STDs ( Sexually Transmitted Diseases) are as old as testimonials. They are much more common than one can think of. Around 1 million people are affected by STDs daily. Which is a very large number. People take the disease very lightly. But sometimes if STDs are not treated properly can lead to serious diseases like cancer.

The main reason behind people not taking STD tests is they feel ashamed. But there is no need to be ashamed. STDs are like other infections and can happen to anyone. So if you are sexually active. You should take an STD test every 6 months. In this blog, we have discussed it thoroughly.

How STDs are transmitted?

Usually, these infections are transferred through vaginal, oral, and anal sex from person to person. But they can also be transferred through no sexual means like the bloodstream and to babies can from their mother in the womb.

Should You Get Tested For STDs?

The most important and dangerous thing about STDs is most of the time it does not show any symptoms. The only way of knowing for sure is to take an STD test.

Pregnant women should get tested for STDs because higher is the chance of getting the baby infected. Once in a while, you should test for HIV.

Bisexuals and gays who are sexually active should take an STD test because STDs are more common among people having anal sex.

If any of your previous partners report having STDs. You definitely should get tested.

If you think you should not worry about getting STDs because you get a regular check-up every 3 or 6 months. Then you are in a dilemma. Because regular check-ups do not check for STDs.

You should get an STD test if you are with more than one sexual partner. 

Types of STDs

There are many STDs. But here are the eight most common STDs.

• Syphilis
• Gonorrhoea
• Chlamydia
• Trichomoniasis
• Hepatitis
• Herpes
• HIV
• Human papillomavirus

Syphilis, Gonorrhoea, Chlamydia, and Trichomoniasis are curable while herpes HIV and HPV are non-curable but can be controlled.

Symptoms

STDs are usually symptomless. But in some cases, you might experience symptoms like
• Unusual discharge of penis or vagina.
• Pain or swelling around the genital area.
• Bleeding from the penis or vagina.
• Difficulty peeing
• Feeling Exhausted
• Unusual flu

These symptoms can also be indicators of some other disease but you should take a test as a safety measure.

Which STDs should you get tested for?

You can not get tested for all types of STDs. You can talk to your doctor and get tested for specific STDs. Some STDs are more common than others. Your doctor will advise you to regularly take a specific STD test.

Be as open as you can with your doctor. Share important details about your sexual life to minimize any risks. More quickly you will know about your disease. More likely to be treated.

If you are worried about STD test locations. No need to worry. You can get an STD test at your doctor's office, Community clinic, or local health care.
The procedure of STDs test

The procedure of STDs test depends upon the type of STD you are testing for. Most of the tests are uncomfortable but harmless. Here are some common tests you might encounter.

Urine test: you will be asked to urine in a bottle then your urine will get tested.

Blood test: your blood will be taken from your arm.

Blood and urine tests are not reliable all the time. Sometimes it takes months to detect an STD through blood or urine.

Physical Examination:

You will be examined by a doctor to check for any wellness or rashes around your genitals.

Cost of STDs test

STD test cost depends upon factors like the type of test you are taking, the Hospital you are going and insurance. Insurance can have your STD test at a low cost may be free.

Safety measures

Here are some precautions one can take to avoid getting STDs.
• Always use a condom. Lesser interaction lowers the chances of getting STDs.
• Avoid unnatural means of sex like oral and anal sex.
• Try to stick with one sexual partner.
• Avoid any kind of threesomes 

Consult your doctor

If you want to live a happy and long-lasting life. Never hide any thing from your doctor even the slightest detail. You might feel shy to tell some details. It is quite understandable you want to keep your life private. But you should not hide such details which might effect your health at any level. The things you might consider light might be the things that will get you in serious trouble. Always consult your doctors about risky sexual activities

Conclusion

STDs are serious diseases that everyone should know about. In this blog, we have discussed it in detail. We have discussed the ways it is transmitted, how can you get tested, types of STDs, and much more. So if you want to know about it you can read the above given blog.