STDs like HIV destroys your white blood cells, weakening your immune system. A weak immune system leaves you vulnerable to other diseases. Going for STD testing in Winter Park even when you do not have any signs of STD is vital since not everyone with a sexually transmitted disease has symptoms. While conditions like gonorrhea will start showing within days, others like HPV do not have signs. Common STDs likely to affect sexually active individuals include syphilis, genital herpes, and gonorrhea.
When is the best time to go for testing?
You should go for STD testing:
- Any time you have unprotected sex. You should go for the test around two weeks after unprotected sex and around 90 days later.
- When you start exhibiting possible STD symptoms, including colored discharge and a burning sensation, especially when urinating
- If you are pregnant. With or without symptoms, an expectant mother should go for a syphilis or chlamydia test, regardless of her sexual history.
You should also go for the test annually, especially if you are a woman, to test for infections like chlamydia.
What are the common STDs you should go test after unprotected sex?
Sexually transmitted diseases vary in severity and treatment. While your doctor might recommend antibiotics to help address ailments like Trichomoniasis and chlamydia, infections like genital herpes might never resolve entirely with medication. The common STDs you are likely to have include:
Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
HPV is among the most occurring STDs sexually active individuals spread through vaginal, anal, or oral sex. Though skin-to-skin contact is crucial in spreading the infection, HPV can only inhabit your throat, mouth, and genitals. Unfortunately, most women with the disease might not know they have it because it has no signs. Although HPV might clear independently within two years, you should expect adverse complications if your system fails to rid itself of the infection. The good news is that vaccinations can help address HPV’s dangerous strains that might result in cervical cancer or genital warts.
Gonorrhea
The infection is not only for sexually active individuals. A pregnant mother can also spread the STD to her newborn baby at birth. While the symptoms are profound in men, women might fail to have any implications of the infection. If they do, the signs might be similar to those of urinary tract infections.
Chlamydia
Like HPV, chlamydia does not have symptoms. The infection that develops within three weeks of exposure affects more men than women. The good news is that chlamydia can resolve in approximately seven days of antibiotic treatment. Failure to get treatment can result in adverse reproduction complications, especially in women. Chlamydia can travel to the fallopian tubes and uterus, causing infertility.
Genital herpes
Genital herpes is incurable. However, your doctor can help manage the condition’s symptoms with antiviral treatments. Though the symptoms might take a few days to showcase, most people do not know they have genital herpes. Common genital herpes signs you should watch out for include ulcers, sores, or blisters.
STD testing is crucial for your overall wellness, especially if you are sexually active. Contact your doctor to know what to expect on your appointment for STD testing.
