STD testing might sound scary but it really doesn’t need to be. Getting STI tests can be as normal as taking your car for an MOT. If you want to keep your wheels in good order, it’s fair to say you’ll want to keep your willy working well too.
STD testing can give you peace of mind that everything is healthy below the belt. We’ve all heard about how unprotected sex or risky acts can increase your chances of catching an STD. So getting a regular sexual health check is a good way of making sure you’re okay.
But it’s a bit unclear as to how often you should think about getting STI tests. Whether you should go routinely every so often, between partners or just if you have symptoms showing of a possible STD.
Showing symptoms
It’s fair to say that if you’re showing symptoms of something new down below it can be worth getting it checked out. The classic symptoms of possibly having an STI can be summarised as below:
- pain or stinging when you urinate
- redness or swelling in your genital area
- changes to your skin such as ulcers, unexplained spots
- an itchy rash (which doesn’t go away)
- discharge from your penis
- blood in urine
- pain or discomfort during sex
- ulcers on your mouth or genital area
- your partner experiencing similar symptoms even if you don’t have any yourself
The problem with only going for STD testing when you get symptoms of a possible STI however is that not everyone shows symptoms. You can catch an STI and find that it doesn’t give you any symptoms whatsoever. Such as chlamydia, syphilis or mycoplasma genitalium.
Because people don’t always have symptoms when they have an STI, going for regular STD testing is beneficial. It gives you reassurance that everything is healthy internally as well as externally. Some STIs which present external symptoms are easy to spot, such as a rash or penile discharge.
Not everybody experiences the same symptoms even if they have the same STD. Which is why you should communicate with your sexual partners about your health. One of you may carry an STI and not know about it because there are no symptoms. Yet you could contract the STI and then experience symptoms even if they do not. Which is why knowing your partner’s sexual health status is helpful.
If you notice any change which may be symptomatic of an STI, you should consider going for STD testing. Sexual health clinics will offer STI tests for the most common STDs, namely chlamydia, gonnorhea, syphilis and HIV. While the doctors there should also be able to diagnose most common symptoms.
Should you do STD testing between partners
Old school advice has been to go for STD testing between every new sexual partner you take. So if you break up with Anna, you should get checked out before you sleep with Bonnie and then if you have sex with Cara, you should go again.
Now while the thinking behind this is practical on the basis that it gives you a clear indication of your sexual health between partners, it does fall short. Some STIs won’t show up in STD testing until they’ve been in your system for a while already. Which is why doctors advise that you have a repeat screening after 6 weeks to double check the results are entirely accurate.
Some STIs like chlamydia and gonorrhoea can show up within 6 days of when you had sex. However professionals recommend that you then get tested again two weeks later to confirm that you’re fully clear. As symptoms can take between 1-3 weeks to show when you get chlamydia but may not show at all.
Other STDs like syphilis and HIV can take a lot longer to show up in an STD test. HIV normally takes around 4 weeks to give a reliable result. Therefore the advice applies to get tested again 12 weeks later to give a full conclusion.
Due to the time delay in tests showing positive results, if you have multiple new partners in quick succession it may be hard to pinpoint when exactly you caught an STI or who gave it to you. As such, getting tested between partners can be helpful in organising your sexual health history.
Routine STI tests
In order to keep an eye on your sexual health without it becoming a big deal, some men choose to go for routine STI tests instead. This can be tailored to suit your lifestyle as you know how active your sex life is. If you have lots of new partners regularly, it may be sensible to go for a routine check every 4-6 weeks.
Engaging in activities like group sex and swinging can pose more of a risk to your sexual health than just having new solo partners. When you decide to play with people, establish trust and good communication with them. If swinging is a regular experience for you, regular health checks may be advisable.
On the other hand, if you lead a fairly monogamous lifestyle you may only want to go for an STI test occasionally or choose not to go at all. As a minimum, some clinics suggest going for STD testing every 6 months. This allows you to keep up to date sexual health records with the minimum amount of hassle.
Going for routine STI tests can be particularly helpful if you engage in more risky sexual behaviours or use intravenous drugs. As if you do potentially catch something, it gives you a greater chance of picking it up and being able to get treatment quickly. Leaving STIs undiagnosed for too long can lead to complications if it remains in your system for longer without treatment.
If you do test positive for an STI, you should inform all of your recent partners of this. As they should also then get tested themselves which helps keep everyone healthy.
Risks to your sexual health
There are some activities which pose greater risks to your sexual health. While it’s ultimately your decision whether or not to go for STD testing, it is advisable to take extra precautions if you engage in any of the following.
- sharing needles during intravenous drug use (this can increase the risk of catching a blood borne STD like syphilis, HIV and Hepatitis B)
- having a tattoo or body piercing done with unhygienic equipment where the needles may be infectious
- if you have unprotected sex
- anal sex without a condom
- unprotected intercourse with a sex worker
- sex with someone you know has previously had an STI who hasn’t received treatment for it
- unprotected oral sex
- contact with someone showing signs of the herpes virus (cold sores around the mouth or sores around their genitals)
- sharing sex toys without proper hygiene being maintained
Engaging in sex without using condoms always carries a risk. If you’re with a partner you trust, you may decide to go bareback and use alternative contraception. This is totally up to you but behaviour like this can increase your risk of catching an STI. As such, going for regular sexual health checks is advisable to make sure everything remains above board.
When visiting a sex worker, it’s advisable to play safe and make sure you’re confident she’s healthy. Most professional sex workers do get routine health checks to make sure their health and their clients are all clean. So if you see somebody who is professional and maintains good hygiene standards, the risk is lower than if you were to see someone of lower standards.