Is MonaLisa TouchⓇ Right for Me?
The MonaLisa Touch procedure is an effective way to restore lubrication and elasticity to your vaginal tissues. Here’s when to consider it.
Do I Need STD Testing If I’m in a Long-Term Relationship?
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are more common than you might think: An estimated one in five people in the United States has an STD at any given time, with many not knowing of their infection. This is because many STDs have no symptoms or outward signs.
Many health organizations and professionals urge sexually active people, especially those with multiple partners, to get regular STD testing. If you have multiple or anonymous partners, you should get tested every 3-6 months. But if you’re in a trusted, monogamous relationship, is STD testing really that important?
Board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist Gary Willen, MD, offers STD testing here at Tahoe Women’s Care in Carson City, Nevada. He can help you decide how often to come in for testing based on your relationship status, sexuality, and sexual activity level.
Here’s what you need to know about STD testing while you’re in a long-term relationship.
When and how often to get STD testing in a long-term relationship
When you’re in a long-term relationship, you trust your partner to stay faithful and assume monogamy means the same thing to both of you. Getting STD testing while in a long-term relationship doesn’t challenge your trust for each other; it’s important for your health and safety.
Many people have an STD and don’t realize it. So, if you had sexual partners before your current partner, you should get tested. Because some STDs may be dormant and not produce symptoms for months or years, you should have STD testing once a year, and Dr. Willen can guide you on which tests are right for you.
Genital herpes, an STD affecting one in six people in the United States aged 14-49, is an STD without a cure. You or your partner might not realize you have herpes without an outbreak, and it won’t spread from one partner to the other between outbreaks.
However, if you or your partner has herpes, you should have the discussion early in the relationship so it doesn’t come up as a surprise as a positive STD test later.
Do you think you’ve been exposed?
If you think your partner has cheated, or if you confirm your partner’s infidelity, you should get tested right away. Even sexual contact that isn’t intercourse, like kissing or fingering, can spread some STDs.
Any intimate contact outside of your long-term relationship should lead to STD testing for you and your partner too.
General guidelines for STD testing
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, these are some general guidelines for who should get STD testing and how often:
- Anyone who has symptoms (like unusual discharge or genital pain) should get tested
- Sexually active women 25 and under should get gonorrhea and chlamydia testing yearly
- Women over 25 with risk factors like new or multiple partners should get tested yearly
- Pregnant women should get STD testing early with possible repeat tests later in pregnancy
- Women who have unprotected sex or share needles should get HIV testing annually
At Tahoe Women’s Care, we can counsel you on how often to get tested and which tests to get based on your personal risks.
Dr. Willen welcomes you to come in for confidential and supportive STD testing, no matter your relationship status. Schedule your next STD testing appointment online or over the phone at Tahoe Women’s Care today.
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