Not all sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) create a clear set of symptoms. Testing is the only way to know for sure whether you have an infection caused by one of the more than 20 different types of sexually transmitted diseases.
But what if you’re already in a relationship? Is testing still as important as it is when you’re single and actively dating? For residents of Lauderhill and Lauderdale Lakes, Florida, guidance is available through the women’s and men’s health services of Dr. Christopher Smith and his team at Christos Doctors Inn Walk In Health Care.
As soon as you begin engaging in sexual activity, including oral sex and intimate touching, it’s time to make STD testing part of your health care routine.
While some infections bring on symptoms that are impossible to ignore, many create no noticeable symptoms at all. That’s part of what makes STDs so easy to spread. You or your partner can have an STD and have no idea you’re infected.
Ideally, you undergo testing anytime you take on a new sexual partner. If the other person also gets tested prior to beginning a sexual relationship, you both have a lower chance of contracting a disease. A monogamous relationship is a critical part of this equation.
You should also come in for STD testing if you develop symptoms like pelvic pain or a burning sensation while urinating. But again, not all infections lead to symptoms, so waiting until something feels wrong isn’t the best course of action.
Aside from abstaining from all sexual contact, the best way to protect yourself from STDs is by being in a mutually monogamous relationship in which both partners have been tested for STDs and received negative test results.
It’s not an easy topic to discuss with your health provider, but the reality is that some people believe they’re in a monogamous relationship, only to find out that their partner has had sexual interactions with someone else. Sharing needles with intravenous drug use also presents an infection risk.
There isn’t one test for all STDs. You or your partner also could have a previously undiagnosed and untreated infection that was undetected in your last STD test or that you weren’t tested for. Getting tested during the relationship offers the peace of mind of knowing you don’t have an infection or the opportunity to get treated promptly if the results aren’t what you expected.
The choice to get screened for STDs while in a relationship is a highly personal one, but it’s important to prioritize your sexual health. If you decide to get screened, the team at Christos Doctors Inn Walk In Health Care is here for you.
You can simply walk in for same-day STD testing or schedule an appointment online or over the phone. As with all of our services, you can count on working with a medical professional who treats you with respect and compassion, and you’ll have the opportunity to ask questions and express concerns as they arise.
