Do I Need STI Testing? All About Sexually Transmitted Infections

STI infections are on the rise. Get the facts – and learn how to protect yourself in this post.

Sexually Transmitted Infections: It’s definitely not a hot topic to discuss with friends over coffee.

Women and men alike tend to shy away from talking about the symptoms, or even the possibility that they might have an STI.

However, it’s important to understand if you’re at risk, and if so- what you can do about it.

What is an STI?

You may be more familiar with the term “STD” rather than STI. In recent years, the more medically accurate term, “Sexually Transmitted Infection” has replaced “Sexually Transmitted Disease”.

This refers to a bacteria or virus that is sexually transmitted from person to person. [source]

Some are more severe than others, but STIs are a serious condition that require treatment.

Whichever term you use – there are important things to understand about these infections, and how they can affect you, especially in the long run.

Am I at risk for an STI?

If you are sexually active, you are at risk for a sexually transmitted infection. This includes any type of sexual activity, including anal, vaginal or oral sex.

Teens and young adults ages 15-24 are in the high-risk age group, and men who have sex with men have the greatest risk overall. [source]

According to the NIH, other risky behaviors include:

• Having sex without a condom
• Having sex with many partners, especially anonymous partners
• Having sex while using drugs or alcohol, which can affect a person’s judgment regarding safer sex practices

The tricky thing about some STIs, such as genital herpes, is that you may not have any symptoms until a long time after becoming infected – or no symptoms that you notice at all.

This means if you have multiple sexual partners over time, you could infect each partner without knowing it.

What are the most common STIs?

Chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis are considered the most common STIs [source], though there are many more.

HIV is one of many STIs, which can progress to AIDS when it is not treated with HIV medicines. [source]

There are currently treatments available, but no cure for AIDS. [source]

HIV is typically seen as its own category of disease, even though it’s more common than gonorrhea or syphilis. [source]

How Many People Actually Have STIs?

You might be wondering, is it really that common for someone to get an STI, though?

The CDC estimates that around 20% of people in the U.S. have an STI. That’s 1 in 5 Americans who may be infected and not even realize it.

Half of all sexually active people will get an STD by age 25. [source]

STIs and Pregnancy

Different types of STIs can have different effects on you and your unborn baby during and after pregnancy.

HIV/AIDS poses the most cause for concern, but even STIs such as herpes can be life-threatening to a newborn.

Syphilis can be passed from mother to baby at birth and can also be fatal.

Your health care provider should screen for STIs at your first prenatal visit and prescribe any necessary treatment. [source]

STIs and Reproductive Health

Certain STIs carry increased risk of harm for you, and for your current or future ability to have children.

You may have a higher chance of:

• Miscarriage (Losing the baby while pregnant)
• Ectopic pregnancy (Conceiving a baby in a fallopian tube or outside the uterus, which leads to the death of the baby. It can also be fatal for the mother if untreated.)
• Preterm delivery (Delivering a premature baby)
• Infertility (Becoming unable to conceive children)

Untreated STIs can cause infertility in males as well as females. [source]

How to Prevent STIs

Healthcare providers and agencies always recommend “safer sex” practices such as using condoms; limiting the number of sexual partners you have; and knowing your partner’s sexual history and STI testing status before having sex with them.

But the truth is, condoms can fail and may not protect you from all types of STIs.

The only failproof way to prevent STIs is to only have sex with one partner who has also not had other sexual partners.

Only having one sexual partner for life not only shields you from the risk of STIs and unexpected pregnancy —

— BUT, you also get to go through life without the emotional baggage that having multiple sexual partners can bring. (Another consequence of the hookup culture that people don’t like to talk about.)

Interestingly, research shows that committed, monogamous (one-partner-only) marriage relationship can also provide the greatest level of sexual satisfaction. [source]

Where to Get Treatment for STIs

If you are sexually active and have any of the risk factors mentioned at all in this post, you AND your partner(s) should get tested for STIs right away.

Your local Health Department may be able to provide free testing and treatment. Or, contact your healthcare provider.

Here at the Pregnancy Resource Center of Mountain Grove, we can provide information for understanding STIs and connect you with avenues for testing and treatment.

It’s always important that you get prenatal care while pregnant (or if you suspect you are pregnant)- and especially if you might have an STI.

Use the chat widget on this screen to schedule an appointment with us today.

Read next:

How to Talk to the Father of the Baby (About Your Pregnancy)

Healthy Dating: How to Know You’re in a Healthy Relationship

Is My Relationship Toxic?

Pregnancy Quiz (Am I Pregnant?)