Who Should be Tested for STDs and How Often?

aScreening for sexually transmitted diseases is important for many different reasons. If you’re like many people, you may not be sure if you need to be tested or how frequently you should come in for testing. Marsha E. Gorens, MD, is pleased to discuss the importance of STD testing in maintaining your overall health and offers confidential, judgment-free screening services through her practice in the Near West Side neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. 

Why is STD testing still a somewhat taboo topic?

While we’ve come a long way in American culture when it comes to health and wellness, sexually transmitted disease (STDs) is an area that still doesn’t get the focus it deserves. That may be because we still have some lingering discomfort with having frank discussions about sex. 

It might be because sex is sometimes still thought of as an incredibly private topic, or one that makes people feel self-conscious or even shameful. But let’s take a closer look at the facts about STDs and overall health. 

Unless you have absolutely zero sexual interaction with others, including intimate touching, you have a risk of contracting an STD. The primary difference between these diseases and any others is the fact that they can easily spread from one person to the next by way of sex or physical intimacy. 

STDs include a variety of viral, fungal, bacterial, or parasitic infections, including some you’ve probably never heard of. There’s nothing particularly shameful about contracting an STD. So if you wouldn’t feel like you have to hang your head if you pick up a case of the flu, there’s no need to feel embarrassed discussing STD prevention, screening, or treatment. 

Virtually everyone needs STD testing

If you’re sexually active, you need to be periodically screened for sexually transmitted diseases. That’s true regardless of how many partners you have or how careful you are during sex. Having fewer partners and using condoms every single time can definitely lower your risk of getting an STD, but there’s still a risk. 

That’s because some infections are spread far more easily than others. Human papillomavirus (HPV) and genital herpes, for example, only require simple skin-to-skin contact to spread from one person to another. 

You can’t rely on symptoms to let you know you might have an STD. Many infections don’t create a clear set of symptoms, so you can have an infection and not know about it. That means you can spread it to others unintentionally. It also means that someone could spread an infection to you unintentionally. 

People who are in a long-term, mutually monogamous relationship where both people have been tested have the lowest risk of sexually transmitted disease. But even here, there is still a degree of risk. Some infections, like HPV, can be dormant for many, many years, and can then become active (and transmissible). HPV is the leading cause of cervical cancer and can also increase your risk of oral and other cancers. Knowing your status can help you preserve your overall health. 

It’s a complicated topic, but the fact is that many partners think they’re in a mutually monogamous relationship, only to find that their partner is or has been unfaithful. STD testing is the only way to confirm your disease status with certainty. 

When should I come in for STD testing?

Of course, if you experience any symptoms of sexually transmitted disease, you should come in right away for screening. People who are sexually active with multiple partners should get tested frequently. Many people who are dating choose to get tested before they have sex with someone new. It’s also common for both partners to get screened at the beginning of a new relationship. 

If you’re in a long-term relationship, you may not need frequent STD testing. Discuss your situation with Dr. Gorens to find a testing approach that is right for you. HPV screening is now a standard part of women’s health services, even during and after menopause. 

When you decide you’re ready for STD testing, we provide compassionate, science-backed guidance. You can schedule a visit with Marsha E. Gorens, MD, online or over the phone at your earliest convenience.