Hello friend! We all know how important it is to take care of ourselves. Staying on top of our health helps us feel confident, in control, and ready to pursue our goals. All parts of our health are important: mental, emotional, and physical. Today I want to talk about a topic that’s another vital piece of our wellness — sexual health. There’s a lot of noise around sexual health (from inaccurate information, to embarrassment, to fear), and it’s time to clear the air. With accurate information and the free STD testing St Louis has available, we can bring down barriers to great health.
Knowing your STD (sexually transmitted disease) status is super important. I want to share five facts about STDs (also called STIs, or sexually transmitted infections) that many haven’t heard, but DEFINITELY should know. Having the facts puts you in the driver’s seat, and empowers you to take control.
So let’s dive in!
1. Some STDs Don’t Show ANY Symptoms
It might sound crazy, but it’s true! STDs can be asymptomatic, meaning they show no symptoms at all! Because they can be so stealthy, untreated STDs can cause damage in the body (or spread to other people) without ever knowing it.1 Some of these conditions are experts at sneaking past our bodies’ defense systems, and might take a long time to develop into a full-blown disease. How? STDs are caused by bacteria, viruses, or parasites, and they might not show the signs that we might expect. Some of these can seem like a flu or cold,1 or might get confused with common conditions like a UTI or yeast infection. For more info about STDs, check out the blog section of our website.
Any person who’s been sexually active could be at risk for an STD.1 The only way for a person to know they’ve got an STD is to be tested. So if you’ve been sexually active (even if you feel totally healthy), getting screened is a super important step! With the free STD testing St Louis has available (like the no-cost service at ThriVe), you’re not limited by cost.
2. It’s Possible to Get An STD Without Having Intercourse
Some women don’t know that they can get an STD WITHOUT having penetrative sex (with a penis in a vagina). Some can be transmitted through oral and anal sex, genital touching or even skin-to-skin contact.1 Even if a person used condoms, they could still get infected if there’s a sore or rash not covered by the condom.
Some of the conditions that can be spread by skin-to-skin contact
- HSV (Herpes)
- HPV (human papillomavirus)
- Pubic lice
- Scabies
- Syphilis
The effects of these range from uncomfortable to severe. Pubic lice and the invertebrate that causes scabies (called Sarcoptes scabiei) are tiny animals that spread through close person-to-person contact and sharing bedding.2, 3 Some strains of human papillomavirus (HPV) greatly raise a woman’s risk of cervical cancer.4 The herpes virus can cause painful blisters and itching, and can be spread by genital touching.5 Syphilis can spread by kissing or touching an active sore on the tongue, lips, mouth, breasts, or genitals — and can cause severe neurological damage.6 The free STD testing St Louis offers can help women get the testing and treatment they need in the 314 area code.
A growing number of women are deciding to take control of their health by delaying sexual activity until they’re in a long-term, monogamous, committed relationship. That’s the most effective way to avoid things like STDs or pregnancy.1
3. STDs Can Cause Problems Getting Pregnant In The Future When You’re Ready
The free STD testing St Louis has available (like at ThriVe), can help women protect their future health and plans. Untreated STDs can have serious effects on your reproductive health, potentially leading to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), chronic pain, or even infertility. PID is an infection of the female reproductive organs that can happen when sexually transmitted bacteria spread from your vagina to the uterus, fallopian tubes, or ovaries. It can cause mild to severe pain in your lower abdomen and pelvis, unusual or heavy vaginal discharge, unusual bleeding, pain during sex or ovulation, fever, and painful urination. Without treatment, PID can cause scar tissue and pockets of infected fluid to develop, leading to permanent damage. This is another reason why it’s important to catch STDs early and start treatment.7
4. Some STDs Can Make It Easier To Contract Other STDs
Another reason to take advantage of the free STD testing St Louis has? Finding out about an STD and getting treated can help a person avoid contracting more STDs. Why? A lot of people don’t know that having one STD makes it a lot easier for another one to take hold.8 Irritation or sores from one infection can make it more likely for another to enter the body.9
5. Many STDs Can Be Easily Cured (And You Can Sometimes Even Get Treatment After Your Appointment!)
Wondering if you have an STD can be scary, and that fear may keep some women from seeking the free STD testing St Louis offers. And it’s true that untreated infections can have serious health impacts. But some STIs can be easily cured, often with one dose of antibiotics!10
Infections caused by bacteria or parasites (like chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, or trichomoniasis) are typically easier to treat.10 STDs caused by viruses (like HIV and herpes) can’t always be cured, but can be managed with medication.10 Finding out about the STD and getting treated early are super important. For instance, the sooner a person starts HIV antiviral meds, the more effective it is.10 Taking the antiviral HIV medicines can lower a person’s viral load to a point that it can’t be detected and it won’t spread.10 And getting treated early can help prevent conditions like PID.7
Depending on the STD, we can often offer you treatment (at low or no cost) after your appointment! Your health and future are important. And we’re here to help you protect it.
If you feel worried or embarrassed about getting tested and treated, please know that we take confidentiality VERY seriously. We are a safe, supportive space. Your appointment is discreet, and we never judge. Your health info is confidential, and we do everything in our power to make sure you feel comfortable. Being proactive about your sexual health empowers you to take control of your health. And we’re all about that.
Free STD Testing St Louis: A Resource To Protect Your Future
Having accurate info about STDs and STD testing is super important. It’s a way to take control of our health, protect our future plans, and have peace of mind. Here at ThriVe in Saint Louis, we want to help you get the information you need to make informed choices about your body and health. Let’s raise awareness and help others to know about the resources available!
Looking for a no-cost STD screening? Make an appointment at ThriVe today!
Sources:
1https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sexually-transmitted-diseases-stds/in-depth/std-symptoms/art-20047081
2 https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/scabies/symptoms-causes/syc-20377378
3https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pubic-lice-crabs/symptoms-causes/syc-20350300
4 https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hpv-infection/symptoms-causes/syc-20351596
5https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/genital-herpes/symptoms-causes/syc-20356161
6 https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/syphilis/symptoms-causes/syc-20351756
7https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pelvic-inflammatory-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20352594
8https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sexually-transmitted-diseases-stds/symptoms-causes/syc-20351240
9https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sexually-transmitted-diseases-stds/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20351246
