Millions of people are still getting sexually transmitted diseases every year. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), there are 20 million new cases annually, with about half of them coming from teens and young adults (15-24). Left undiagnosed, many STDs can lead to further complications like infertility and pelvic inflammatory disease (PIC). So, if you get tested and find out you have an STD, what do you do next?
Dealing with STDs can be embarrassing, uncomfortable, and painful. If you live in Beverly Hills, California, and have an STD, Dr. Shawn Veiseh and his experienced staff can help you deal with the complications that come from these conditions.
Here are some important steps if you’ve tested positive for an STD:
This is a difficult step to take, but communication with the person (or people) you’re sexually involved with is important for many reasons. Making sure everyone gets tested, as well, is the first step to preventing the infection from spreading even further to other partners.
Many STDs don’t show signs immediately, so it can be difficult to determine who got it first or where it came from. Many of these conditions may not show symptoms at all but can still be spread.
This is going to be hard for someone to hear, so be patient and understanding as you explain. Remember that you may not know who had something first, and getting an STD doesn’t mean anyone has been unfaithful. Be open and honest about the situation, and listen to what they have to say.
Many STDs can do real damage to your body if left untreated and in some cases, it can also increase your risk of getting other ones. Once you know what you have, find out what steps you need to take to get treated and how to avoid it in the future.
Many conditions are treated easily with medications like antibiotics. Treatment for STDs is available at urgent care centers, family planning centers, and student health services.
An easy way for you to avoid many conditions is to use some form of protection to prevent direct contact with someone that has an STD. If you have the infection it will keep you from infecting them. Condoms are a common but effective way to prevent infection and talk with your physician about the options available to you for protection.
Even if you’ve been treated and have recovered from an infection, you can catch the same STD again or get something else. Checking in three months after infection for a retest is a good way to find out if you and your partner(s) are taking the right precautions. Sometimes taking a test is the only way to know if you have something, so be sure to get checked regularly.
Being sexually active means understanding the risks and taking care of yourself and the people you’re involved with when it comes to STDs. So if you’re sexually active and think you might have an STD, make an appointment with Dr. Veiseh today.
