Should I Get Tested for STDs?

STDs are quite a big problem in the United States today. In fact, one in five people has an STD, which is an all-time high.

Getting tested for STDs is more important than you might realize, and it’s also quick and easy. Our team at AFC Urgent Care Hixson provides further helpful info about STDs below, so keep reading!

Who Is at Risk of Getting an STD?

Anyone who is sexually active with more than one person poses a risk of getting a sexually transmitted disease (STD). The risk increases, though, with more sexual partners and fewer monogamous relationships.

Those who are sexually active should be tested at least once a year, but those who are sexually active with multiple partners should be tested at least every three to six months. Many STDs don’t show symptoms, so getting regularly tested is one of the best things you can do for your overall health.

Additional STD Risk Factors

  • Having unprotected sex. Vaginal or anal penetration by an infected partner who isn’t wearing a latex condom significantly increases the risk of getting an STD. Improper or inconsistent use of condoms can also increase your risk.
  • Having sexual contact with multiple partners. The more people you have sexual contact with, the greater your risk. This is true for concurrent partners as well as consecutive monogamous relationships.
  • Having a history of STDs. Having one STD makes it much easier for another STD to take hold.
  • Injecting drugs. Needle sharing spreads many serious infections, including HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C.
  • Being young. Half the STDs occur in people between the ages of 15 and 24.

What Health Problems Will STDs Cause?

STDs can cause many long-term health problems, particularly in women and infants.

We’ve listed some of the most common complications that STDs can cause below.

Health Problems Caused By STDs

  • Male and female sterility
  • Blindness
  • Damage to major organs
  • Cervical cancer
  • Cancer of the vagina, penis, anus or throat
  • Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which can damage a woman’s fallopian tubes, leading to pelvic pain and sterility.
  • Pain during urination or intercourse

Need non-emergency medical care? Don’t hesitate to stop by our AFC Urgent Care Hixson center today!