Sexually Transmitted Diseases ( STD Test )
Who should do it?
If you have had a suspicious sexual relationship or want to have a sexual screening test for private reasons (screening before marriage or pregnancy); In terms of a full-scale sexually transmitted diseases screening, you can choose the following tests. You can have these tests done individually or as a group.
Istanbul Laboratories says;
Having any sexually transmitted disease can increase your chances of contracting HIV many times over.
You have HIV and a sexually transmitted disease – If you have an STD, you are much more likely to spread HIV to your sexual partners.
Are some STDs associated with HIV?
Yes, unfortunately that’s the case, studies conducted in the United States show that people with syphilis, gonorrhea and herpes infections are usually HIV positive or more likely to get HIV in the future.
Why does having an STD put me at greater risk for contracting HIV?
If you have a sexually transmitted disease in your life, you are more likely to have HIV than normal people. The reason for this is that the risk of HIV transmission increases in similar behaviors and conditions that may create the risk of contracting a sexually transmitted disease (STD). In addition, having a skin wound or contact from any sexually transmitted disease can allow HIV to be transmitted to your body more easily. If you are sexually active, get tested regularly for STDs and HIV, even if you don’t have symptoms.
Some activities can bring both sexually transmitted diseases and HIV closer to you
- Anal, vaginal or oral sex without a condom;
- Having more than one sex partner;
- having unidentified sex partners;
- Having sex while under the influence of drugs, alcohol or substance can reduce precautions and put you at greater risk of STDs.
What can I do to prevent sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and HIV?
The only and 100% effective way to avoid sexually transmitted diseases is to have vaginal, anal or oral sex with a single person… If you are sexually active with more than one person, you should do the following to reduce your risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases and HIV:
- Prefer lower risk sex activities,
- During the entire sex activity (from start to finish), use a new condom for each vaginal, anal and oral sex act,
- Reduce the number of people you have sex with,
- Reduce or avoid the use of drugs and alcohol before and during sex,
- Have an honest and open dialogue with your healthcare provider and ask if you can get tested for sexually transmitted diseases, HIV;
- Talk to your doctor and find out what the risk of transmission before intercourse or post-exposure symptoms or the best option is to prevent HIV infection.
If I am already HIV-positive and subsequently contract an STD, will my sex partners be at increased risk of contracting HIV?
Yes, this could possibly happen. If you are already HIV-positive and subsequently contracted another STD, your HIV-negative partners may be at increased risk of contracting HIV from you.
In which situations is your sex partner less likely to contract HIV from you?
- Continue the treatment called antiretroviral therapy. Take HIV medications as prescribed and you can lower your viral load to a very low level by reducing the amount of virus in your blood and bodily fluids. HIV medications can lower your viral load considerably and an HIV test may not detect it (an undetectable viral load). If your viral load is undetectable, there is little risk of sexually transmitting HIV to your HIV-negative partners.
- Opt for less risky sex activities.
- During the whole sex act (from start to finish) use a new condom for each vaginal, oral or anal sex act.
The risk of contracting HIV may also be reduced after your partner has consulted this option with your healthcare provider and checked for eligibility. Daily HIV treatment is very effective in keeping HIV out of your body. Treatment is much less effective if not consistently. Since HIV treatment does not protect against other STIs, use the condom correctly every time you have sex.