STD Testing Info

We’ve all heard about STD testing and how it can help prevent the spreading of STDs. But all the information, all the attention, all the fuss about STD testing is about more than just protecting the health of others – it’s about protecting yourself too.

Why Should I be Tested for STDs?

Anyone who is sexually active should be tested for STDs, because we’re not all-knowing. Not everyone who has a sexually transmitted disease knows about it – in fact, most people don’t. Let’s forget for a moment that you could unknowingly be spreading STDs and endangering the lives of others. Let’s put aside the concern for them, just for now, and focus on you.

Because many sexually transmitted diseases, such as Chlamydia and gonorrhea, may show no symptoms at all, the only way to know you have one is through STD testing. Chlamydia, for example, is an asymptomatic disease that, if left untreated, can cause reproductive problems and infertility. And if you are lucky enough to have a baby, he or she may be born with pneumonia or conjunctivitis as a result of your Chlamydia.

If I’m Already Infected, How Can STD Tests Help Me?

STD tests allow you to know you have a disease early enough to avoid complications. Chlamydia can be treated and even cured so you never have to suffer its consequences.

Early detection with routine STD screenings can help you stay healthy. Some STDs are curable. Others are treatable. Just because you may have an incurable disease, does not mean you’re doomed. There have been many medical advancements in the treatment of STDs.

We’re all familiar with HIV, the virus that can lead to AIDS, but did you know that the presence of other STDs actually increases your risk of becoming infected with HIV if exposed to it? So by being tested for STDs, you’re actually helping to prevent becoming infected with HIV. In addition, if you have already been infected, early detection can help prevent the virus from turning into AIDS. Catch it before it has time to advance with routine STD testing. HIV is a treatable disease, and many people who have it receive treatment and go on to live normal lives because of early detection.

The truth of the matter is – knowledge is power. And the more you know about your own body, the more power you have to control what happens next.