Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsInfecting OthersBecoming InfertileEndangering a PregnancyGetting/Passing HIVDeveloping Complications
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Infecting Others
Becoming Infertile
Endangering a Pregnancy
Getting/Passing HIV
Developing Complications
It can be difficult to motivate people to get tested forsexually transmitted infections (STIs, also referred to as sexually transmitted diseases, or STDs). In some cases, people are scared to get tested because of how it may affect their relationship. Others are terrified of being diagnosed with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or other incurable STIs. Still others assume that they are “clean” because theyhave no symptoms.
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All of these responses, while understandable, place you at greater harm than you might think. By avoiding recommended STI tests, you could find yourself dealing with serious complications or placing others' health at risk.
Here are just some of the short- and long-term consequences of avoiding STI testing.
Clearly, having an untreated STI increases your risk of passing the infection to others. Even if youuse condomsand practicesafer sex, the risk of transmission remains significant. This is especially true with STIs likehuman papillomavirus (HPV)for which condoms only provide partial protection.
Even if an STI cannot be cured—as is the case with HPV, HIV,genital herpes, andhepatitis B—knowing your status can get you thetreatmentyou need and the information necessary to prevent you from passing the infection on to others.
For example, takingantiretroviral drugsnot only prevents HIV from causing long-term harm, but it reduces the risk of transmission to zero if the virus is fully suppressed, according to the landmark PARTNER1 and PARTNER2 studies.
If left untreated, curable STIs likechlamydiaandgonorrheacan lead topelvic inflammatory disease (PID)in people assigned female at birth, andinfertilityin both males and females.Complications ofsyphiliscan also cause the obstruction of the epididymis, increasing the risk ofmale infertility.
To preserve your chances of pregnancy, it is important to get tested for STIs if you are in a relationship or plan to have a family one day.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) currently recommends the screening for chlamydia and gonorrhea in all sexually active females age 24 and younger, as well as older females at an increased risk of infection.
The USPSTF further endorses screening for syphilis in all adolescents and adults at increased risk of infection, as well as all pregnant people.
How Long Should I Wait to Get an STD Test?
There are numerous STIs that pose a risk to the fetus and the pregnancy overall. Not only might an infection prevent you from carrying to term, but it can also transmit the infection either before or during birth of your child.
Pregnant people with untreated chlamydia, for example, are at a greater risk of miscarriage, premature birth, and stillbirth. Gonorrheacan be passed from parent to child during vaginal delivery, causing a potentially severe eye infection. Syphilis and herpes can be potentially fatal in a newborn.
By knowing your STI status, you can reduce harm to both yourself and the developing fetus.
With HIV, the use of antiretroviral drugs can reduce the risk of transmission to less than 1% in the U.S..
Getting or Passing HIV
But it is not only ulcerative STIs that pose a risk. Every STI can trigger aninflammatory responsein the genitals. When this occurs, immune cells will flood the tissues to fight the infection.
In the case ofCD4 T cellsin HIV, the body’s own immune response, which should be fighting the infection, actually may make it easier for the infection to prosper.
The CDC recommends testing all Americans ages 13–64 at least once during a routine doctor’s visit. For gay, bisexual, and men who have sex with men, at a minimum, the CDC recommends annual screening.
High vs. Low Risk Activities for HIV
If left untreated, STIs can cause severe health problems. Over time, severe and sometimes life-altering complications can develop. Some of these may progress undetected over the course of years, often without any outward signs.
Examples include:
A Word From Verywell
Early diagnosis of STIs will help you get treatment before complications occur or other people become infected.
If entering into a new relationship, consider suggesting that you and your partner get tested at the same time. This way, you can both make informed choices.
If you are in a long-standing relationship and think you have an STI, you may be forced to reveal how you got infected if the test comes back positive. It may have nothing to do withinfidelity, but the conversation can be difficult nonetheless.
Getting tested at least lets you know where you stand. Not knowing can hurt those around you, including people you care about most.
