Building a family is a goal for many, but infertility can be a frustrating and debilitating roadblock.
The beginning of Spring is a great time to focus on whole-body health - the sun is out, birds are chirping, and our winter blues are finally lifting! It's a great time to clean up our diets, get our bodies moving, and think about what we can do to ensure a healthy, vital season. And just so we don't forget, April is STI Awareness Month, which reminds us that sexual health is an essential aspect of full-body wellness we can't ignore.
According to the CDC, there are 20 million new sexually transmitted infection (STI) cases in the United States every year.
When you add that to existing infections, that leaves us with an estimated 110 million STI infections circulating among Americans. That may seem like a large number, but many who have an STI are completely unaware, meaning they don't have symptoms. With a lack of symptoms, STIs often go undetected and untreated, increasing the likeliness of spreading. Unfortunately, some STIs can have serious health outcomes, including pelvic inflammatory disease and, in some cases, infertility or even cancer.
So what is included in the umbrella of STI testing?
STIs are diseases that spread through sexual activity - including vaginal, anal, and oral sex - via the exchange of blood, semen, vaginal fluids, and skin-to-skin contact. If untreated, they can also be transmitted from mother to child during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding.
More than 30 species of bacteria, viruses, and parasites are known to transfer via sexual contact, with eight of them linked to the most significant incidence of STIs worldwide. Four of them, including syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and trichomoniasis, are curable and can easily be treated without undesirable outcomes with early detection and treatment. The other four: including hepatitis B, herpes simplex virus (HSV1 and HSV2), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and human papillomavirus (HPV) are not. Hepatitis C, pubic lice, and mycoplasma/urea bacteria are also known STIs that can be tested for.
Though common symptoms include vaginal discharge, urethral discharge, burning, genital ulcers, and abdominal pain, many of these infections have no symptoms, so regular testing is important.
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The type and frequency of STI testing varies depending on your age, sexual behaviors, and other risk factors. Testing recommendations also depend on the disease itself.
Still, discussing individual risk factors with your doctor is the best way to determine your specific needs. We recommend visiting the CDC or WHO websites better to understand your specific risk factor for each disease.
At AYUMETRIX, we offer comprehensive STI testing via a wide array of collection methods.
Infections that can be tested for include chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomonas, HIV, HSV2, HPV, syphilis, hepatitis C, hepatitis B, and myco/urea are all available depending on your individual needs.
The benefit of one of these panels is that all major known STI infections are tested. It is quick and easy, providing security for you and your partner moving forward.
That being said, STI testing isn't the only way to prevent transmission or contraction of one of these infections. Discussing with your doctor prevention methods - including barrier contraceptives, vaccinations, and in some cases, medications - can also be essential for your health and your partner's health.
Sexual health is just as important as other aspects of well-being, and regular testing can help ensure that we all can have a healthy and vibrant future!
- Mary Hall, ND, LAc
Links:
● CDC:
○ https://www.cdc.gov/std/saw/index.htm
● World Health Organization:
○ https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/sexually-transmitted-infections-(stis)
