Thankfully, plenty of people today are aware of the importance of STD testing. On the other hand, some people out there have certain misconceptions about STDs that could end up harming them and their partners in the long run. One such mistaken belief is the notion that if a person isn’t experiencing any obvious STD symptoms, then he doesn’t need to get tested for STDs. Tracey Powell is founder and CEO of getSTDtested.com, an online company that allows customers to order and undergo STD testing in a manner that uniquely protects their privacy, and he feels that education about STDs needs to go hand in hand with testing. Therefore, he likes to remind people that a lack of STD symptoms should never serve as an excuse not to get tested.
One of the most alarming facts about STDs is that many of them are asymptomatic. Though most people tend to associate STD symptoms with itching, burning sensations in the, ahem, private regions of the body, the reality is that a person could be infected with an STD and not feel a thing. However, just because your body might not give you any indication of the presence of an STD doesn’t mean that you don’t have one.
Another thing to keep in mind is that sometimes it can be difficult for people to correctly identify the symptoms associated with STDs. Certain symptoms, especially when present in a minor fashion, can be confused with less-threatening conditions such as light allergic reactions or simple rashes. Even more disruptive symptoms such as painful urination could be initially mistaken for conditions such as run of the mill urinary tract infections. The only way to ensure that your symptoms aren’t indicative of an STD is to get yourself tested as needed. Of course, one other scary thing to remember about STDs is that it is possible to get infected with more than one. While it clearly makes sense to get tested for diseases that medically correspond to your specific symptoms, in some cases, it might also be a good idea to have multiple STD tests run on you to cover your bases.
One major reason to get tested even without the presence of STD symptoms is that for some infections, early treatment can prevent long-term medical consequences and complications. Unfortunately, many STDs either don’t display symptoms at all, or don’t start to present warning signs until it’s too late. Therefore, the best way to protect yourself from major health-related repercussions is to get tested early and, when necessary, seek treatment before it’s too late.
Powell’s philosophy is that the more people know about STDs, the better equipped they’ll be to protect themselves. Now that you’re aware of the fact that STDs don’t always come with symptoms, it’s time to honestly evaluate your risk factors to determine if you shouldget STD testing. Click the “Get Test Recommendation” button at getSTDtested.com, and you’ll get STD tests recommended based on your own profile, as well as CDC and expert guidelines. After all, there are no excuses to not take control of your health.
The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.