STD Testing: What to Expect
12 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Fact sheet for public health personnel.Rodger AJ, Cambiano V, Bruun T, et al.Risk of HIV transmission through condomless sex in serodifferent gay couples with the HIV-positive partner taking suppressive antiretroviral therapy (Partner): Final results of a multicentre, prospective, observational study.The Lancet. 2019;393(10189):2428-2438. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(19)30418-0Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.STDs & infertility.Brookings C, Goldmeier D, Sadeghi-Nejad H.Sexually transmitted infections and sexual function in relation to male fertility.Korean J Urol. 2013;54(3):149–156. doi:10.4111/kju.2013.54.3.149U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.Final recommendation statement. Chlamydia and gonorrhea: screening.U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.Syphilis Infection in nonpregnant adults and adolescents: screening.American Pregnancy Association.Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) during pregnancy.HIVInfo.nih.gov.Preventing perinatal transmission of HIV.Paz‐Bailey G, Sternberg M, Puren AJ, Steele L, Lewis DA.Determinants of HIV type 1 shedding from genital ulcers among men in South Africa.CLIN INFECT DIS. 2010;50(7):1060-1067. doi:10.1086/651115Passmore JA, Jaspan HB, Masson L.Genital inflammation, immune activation and risk of sexual HIV acquisition.Curr Opin HIV AIDS. 2016;11(2):156–162. doi:10.1097/COH.0000000000000232U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Getting tested for HIV.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
12 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Fact sheet for public health personnel.Rodger AJ, Cambiano V, Bruun T, et al.Risk of HIV transmission through condomless sex in serodifferent gay couples with the HIV-positive partner taking suppressive antiretroviral therapy (Partner): Final results of a multicentre, prospective, observational study.The Lancet. 2019;393(10189):2428-2438. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(19)30418-0Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.STDs & infertility.Brookings C, Goldmeier D, Sadeghi-Nejad H.Sexually transmitted infections and sexual function in relation to male fertility.Korean J Urol. 2013;54(3):149–156. doi:10.4111/kju.2013.54.3.149U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.Final recommendation statement. Chlamydia and gonorrhea: screening.U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.Syphilis Infection in nonpregnant adults and adolescents: screening.American Pregnancy Association.Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) during pregnancy.HIVInfo.nih.gov.Preventing perinatal transmission of HIV.Paz‐Bailey G, Sternberg M, Puren AJ, Steele L, Lewis DA.Determinants of HIV type 1 shedding from genital ulcers among men in South Africa.CLIN INFECT DIS. 2010;50(7):1060-1067. doi:10.1086/651115Passmore JA, Jaspan HB, Masson L.Genital inflammation, immune activation and risk of sexual HIV acquisition.Curr Opin HIV AIDS. 2016;11(2):156–162. doi:10.1097/COH.0000000000000232U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Getting tested for HIV.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Fact sheet for public health personnel.Rodger AJ, Cambiano V, Bruun T, et al.Risk of HIV transmission through condomless sex in serodifferent gay couples with the HIV-positive partner taking suppressive antiretroviral therapy (Partner): Final results of a multicentre, prospective, observational study.The Lancet. 2019;393(10189):2428-2438. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(19)30418-0Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.STDs & infertility.Brookings C, Goldmeier D, Sadeghi-Nejad H.Sexually transmitted infections and sexual function in relation to male fertility.Korean J Urol. 2013;54(3):149–156. doi:10.4111/kju.2013.54.3.149U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.Final recommendation statement. Chlamydia and gonorrhea: screening.U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.Syphilis Infection in nonpregnant adults and adolescents: screening.American Pregnancy Association.Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) during pregnancy.HIVInfo.nih.gov.Preventing perinatal transmission of HIV.Paz‐Bailey G, Sternberg M, Puren AJ, Steele L, Lewis DA.Determinants of HIV type 1 shedding from genital ulcers among men in South Africa.CLIN INFECT DIS. 2010;50(7):1060-1067. doi:10.1086/651115Passmore JA, Jaspan HB, Masson L.Genital inflammation, immune activation and risk of sexual HIV acquisition.Curr Opin HIV AIDS. 2016;11(2):156–162. doi:10.1097/COH.0000000000000232U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Getting tested for HIV.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Fact sheet for public health personnel.
Rodger AJ, Cambiano V, Bruun T, et al.Risk of HIV transmission through condomless sex in serodifferent gay couples with the HIV-positive partner taking suppressive antiretroviral therapy (Partner): Final results of a multicentre, prospective, observational study.The Lancet. 2019;393(10189):2428-2438. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(19)30418-0
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.STDs & infertility.
Brookings C, Goldmeier D, Sadeghi-Nejad H.Sexually transmitted infections and sexual function in relation to male fertility.Korean J Urol. 2013;54(3):149–156. doi:10.4111/kju.2013.54.3.149
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.Final recommendation statement. Chlamydia and gonorrhea: screening.
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.Syphilis Infection in nonpregnant adults and adolescents: screening.
American Pregnancy Association.Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) during pregnancy.
HIVInfo.nih.gov.Preventing perinatal transmission of HIV.
Paz‐Bailey G, Sternberg M, Puren AJ, Steele L, Lewis DA.Determinants of HIV type 1 shedding from genital ulcers among men in South Africa.CLIN INFECT DIS. 2010;50(7):1060-1067. doi:10.1086/651115
Passmore JA, Jaspan HB, Masson L.Genital inflammation, immune activation and risk of sexual HIV acquisition.Curr Opin HIV AIDS. 2016;11(2):156–162. doi:10.1097/COH.0000000000000232
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Getting tested for HIV.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
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