STDs Read And Learn The Truth – Get STD Tested

False theories or rumors about sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) or sexually transmitted infections (STIs) – how they are prevented, spread, and treated — are universally, and it can be difficult for people to obtain accurate details about various STDs. Making sure that you have the right information about STD prevention and testing has never been more critical.  And it all starts when you get STD tested.

Do you know…?

• STDs affect youthful people the most. In the U.S., almost half of all new STDs are in people less than 25 years old.
• If you’re sexually active, you can decrease your chance of getting an STD by using a latex condom the ideal way from beginning to finish every time you have intercourse.
• Just about all STDs which may be developed via condomless vaginal sex may also be spread by anal and oral sex without a condom.
• You cannot tell if someone has an STD just by looking at them. Many STDs do not come with any symptoms, so the only way to know for sure is to get tested.
• Even if you use birth control, you still need to consider STD prevention. Birth control techniques like the patch, pill, ring, and IUD are incredibly effective at preventing pregnancy, but they don’t protect against HIV and STDs.
• The most secure way to avoid STDs is not to have anal, vaginal, or oral sex.

You must also know that all STDs, also HIV, are treatable, and most are reversible. The earlier you get examined, the earlier you can take a step to protect your health and the health of your spouse (s).

Some STDs can result in serious health problems if they are not treated on time. For example, an untreated STD can make it impossible or difficult for a woman to get pregnant. And having herpes or can increase your chances of getting HIV.

• STD tests are fast, easy, and generally painless. For example, rapid HIV tests can provide results from just a swab inside the mouth in only 20 minutes.
• Not all medical checkups include STD testing. You cannot assume you’ve been infected if you don’t ask to be examined. Consult your health provider which STDs you need to be tested for.
• Speak with your spouse about when you were last checked and indicate getting tested together. And in case you’ve got an STD, inform your spouse. These conversations might appear difficult to have, but communication with your partner is vital to stopping the spread of STDs and staying healthy. These discussions may bring you closer together.
• You can discover confidential testing near you that’s free or very low cost by visiting www.gettested.cdc.gov.

If you’re sexually active, getting examined for STDs is one of the most significant things you can do to maintain your health! Have an honest and open communication with your physician about your sexual records and STD testing. This will help them know what STD tests you might require.

Studies have shown that teens don’t speak about issues of sexuality and sex to their healthcare providers during their annual health checkups, sometimes as they’re afraid their parents may find out. If you do not feel relaxed conversing with your routine healthcare specialist about STDs, see one of the many clinics that offer confidential testing that’s free or low price.

Which Should I Get STD Tests?

• All adults and teens from ages 13 to 64 ought to be analyzed for HIV at least once.
• All sexually active women under the age of 25 years must be tested for gonorrhea and chlamydia each year. Women 25 years and above with risk factors, for example, new or more than one sex partner or a sex partner who has an STD should also be STD tested for gonorrhea and chlamydia every year.
• All pregnant women need to be examined for HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B in the early stage of pregnancy. At-risk women should also be tested for gonorrhea and chlamydia starting early in pregnancy. Testing should be repeated as needed to protect the health of babies and mothers.
• All sexually active homosexual and bisexual guys ought to be analyzed at least once every year for chlamydia, syphilis, and gonorrhea. Those people who have many or anonymous partners should be tested more often for STDs (i.e., at 3- to 6-month periods ).
• Sexually active homosexual and bisexual guys may benefit from more regular HIV testing (e.g., every 3 to 6 weeks ).
• Anybody who has unsafe sex or stocks injection drug equipment should get tested for HIV at least once every year.

Syphilis Strikes Back

Syphilis Strikes Back is an effort dedicated solely to supporting the identification, prevention, and curation of syphilis. As the campaign effort was motivated by the WPA’s 1940s-era postersExternal that increased health problems, it’s been revised with the latest public well-being information. The Syphilis Strikes Back operations intends to boost consciousness about syphilis, support healthcare experts help their patients, and enable people to take care of their well-being.

What Is Syphilis?

Syphilis is an STD that can have dangerous complications when not treated in time, but it is not difficult to cure with the treatment.

• It is divided into three phases, with secondary and primary (P&S) being the most infectious stages of this disease.
• Without proper handling, long-term infection may lead to severe medical issues affecting the brain, heart, and other body organs.
• Getting syphilis also makes it simpler to get HIV.

