Sick of Urine Leakage? Let's Talk about FemiLift®
Urinary incontinence affects most women during menopause, but that doesn’t mean it’s normal. In fact, there are treatments that can help, including state-of-the-art FemiLift®. Here’s how it works.
5 Reasons to Schedule an STD/STI Test
Testing for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) is simple, safe, and confidential. Best of all, it can keep you healthy. But despite these benefits, plenty of people don’t bother to get tested or they only get tested if they notice obvious symptoms of an infection.
That’s too bad, because testing is one of the smartest ways to protect yourself and your partner. And if you’re pregnant or planning on becoming pregnant, it protects your unborn baby, too.
Rafael J. Perez, MD, FACOG, and our team at the Center for Urogynecology and Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery provide comprehensive, discreet testing for STDs — also known as sexually transmitted infections (SDIs).
If you’ve been putting off scheduling your own testing visit, here are five reasons you should make an appointment today.
1. STDs are very common — and not hard to catch
Millions of STDs are diagnosed in the United States every year. Right now, about 20% of Americans are infected with an STD, and many of them don’t even know it.
One reason STDs are so common is because it’s very easy to pass infections on to other people — especially if you don’t bother to get screened.
That doesn’t mean you intentionally want to infect people, but without testing, it’s entirely possible not to know you’re infected — and that means it’s possible to spread the infection to your partner, even if you’re taking precautions.
2. STD symptoms can be hard to spot
STD symptoms can be extremely subtle, especially in their early stages. In fact, they can be so subtle, they’re easy to overlook. In some cases, they may develop no symptoms at all until they progress to a more serious (and harder to treat) stage.
Because symptoms are so difficult to identify on your own, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends regular STD testing for all sexually active people.
Testing on a regular basis not only identifies infections early, but also promotes earlier treatment, so you can prevent complications and avoid spreading the infection to someone else.
3. Untreated STDs can cause serious complications
Speaking of early treatment, like any infection, STDs respond best when you get treatment as soon as possible — ideally before the infection has a chance to spread or cause complications.
Delaying treatment gives the STD a chance to invade other parts of your body. The STD can spread through your bloodstream, increasing your risk of heart disease, blindness, kidney disease, and even cancer.
Untreated STDs also increase your risk of fertility problems. If you’re pregnant, an undiagnosed STD can affect your developing baby, causing serious health problems for your newborn and interfering with delivery.
4. Screening prevents you from spreading an infection
STD testing is definitely important for your health, but it’s also important for your partner’s health. As we already mentioned, STDs are easy to catch, and that means it’s easy for your partner to become infected, too.
If you’re sexually active, regular STD testing is one simple way you and your partner can show love and respect to each other, while also prioritizing each other’s long-term health and wellness.
5. Testing is quick and confidential
One of the best things about STD testing is that it’s quick. In fact, we can diagnose most STDs through simple lab tests using a sample of your blood or urine. Sometimes — for example, if you have sores — we may take a tiny tissue sample for additional evaluation.
Of course, all testing is completely confidential. We perform STD testing all the time, so there’s no need to feel uncomfortable or embarrassed. Plus, we can give you advice on steps you can take to stay healthy and avoid infections in the future.
Schedule your test today
Regular STD testing is important for your health and for the health of your loved ones. It’s truly a simple investment that yields major benefits.
To learn more or to schedule a test, call 305-240-6047 to request an appointment today with Dr. Perez and our team at the Center for Urogynecology and Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery in South Miami, Florida.
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