One risk that goes along with being sexually active is the potential to contract an STD. If you do contract an STD, however, it isn't the end of the world. Of course, for your own health, safety, and well-being, it is important to take appropriate action if you think that you might have an STD. These are the important steps that you should follow when seeking treatment for an STD.
Get Tested
First of all, if you haven't already been tested for STDs, it's important to do so. If you are sexually active, it's not a bad idea to be tested for STDs regularly, especially if you have multiple different partners. If you notice any unusual symptoms or if one of your sexual partners lets you know that they have contracted an STD, then you should be tested again, even if you have had the test done recently. There are many STD testing clinics out there, and many health departments offer STD testing as well. Your primary care doctor should be able to perform an STD test or should be able to direct you to the right facility for this type of testing, too.
Follow Your Doctor's Recommendations
If you test positive for an STD, your doctor will let you know what you have tested positive for. They can let you know about some of the symptoms that you might suffer from and what types of risks you have to worry about. They can also talk to you about your treatment options, such as the option to take an antibiotic. Make sure that you carefully follow their recommendations to ensure you get the treatment that you need and deserve.
Let Potentially Affected Individuals Know
If you find that you do have an STD, it is important to let your sexual partners know about it. Then, they can be tested to determine if they should seek STD treatment. If you don't want to contact your sexual partners to let them know about this, then the medical facility that handles your testing and treatment might do it for you if you provide your partners' contact information. There are also online resources that you can use to anonymously share this information. No matter how choose to go about providing this information, you should make sure that you do it as soon as possible for the health, safety, and well-being of your sexual partners and for general public health reasons.
For more information, contact an STD treatment service.
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