What you don’t know could hurt you (and others)
Nobody wants to spread diseases or infections. Yet, many people are hesitant to get tested when they’ve been exposed to STDs or STIs. They think that what they don’t know won’t hurt them, but they’re wrong. Not only can not knowing delay treatment, chances are, infected people will share their diseases and infections with new partners. Infections such as Chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis can be easily treated with antibiotics. Some of the more chronic and acute diseases such as genital herpes, hepatitis A,B, and C and HIV can be better managed with knowledge. Not knowing may not only hurt you, it could kill you or someone you love.
- HIV by PCR - can detect the presence of HIV at 28 days or more of exposure – long before symptoms occur. HIV leads to Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) but early medication intervention allows many people to live a long life with HIV without complications from AIDS.
- Chlamydia/Gonorrhea – usually have no symptoms or very subtle signs, so a blood test is the only way to find out for sure.
- Syphilis – is just about as old as sex and is familiar to most people. But knowing about it doesn’t stop the spread. Knowing you have it leads to treatment and helps stop the spread to others.
- Hepatitis B and C – liver damage from hepatitis B and C can lead to eventual death if not treated. Don’t take a chance, get tested.
- Genital herpes – is one of the fastest growing STDs. The only way to stop the epidemic growth is to get tested and take precautions.
