not risk elimination. Abstinence is the only way to ensure you don’t contract an STI. This means not engaging in vaginal, oral, or anal sex.
What If I Tested Positive for an STI?
Some STIs are curable with medications or other treatment methods. Talk to a medical professional and begin a treatment plan. Do not engage in any type of sexual activity until cleared by your doctor to make sure you do not pass an STI to your partner(s). There is help, hope, and healing available after an STI. Call us today to talk with a peer consultant confidentially, without shame or judgment.
Who Should Be Tested for a Sexually Transmitted Infection?
Anyone, regardless of age, who has engaged in any type of sexual activity with a partner(s) should be tested.
Is It Possible My Partner Lied to Me About Having an STI?
People are not always open about their STI status or sexual history. Getting to know your partner before engaging in sexual activity does not guarantee they have shared all of their sexual health history with you. You are at risk any time you engage in sexual activity with an infected partner(s).
My Partner Told Me They Have an STI. Should I Be Tested?
If you have engaged in any type of sexual activity with someone who is infected with an STI, you should stop all sexual contact and seek testing immediately.
What should I do next?
It is estimated that about 20 percent of the United States population – approximately one in five people in the U.S. – has an STI. We are here to offer help and hope. At our center, we can offer you or refer you for STI testing in your area and give you guidance and support no matter your test result. Getting tested for STIs is easy and harmless. Contact us today for confidential help and support.
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023, April 11). Infections continue to forge ahead, compromising the nation’s health. https://www.cdc.gov/std/statistics/2021/default.htm#print
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, February 18). Sexually transmitted infections prevalence, incidence, and cost estimates in the united states. https://www.cdc.gov/std/statistics/prevalence-incidence-cost-2020.htm
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Sexually transmitted infections treatment guidelines, 2021. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report: Recommendations and Reports, 70(4), 1-190. https://www.cdc.gov/std/treatment-guidelines/STI-Guidelines-2021.pdf
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, December 14). Which STD tests should I get?. https://www.cdc.gov/std/prevention/screeningreccs.htm
Cleveland Clinic. (2023, February 3). Sexually transmitted infections. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9138-sexually-transmitted-diseases--infections-stds--stis
Cleveland Clinic. (n.d.). Sexually transmitted infections. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/services/sexually-transmitted-infections-treatment
Mayo Clinic. (2023, April 14). Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sexually-transmitted-diseases-stds/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20351246
Mayo Clinic. (2022, May 5). Sexually transmitted disease (STD) symptoms. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sexually-transmitted-diseases-stds/in-depth/std-symptoms/art-20047081
Mayo Clinic. (2023, April 14). STD testing: What’s right for you?. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sexually-transmitted-diseases-stds/in-depth/std-testing/art-20046019
Sexual Health
Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Your Body
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). Condoms and other barrier methods may help reduce the risk of contracting an STD/STI, but these methods are only risk reduction, not risk elimination. Many STDs/STIs show no signs or symptoms; this is why it is important to be tested regularly. [1] [3]
Could I Have an STD/STI?
If a person has engaged in sex or sex-like activity, they are at risk for a sexually transmitted disease. Many STDs/STIs are curable if they are caught early and have no long-term effects. But if left untreated many STDs/STIs can cause damage, which is sometimes permanent. This is why testing and early detection is important. Even if you had sex but have no signs or symptoms, you could still have an STD/STI and you can still transmit it to your partner(s). If your partner says they have been tested, there is no way to verify what they say. The only way to ensure you don’t contract an STD/STI is by not having sex or engaging in sex-like activities with a partner(s).
How Do I Prevent an STD/STI?
If you are engaging in sex or sex-like activity, you are at risk for a sexually transmitted disease. Condoms and other barrier methods are risk reduction, not risk elimination. If you are engaging in sex, abstinence is the only way to ensure against contracting an STD/STI. This means not engaging in vaginal, oral, or anal sex. [2]
What If I Tested Positive for an STD/STI?
Some STDs/STIs are curable with antibiotics or other treatment methods. Talk to your doctor and begin a treatment plan. Do not engage in sex or sex-like activity because it is transmittable. There is help, hope, and healing after an STD/STI. Call us today to talk with a peer consultant confidentially, without shame or judgment. [1]
Who Should Be Tested for a Sexually Transmitted Disease?
Anyone, no matter your age, who is engaged or has been engaged in sex or sex-like activity with a partner(s) should be tested. [1]
Is It Possible My Partner Lied to Me About Having an STD/STI?
People can and do lie about their STD/STI status or sexual history. Getting to know your partner before engaging in sexual activity will not prevent them from lying to you about their sexual health. You are at risk any time you engage in sex or sex-like activity with a partner(s).
My Partner Told Me They Have an STD/STI. Should I Be Tested?
If you have engaged in sex or sex-like activity with someone who is infected with an STD/STI you should seek testing immediately and stop all sexual contact.
In the United States there are 110 million men and women infected with STDs/STIs. We are here to offer help and hope. We can refer you to STD/STI testing in your area and give you guidance and support no matter your test result. Getting tested for STDs/STIs is easy and harmless; call us today for confidential help and support. [1]
[1] STD Testing – What’s Right for You? Mayo Clinic Website: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sexually-transmitted-diseases-stds/in-depth/std-testing/art-20046019. Last modified September 16, 2020. Retrieved December 13, 2021.
[2] Sexually Transmitted Diseases Data and Statistics. Center for Disease Control and Prevention Website: https://www.cdc.gov/std/stats/default.htm. Last Modified December 1, 2021. Retrieved December 13, 2021.
[3] Sexually Transmitted Infections Prevalence, Incidence, and Cost Estimates in the United States Website: https://www.cdc.gov/std/
STI Testing
The Pregnancy Center can help answer your questions about STIs, explain how to reduce your chances of contracting an STI, and we offer STI testing for the two most common STIs, Chlamydia and Gonorrhea.