Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) are too common amongst youth. If you are unaware, April is STD Awareness Month and it is important to not only get tested for HIV but it is important to get tested for the other STDs as well.
Did you know that you should consider getting tested for the following STDs:
•Chlamydia
•Genital Herpes (HSV-2)
•Genital Warts (HPV)
•Gonorrhea
•Hepatitis B (HBV)
•Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
•Pubic Lice (Crabs)
•Syphilis
•Trichomoniasis (Trich)
Some people can get symptoms such as a watery or thick discharge in both males and females. Burning while urinating, abdominal pain, pain with sex for women or swollen testicles in men. Please DO NOT try to self medicated thinking you can cure it on your own – GO TO YOUR DOCTOR OR LOCAL CLINIC! It may be embarrassing but your doctor is here to help you, not judge you. Something that you may not know is that some people do not get symptoms so it is very important that you get tested and treated right away!
Do you know what the window period is? Thanks to The Stigma Project, here is the definition:
Getting tested is so important and make sure that you are getting tested for any and all services that your local clinic or doctor’s office can offer. Knowing your partner’s status is really important as well. Having sex with someone with an unknown status is very risky and can put you at risk. When you get your partner’s test results, remember that window period. If they had sex recently, there is still a chance that they have HIV but it might be too early to detect it. Having STDs also increase your risk of getting HIV so make sure, as stated before, YOU GET TESTED AND TREATED ASAP!!
Click on the GYT picture to find out where you can get tested!
