Testing for STDs

Millions of people around the world and in the United States are infected with sexually transmitted diseases, but many people who have these conditions are unaware of their conditions. The only way to protect yourself from contracting a sexually transmitted disease is to a) receive a certified STD test and b) make sure your sexual partners have been medically tested as well. It’s very common for some people to carry STDs without ever showing symptoms, and those people are often unlikely to get screened for the presence of STDs. Proper STD screening is the only way to know for sure.

If you’re sexually active with several different partners, then you should receive STD tests on a very regular basis. Not only are you protecting yourself, but you’re protecting others as well. If you pass along an STD to someone, then you’re also endangering everyone that person might have sex with later on. Always be careful when considering sex with a new partner. Even if the other person isn’t as sexually active as you are, many STDs can also be transferred through other means such as drug use.

STD Tests for men and women

Many sexually transmitted diseases cause damage to the reproductive system, which often causes more problem for women than it does for men. However, STD testing is recommended for both men and women, especially considering that either sex is equally capable of passing along a sexually transmitted disease.

Men should be regularly tested for commons STDs such as Chlamydia, syphilis and gonorrhea. These tests can be administered at the doctor’s office or at certified STD clinics. Women should be tested for the same STDs, and they should also receive regular pap smears to check for a variety of other health issues. Examining cells from the cervix via a pap smear also allows doctors to find evidence of the onset of cancer. More specifically, though, pap smears allow doctors to check for changes or deficiencies within the female reproductive system. Men can also experience problems with fertility or impotence if they are infected with sexually transmitted diseases.

Sexually active men and women should also be tested frequently for HIV and AIDS. In addition to being fatal illnesses, these viruses bring on a host of other healthy problems that may deserve immediate medical attention. People who are diagnosed with these diseases must also make significant lifestyle changes to remove the risk of spreading the viruses to other people.

Pay attention to possible STD symptoms

Many people show few symptoms of having a sexually transmitted disease, but others experience very noticeable symptoms that should be met with immediate medical treatment. Some of these obvious STD symptoms include strange blisters, warts or ulcerations in the genital region, or pain or bleeding while urinating. Asking for an STD evaluation may seem embarrassing, but remember that immediate treatment is crucial not only for your long-term health, but also to protect the long-term health of those you come in contact with.

Routine Testing

For both men and women, routine testing is a good idea. Women should get a routine pap test--an easy procedure that collects cells from your cervix to test for any cancer or precancerous changes. Cervical cancer can develop as a result of an HPV infection, which is a common STD. Pap tests are generally recommended for women over the age of 21, and no later than 3 years after a woman's first intercourse. Women between the ages of 30 and 69 should have pap tests about every two to three years. Men need less testing than women in general, unless they have sex with other men, as STDs can be transmitted more easily this way. Men who have sex with other men should be tested annually for HIV, syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhea. Both men and women should consider STD testing if there are any signs of STDs. It's always a good idea to get tested for STDs on a routine basis, as you could be afflicted without even knowing it.