Teaming with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department wants to shed light on sexually transmitted infections as part of its awareness week, April 12-18.
The CDC recommends a Talk, Test, and Treat approach to common sexually transmitted infections, or STIs.
Talk – Talk to your partner(s) and your healthcare provider honestly about your sexual health and any current STIs you may have. It is important to talk to your partner before intercourse about when you were last tested, other partners, and to use condoms throughout the entire act. Make sure you are open with your healthcare provider about your sex life so that they can understand what kinds of tests you should be getting and how often. Not all medical checkups include STI testing, so don’t assume that they will be tested unless you bring it up. You can also ask your healthcare provider as to whether certain vaccines, such as hepatitis B or HPV vaccine, would be beneficial to you.
Test – Many STIs do not cause symptoms, so you could have one and not be aware. Getting tested is the only way to know for use if you have a sexually transmitted infection. Ask your healthcare provider which STI tests are recommended. Even if you are pregnant, you can still get an STI. Some tests can be done at home and mailed to a lab or through a self-test.
Treat – If you test positive for any STI, your healthcare provider can provide the correct treatment. Make sure the treatment is effective by taking all of the medication as prescribed, for as long as it is prescribed, even if you are feeling better or the symptoms go away. Do not share your medicine with anyone, and avoid sexual activity until you and your partner(s) have completed treatment.
Expedited Partner Treatment, or Expedited Partner Therapy, is also available for STIs. EPT is a practice allowing healthcare providers to prescribe certain antibiotic medicines for the sexual partner(s) of a person with a STI, including chlamydia and gonorrhea, without a prior medical evaluation or clinical assessment of the partner(s). If you have a partner who cannot see a healthcare provider, help stop the spread of infection by ensuring they get treated too.
You can make an appointment to discuss your sexual health options with us at 304-485-7374.