According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, April is STD Awareness Month! What does that mean for you and your partner?

Well, are you sexually active? Have you ever been? Then it’s certainly time to get tested. Whether or not you think you’re clean, if you’ve had sex, you could have caught something nasty.

Some STDs/STIs require a blood sample to be tested for, but most need only a tiny jar of your urine or a “swab” test to determine whether or not you’re infected. This is because certain STDs are not viral in nature, and therefore cannot be detected in your blood. So, truly, it can be as easy as “1-2-pee!”

If the simplicity isn’t enough motivation for you, here are descriptions of a few common STDs:

Chlamydia: It’s the most commonly reported bacterial sexually transmitted disease. It infects the urethra, rectum and eyes in both sexes, as well as a woman’s cervix. If Chlamydia is left untreated, it can cause significant fertility problems and pass from mother to child during pregnancy. Symptoms include painful and/or frequent urination, an increase in vaginal discharge, irregular menstrual bleeding, pain and bleeding during or after sex and lower abdominal pains.

Genital Warts: These warts are caused by a sub-type of the human papilloma virus, or HPV. They can appear anywhere in the genital area as small white or flesh colored bumps, or larger cauliflower-like bumps. These are unlikely to cause any pain but can itch and are generally difficult to spot. Often, there are no symptoms of genital warts.

Gonorrhea, or “The Clap”: This STI can infect the urethra, cervix, rectum, anus and throat. Symptoms include painful urination, a white/yellow discharge from the penis, a change in vaginal discharge and irritation or discharge from the anus (if it is infected).

Hepatitis: This refers to a viral infection than can cause inflammation of the liver. Several types exist, labeled from A to G, though A, B and C are the most common. Hepatitis can occur after excessive and prolonged alcoholism or the use of certain medicines/ drugs, but it is most commonly caused by a virus.

Herpes: This STD is caused by two strains of the herpes simplex virus, type one and type two. Type two is more common and usually forms in the genital and anal areas. Type one is more likely to manifest around the mouth and lips in the form of cold sores. Symptoms include itching/tingling in the genital or anal areas, bursting fluid-filled blisters, headaches, backaches and other flu-like reactions, such as swollen glands or a fever.

Syphilis: This STD is sexually transmitted (of course), but it can also be passed from a mother to her child through pregnancy. Syphilis has several different stages, of which the primary and secondary stages are extremely infectious. The symptoms of this STD can take up to three months after intercourse to occur, and include painless ulcers on the penis, vagina, vulva, cervix, anus or mouth, small lumps in the groin, a non-itchy rash and several different flu-like symptoms, such as a fever. Left untreated, Syphilis can be fatal.

Trichomoniasis, or “Trich”: This STD can infect the vagina and the male or female urethra. Often, it presents no recognizable symptoms, but when these do appear, they include strange discharge in men and women, discomfort or pain during intercourse, painful urination and inflammation of the urethra. Some women may also experience inflammation of the vulva, which can lead to an infection of the urinary system called cystitis.

It is important to note that the presence of one or more untreated sexually transmitted diseases in an individual can increase their risk of getting HIV by a factor of up to 10, states The World Health Organization. Unlike HIV, which is extremely lethal, many STDs can be cured easily and cheaply if diagnosed early enough.

So, remember: the fear isn’t in getting tested. The fear is in leaving a sexually transmitted disease untreated. Don’t just do it for yourself either – if you truly love your partner, get tested for them, too (and make sure they do the same). When you have sex with an STD, you affect more than just yourself. Making the mistake of avoiding care or diagnosis for one of these infections can ruin the lives of people all around you.

This April, STD Awareness Month, help heal the world by looking out for yourself and others! Go to your local health center or Planned Parenthood clinic and get informed!

PS - Don't forget to tune in to "Let's Talk About Sex" the movie on TLC, April 9th at 10pm/9c!

Source: www.avert.org/stds.htm