STD Testing & Sexual Health
If you are sexually active, you are at risk for contracting a sexually transmitted disease (STD), even if you only have one partner. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has determined that individuals 15 – 24 years of age make up over one quarter of the sexually active population. However, this group accounts for half of the 20 million STIs in the United States each year. Women considering abortion need to be tested for STDs to decrease their chances of developing Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID). The Alabama Pregnancy Test Center provides testing and treatment at no cost to men and women in their community.
What You Should Know About STDs
- Of the estimated nearly 20 million new Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) cases in the U.S. each year, half will occur in people age 15-24.
- STDs increase a person’s risk for contracting HIV.
- Alabama ranks #5 in the country for reported number of cases of Chlamydia and #3 in Gonorrhea, as well as #5 in cases of infants born with Syphilis.
- Over 80% of teens with STDs show no symptoms.
- Condoms do not eliminate the risk of contracting an STD and they do little to prevent many viral infections spread by skin-to-skin contact.
- Nearly 1 in 10 teen girls has Chlamydia; nearly half of all cases are girls 15-19 years old.
- Chlamydia can cause irreversible damage, including infertility, before a woman recognizes there is a problem.
- Gonorrhea is a major cause of Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) that can lead to serious outcomes in women such as tubal infertility, ectopic pregnancy and chronic pelvic pain.
STD symptoms
With some STDs, a man or woman may have no symptoms at all. Untreated STDs can cause PID in women, causing complications such as formation of scar tissue both outside/inside the fallopian tubes, ectopic pregnancy, infertility or long-term pelvic/abdominal pain. Testing and early treatment is important for your sexual health. Make an appointment with us today to learn more and get tested.
sexually-transmitted disease & pregnancy
According to the CDC, STDs can complicate pregnancy, having serious effects on both the mother and baby. Some common side effects are low birth weight, preterm labor, and premature birth. Women with STDs can infect their baby either before, during, or after the baby’s birth. The sooner a woman begins receiving care for STDs during pregnancy, the better the health outcomes for herself and her baby.
Source: All statistics are from the Center for Disease Control and can be found at www.cdc.gov
This information on this website is intended for general education purposes only and should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional and/or medical advice.