Key points to remember
- Health professionals recommend having a routine screening test for certain STIs if you have a high risk for infection. For example, you're at high risk if you're younger than 25 and sexually active, or if you've had more than one partner in the past year. Some STI tests are recommended for pregnant women whether or not they have a high risk for infection.
- Some STIs don't cause symptoms, or they can cause symptoms that go away. So unless you have a test, you may not know that you have an STI.
- STI testing can help find an infection early. If you know that you have an infection, you can get treatment and prevent spreading the infection to others.
- Left untreated, some STIs can lead to serious problems. For example, if a woman has an STI when she gives birth, her newborn may have the disease.
- If your test shows that you have an STI, your sex partner(s) will need to know so they can be tested.
- Some STIs can be cured with treatment. Others can't be cured, but treatment can help with symptoms.
