Why get tested for stds

Anyone who has unsafe sex or shares injection drug equipment should get tested for HIV at least once a year. People who have had oral or anal sex should talk with their healthcare provider about throat and rectal testing options. You can quickly find a place to be tested for STDs by entering your zip code in the form below. Find an STD testing site near you. ZIP Code:. Follow STD. Links with this icon indicate that you are leaving the CDC website.

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Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. STD screening is something that everyone needs at least once in their lives, and most people need to be tested for STDs on a far more regular basis than that.

That's because STDs don't only affect people who are "high risk. Unfortunately, most people have no idea how common STDs are They incorrectly assume they'd know if they were at risk of contracting an STD and would be able to tell if they had one. However, the high frequency of misconceptions isn't really surprising.

The truth is that even many doctors are uninformed about sexual health risks, and therefore do not regularly encourage their patients to get STD tested. They too assume it isn't necessary. Why does everyone need to get STD testing? Just because your partner has never had sex doesn't mean they can't have a disease that may be sexually transmissible. A number of STDs are spread by skin-to-skin contact. Other sexually transmissible conditions, such as oral herpes , may even be passed by casual affection between family members.

A substantial fraction of people with cold sores get them from their relatives during childhood, but those cold sores can then be spread sexually during oral sex.

Married people, and those in other committed relationships, often say that they don't need STD testing, because they're in mutually monogamous relationships. To an extent that is true, but only if everyone involved in the relationship was screened for STDs before they got together. Many people with STDs have no idea that they are infected, which can cause relationship problems when symptoms appear after a couple has been together for years Some people don't bother getting tested for STDs when they're in a relationship because they've had unprotected sex, and they assume that if they were going to get an STD they'd have it already.

Why bother worrying about something that it's too late to prevent? However, it's never too late to get tested or to start having safer sex. It's not like STDs are transmitted every time an infected person has sex.

There's no question about it—being diagnosed with an STD isn't any fun. Compare your options. You may have a follow-up test, such as a gonorrhea culture to see if the bacteria are resistant to antibiotics. If the test shows that you have an infection, you can take steps to avoid spreading the disease to others.

You can tell others so they can decide whether to be tested. If you're pregnant, you can avoid spreading the infection to your newborn. A test could find an infection early and help you avoid long-term problems from the disease. Getting tested may give you peace of mind. If you have an STI, your doctor may have to report it to the local health unit.

The health unit may contact your sex partner s. Telling people that you have an STI may be hard for you and can affect your relationships. Your test could give a false-positive result, which means that the results show that you have an infection when you don't. Your test could give a false-negative result, which means that the results show that you don't have an infection when you do.

You consider getting tested in the future if your lifestyle changes or you become at risk for an STI. You won't have the risk of getting a false-positive or false-negative test result. You won't have a test you don't need if you know you're not at risk for an STI.

If you have an STI, you won't find out, and you may spread the infection to others. If you're pregnant and have an STI, you could spread the infection to your newborn. You won't be able to tell other people that they are at risk and might want to get tested. They could spread the infection to others. You could have long-term problems from an untreated infection. Personal stories about considering STI testing These stories are based on information gathered from health professionals and consumers.

What matters most to you? I have an increased risk of getting an STI. I don't think I have an increased risk of getting an STI. I have no reason to think that I might have an STI. I don't believe that I need treatment for an STI. I want to be sure I'm not spreading an STI to anyone. My other important reasons: My other important reasons:.

Where are you leaning now? What else do you need to make your decision? Check the facts. True No, that's not right. Some STIs don't cause symptoms, especially in women. If you have an increased risk of STIs, your doctor may recommend routine testing. False That's right. I'm not sure It may help to go back and read "Get the Facts. True Yes, that's right. Untreated STIs can lead to serious problems in women, including pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility.

A pregnant woman also can pass the infection to her newborn. False No, that's wrong. People younger than 25 have a higher risk of getting an STI if they are sexually active. If you've never had sex or have discussed your risk with your doctor, you may not need a test.

False Yes, you're right. Decide what's next. Yes No. I'm ready to take action. I want to discuss the options with others. I want to learn more about my options. Your Summary. Your decision Next steps.

Your knowledge of the facts Key concepts that you understood. Key concepts that may need review. Getting ready to act Patient choices. What matters to you. Print Summary. Credits and References Credits. Public Health Agency of Canada , updated Gonoccoccal infections. Chlamydial infections. Accessed October 23, Get the facts Compare your options What matters most to you? Get the Facts Your options Have a blood or urine test or some other test to screen for sexually transmitted infections.

You have an increased risk of getting gonorrhea if: 1 You have had sex with someone who has gonorrhea or who is at risk for gonorrhea.

You have a blood or urine test or some other test. You take steps to avoid getting or spreading an STI. Check the facts 1. True False I'm not sure. That's right. Yes, that's right. Yes, you're right.

Decide what's next 1. Do you understand the options available to you? Certainty 1.