Sexually Transmitted Infections/Diseases

 

 

Who Should Be Tested?

  • Sexually active people (vaginal, oral or anal sex) at least once a year under 25 years old
  • Anyone who has had a new sex partner within the last 6 months
  • Partners of infected people
  • Intravenous (IV) drug users

Testing Information

  • You may have to ask your doctor for STI testing
  • Different STI’s require different tests.  Your doctor can advise you on which ones you need.
  • Different types of sexual activity require different tests.

Testing can take place at a doctor’s office, local clinic or health department.  Check out this video taken at the Pregnancy Resource Center on what a testing visit might look like.  

 

Q&A

Gwen:  

My boyfriend and I have only had oral sex. I don’t have anything to worry about, do I?  

 

P2 Crew: Great question, Gwen. We hear this question a lot. Many teens report to be having oral sex. To be clear, oral sex is contact of one person’s mouth or tongue with the genitals of another person. To answer your question, oral sex is still sex and all forms of sexual activity put you at risk.  The biggest physical risk with oral sex is sexually transmitted infections. Oral sex carries risk of serious, untreatable, and even life-threatening diseases in both men and women. It has been found to spread syphilis, gonorrhea, HPV, herpes, HIV, and possibly Hepatitis C. (CDC)

Remember that any disease that can be passed through vaginal sex can be spread through oral sex.

Caleb:

 “I have had all kinds of sex.  Am I infected?”

P2 Crew:  Since the majority of infected people have no symptoms, the only way to truly know is to get tested. 

You’re probably thinking, “I’m not infected. There’s no way. I don’t feel sick and I don’t have any bumps.” 

Really? How would you know that you’re clean if you haven’t been tested? The truth is you have NO CLUE if you are or aren’t, you’re just thinking, “well, it won’t happen to me”. Are you amazed by our psychic abilities?  We hear this from teens all the time.

Here’s some advice…GET TESTED NOW

If you discover a sexually transmitted infection early and it’s treatable, you may be able to take meds and prevent it from turning into a disease that’s permanent. Don’t put it off! Your health is important! Getting tested now might prevent a lifetime of embarrassment, discomfort, and (in the worst case) even death.

Don’t want to deal with pregnancy or an STI/ STD?  You may want to Avoid the Risk.