If you are sexually active, you are at risk of being exposed to sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that there are more than 19 million new infections every year in the United States alone. It is important to protect yourself and be proactive about your sexual health. At Turlock Pregnancy and Health Center, we offer STI testing and treatment at no cost.
Why should I get tested?
Even if you believe that you have not been exposed to an STI in your sexual experiences, you should be tested. Many STIs are “silent” and show no symptoms. However, you can still transmit a silent STI to someone else. When left undetected and untreated, even curable STIs can cause major, long-term harm to your body. The effects of untreated STIs include:
- Infertility
- Blindness
- Loss of motor skills
- Dementia
- Damage to the heart, brain, eyes, kidneys, and bones
- Increased risk of certain cancers
How do I know if I have an STI?
As mentioned above, often STIs do not show any noticeable symptoms, which is why it is so important to be tested. There are some common symptoms that you can look out for to know if you might have an STI.
Common symptoms of STIs include:
- Fever and chills
- Pain during urination
- Itching or swelling near or on the genitals
- Pain during sex
- Unusual discharge from the genitals
- Lesions
If you notice any of these symptoms, you should consider being tested as soon as possible to rule out STIs as the cause or to get treated immediately.
STI Testing and Treatment
At Turlock Pregnancy and Health Center, we offer free and confidential STI testing and treatment to the men and women in our community. If you are sexually active – including vaginal, oral, anal and manual sex – you should be tested for STIs. Contact us for your STI test!