Why Are We Talking About Syphilis Now?

Already nearing exclusion, Syphilis is rising in America. In 2017, the United States met the most significant number and frequency of recorded P&S syphilis cases in more than 20 years.

From 2013-2017, Syphilis rates rose in race/ethnicity, and in each area, the vast majority of age groups. Men in general, and bisexual and gay guys specifically, continue to deal with the highest levels of syphilis. Among girls, syphilis has risen lately. One of the most troubling trends is the widespread increase in syphilis problems among infants, also known as congenital syphilis.

Gay & Bisexual Men Deserve Good Health Care As Is Possible

Gay and bisexual men are currently experiencing rates of syphilis not seen since before the HIV epidemic. Between 2016 and 2017, 58 percent of primary and secondary (P&S) syphilis crises were among bisexual, gay, and men who have intercourse with men, and statistics indicate that an average of 50% of gay and bisexual men who are infected with syphilis are also affected with HIV.

Past research also finds that homosexual and bisexual men of color are especially affected.

Measures For Gay and Bisexual Men Can Avoid Syphilis

Knowledge is essential! Know what puts you at risk and the best way to prevent and/or lower those risks.

If you’re sexually active, here are some ways to reduce your possibilities of acquiring syphilis:

• Be in a long-term, mutually monogamous relationship with a spouse that has been examined and has negative STD test results.
• Lower your number of sex partners. Nonetheless, it is still vital that you and your partner get tested and that you discuss your test results with one another.
• Use latex condoms the ideal way to begin to finish every time you have intercourse. Condoms prevent the spread of syphilis by avoiding contact with a syphilis sore. Often sores can happen in areas not included by a condom, so you might get syphilis in touch even when you’re currently wearing a condom.
• Get tested — it is the only way to know if you are infected with syphilis. CDC advises all sexually active homosexual and bisexual to be tested for certain STDs, such as syphilis, at least one time per year, and more often for people with multiple or anonymous partners (i.e., at 3- to 6-month periods ). Go to CDC’s STD testing recommendations page to find out more.
• The most secure way to prevent catching syphilis or other sexual infections is not to have rectal, anal, or oral sex.
• Discuss it! Silence helps to feed the extent of STDs.
• Have an exact and precise conversation with your healthcare provider about your sexual records and ask whether you should be examined for syphilis or other STDs. There are also resources available for locating an LGBT-friendly health care provider.
• Speak with your spouse about sex and STDs before you have sex.

If your test result is positive, syphilis can be treated with the medication from the healthcare provider. Also, it is essential that therapy is received by your sex partner. It’s still possible to get syphilis after you have been treated. That means you need to continue to take actions that will decrease your chance of becoming infected.

What Healthcare Providers Can Do to Safeguard Their Patients

You play a crucial role in preventing syphilis by maintaining your patients safe and by stopping new transmission of syphilis within the community.

For Sexually active patients:

Take regular sexual historiesCdc-pdf, such as regularly requesting homosexual and bisexual guys about signs consistent with prevalent STDs.

For sexually active patients:

• Use routine sexual historiesCdc-pdf, including commonly asking bisexual men and gay about symptoms like regular STDs.
• Follow CDC’s recommendations to test homosexual and bisexual guys for syphilis at least one time annually, and every 3-6 weeks for people at increased risk. This includes incarceration, drug usage, or spouses, men with a history of infection, and people who reside in areas with high rates of syphilis.

Diagnosing and treating syphilis can be challenging. If your individual is diagnosed with syphilis, take quick action. Men infected with syphilis should be prescribed benzathine penicillin directly. All cases of syphilis should be reported to the local health department or your state straight away. CDC recommends reporting within 24 hours.

• Consider serologic testing for homosexual and bisexual men (according to CDC’s STD treatment guidelines) because of data suggesting they are at risk for repeat disease.
• Advise your patient to inform their sexual partner(s) concerning the illness and encourage them to get tested and treated to prevent reinfection.

Don’t overlook this particular consideration when serving your patients:

Premature Syphilis increases the chance of a patient obtaining HIV, so patients tested positive with P&S syphilis should be tested for HIV. If you’re serving patients in a geographical area where the HIV prevalence is raised, retest for critical HIV in three months if the result of the first test was negative.