While sex can be invigorating, joyful, and fun, this intimate skin-to-skin contact can also leave individuals with an increased risk of transmitting a sexually transmitted disease, or STD. While STDs may carry a negative stigma in both men and women, they are incredibly common. In fact, the American Sexual Health Association reports that approximately 50% of sexually active adults contract an STD before the age of 25. At GYN Choices in East Brunswick, NJ, our compassionate, caring team of professionals can help you openly discuss STDs with a medical team to ensure you get the tests and screenings you need to protect yourself.
Who should be tested for STDs?
Any sexually active teenager or adult will want to have STD testing performed. This helps in checking for certain infections that often go undetected or unnoticed due to not showing any signs of symptoms. It is important to identify and treat these infections so individuals do not pass them unknowingly to other sexual partners.
How often should I be tested/screened for STDs?
Individuals who are sexually active with the same partner will want to be tested for STDs during their annual appointments. However, there are times when patients should be tested more regularly or as needed. The situations below may warrant having STD tests performed more often:
- Individuals not practicing safe sex by using condoms during intercourse
- Individuals who share intravenous needles with others
- Individuals with multiple sexual partners
- Individuals showing the signs or symptoms of an STD
How are STD tests performed?
There are a few different ways in which STDs are tested. Some are diagnosed with a physical evaluation, while others may require a urine sample. For some conditions, such as gonorrhea, syphilis, and HIV, a blood sample is completed.
What STDs can I test for?
Below are some of the more common STDs tested amongst patients at GYN Choices:
- Gonorrhea
- Syphilis
- Aids/HIV
- HPV
- Hepatitis
- Bacterial vaginosis
- Herpes
- PID
- Trichomoniasis
Are you in need of an STD test and screening?
Contact GYN Choices of East Brunswick, NJ today to schedule an appointment at our office at 281 Summerhill Road. We can be reached at (732) 698-1115 and are open to new and returning patients.
