If you’re sexually active, then yes, you’re at risk of developing an STD.

Even though STDs are most common among those between the ages of 15 and 24, everyone who is sexually active should get regular STD tests to lower the infection rates and benefit their overall and sexual health. Read on as our team at AFC Urgent Care Greenwood further elaborates.

Who Has a Higher Risk of Getting an STD?

Anyone who is sexually active with more than one person poses a risk of getting a sexually transmitted disease (STD). The risk increases, though, with more sexual partners and fewer monogamous relationships.

Those who are sexually active should be tested at least once a year, but those who are sexually active with multiple partners should be tested at least every three to six months. Many STDs don’t show symptoms, so getting regularly tested is one of the best things you can do for your overall health.

Additional STD Risk Factors

• Having unprotected sex. Vaginal or anal penetration by an infected partner who isn’t wearing a latex condom significantly increases the risk of getting an STD. Improper or inconsistent use of condoms can also increase your risk.
• Having sexual contact with multiple partners. The more people you have sexual contact with, the greater your risk. This is true for concurrent partners as well as consecutive monogamous relationships.
• Having a history of STDs. Having one STD makes it much easier for another STD to take hold.
• Injecting drugs. Needle-sharing spreads many serious infections, including HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C.
• Being young. Half of all STDs occur in people between the ages of 15 and 24.

What Should I Know About STD Tests?

Getting tested for STDs is one of the best things you can do for your sexual health.

When caught early enough, most STDs are treatable and even curable. Those that aren’t curable can be managed once you know you have them. We’ve listed some effective and common ways to prevent STDs below.

Ways to Prevent STDs

• Practice abstinence. The surest way to avoid getting STDs is to not have sex.
• Use condoms. Condoms lessen the risk of infection for all STDs, but you can still get certain STDs, like herpes or HPV, from contact with your partner’s skin even when using one.
• Have fewer partners. First, make sure you know that neither of you has an STD, then have sex with one person who is only having sex with you. This will drastically lower your STD risk.

Want to learn more about STDs? Don’t hesitate to reach out to our AFC Urgent Care Greenwood team today!