On any given day, about 1 in 5 Americans has a sexually transmitted infection (STI). STIs are extremely common, and they’re also an important public health concern.
Most STIs are preventable and treatable. Unfortunately, many people are embarrassed to talk about them with their sexual partners and their doctors, making it less likely that they get the treatment they need, so STIs continue to spread.
At Solace Women’s Care, our goal is to reduce the stigma surrounding STIs and elevate the standard of STI care. Farly Sejour, MD, Natalie Gould, WHNP-BC, and our team provide compassionate STI testing and treatment in Conroe, Texas.
Take a moment to learn five encouraging facts about STIs, prevention, and treatment.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are more than 20 million new STI cases in the United States each year. That means about 1 in 2 sexually active people will contract an STI at some point in their life.
While this may seem scary, it’s important to know there’s nothing to be embarrassed about. Most STIs are treatable, and many can be easily prevented through the use of condoms and regular testing.
There’s a lot you can do to protect your health and prevent STIs from spreading, and it doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, using condoms every time you have sex is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of STIs.
When used correctly and consistently, condoms can reduce the risk of HIV transmission by about 85% and the risk of other STIs by up to 90%.
Many STIs can be easily treated with antibiotics or other medications, which means it’s important to get tested if you think you might have an STI.
Chlamydia and gonorrhea are treated with a single dose of antibiotics, and more complex STIs, like herpes and HIV, can be managed with medication over the course of your life.
Seeking prompt treatment also reduces your risk of complications. This means that even if you do contract an STI, it doesn’t have to be a lifelong burden.
Many STIs don’t have symptoms, which means it’s possible to spread infection to others without knowing it. Regular STI testing is the only way to know if you have an infection, so you can inform your sexual partners and get the treatment you need.
Regular testing is an important part of your sexual health care, but how often you should get tested depends on your health and your lifestyle. Dr. Sejour and our team generally recommend that sexually active people get tested at least once a year, or more often if they have multiple partners.
STIs are common, but the stigma surrounding them can make it hard to discuss sexual health with your intimate partners. Talking openly and honestly about STIs helps normalize the topic, and it can allow you to deepen trust within your intimate relationships.
When partners share their sexual history, both people can make better decisions and practice safer sex. Being able to talk about STIs with your partners can prevent the spread of infections and ensure that both of you are on the same page when it comes to protecting your sexual health.
Remember that STIs are common, and a positive diagnosis of an STI isn’t the end of the world. Take control of your health and seek the STI testing and treatment you need at Solace Women’s Care. Call our office at 936-441-7100 or send us a message online to learn more.
