The US government has been working since decades to spread awareness about and ensure measures are taken to promote sexual health in the country. WHO in its definition of sexual health states, “Sexual health requires a positive and respectful approach to sexuality and sexual relationships, as well as the possibility of having pleasurable and safe sexual experiences…”

Sexual health means ensuring safe sexual experience for yourself and your partner. One main way of ensuring sexual health and safety is getting an STD check, such as STD check Tampa, which is a testing for sexually transmitted disease also commonly known as sexually transmitted infection (STI), which refer to transmission of contagious viruses or strains of bacteria through a sexual intercourse (vaginal, anal, oral or any skin to skin sexual contact).

In the US there are around 20 million new cases of STDs every year. In Florida, the STI cases skyrocketed with an increase of 42%, specifically recording 932 cases per 100,000 residents in Hillsborough County of the greater Tampa Bay area. 

This highlights the need of ensuring and spreading awareness about STD check in Tampa, Florida. This article aims to discuss various factors of STD and educate the residents of Tampa in the matter of STD testing. 

STD Types

There are over 25 total types of STD infections, some of which mainly include: 

  • Chlamydia
  • Genital Herpes
  • Gonorrhea
  • HIV A/B
  • Hepatitis
  • Syphilis
  • Trichomoniasis
  • Monkeypox

Chlamydia 

It is a common type of STD prevalent in both males and females. It is caused by an infection with Chlamydia trachomatis, leading to severe damage to the female reproductive system. It is  so severe that it can make it impossible for a woman to conceive or may cause a fatal ectopic pregnancy. 

In 2023, a total of 1,648,568 cases of Chlamydia trachomatis infection were reported, making it the most common STI in the United States for that year. 

Symptoms:

  • pain during sex
  • painful urination
  • Rectal pain
  • Discharge
  • Bleeding

Who should get tested?

  • sexually active gay or bisexual man
  • sexually active woman under 25 years
  • Women older than 25 with increased risk factors (multiple partners)
  • Individual who has sex with new partner or multiple partners
  • Rape victims 

Procedure/ Methods of Testing

  • Nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs)
  • a sample is collected from female’s cervix and males urethra using a cotton swab
  • Sometimes a urine sample is collected 

If Left Untreated: 

Untreated chlamydia can cause serious health problems in females like  

  • Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
  • Formation of scar tissue that blocks fallopian tubes
  • Ectopic pregnancy (pregnancy outside the womb)
  • Infertility (not being able to get pregnant)
  • Long-term pelvic/abdominal pain

Genital Herpes

This STD is caused by two main types of viruses known as herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2). Type 1 mostly causes oral herpes in which the patient gets cold sores or blisters around the mouth and type 2 causes genital sores mostly. 

US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that in 2018 there were 572,000 new genital herpes infections in the U.S. among people aged 14 to 49. Highlighting the need for STD testing. 

Symptoms:

Most of the time, individuals don’t have any symptoms despite having herpes and risk of spreading it but sometimes the obvious symptoms include:

  • Herpes outbreak (blisters on or around the genitals, rectum or mouth)
  • Flu-like symptoms (e.g. fever, body aches, or swollen glands)    
  • Unusual sore
  • A smelly genital discharge
  • Burning when peeing
  • Bleeding between periods.

Who should get tested?

You can get herpes if you ever had 

  • vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who has the infection. 
  • Contact with saliva from a partner with an oral herpes infection
  • Contact of Skin in the oral area of a partner with oral herpes
  • Skin contact in the genital area of a partner with genital herpes

Procedures/ Methods:

  • Physical exam
  • A tissue sample of blisters or early ulcers if you have them
  • Genital swab.
  • Blood test (to test if you’ve been exposed to the virus before but don’t have an active infection)

Gonorrhea

Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted disease that results from an infection with the Neisseria gonorrhoeae bacterium. This bacteria infects the mucous membranes in the reproductive tract (the cervix, fallopian tubes, and uterus in women, and the urethra) in both men and women. 

In 2023, a total of 601,319 cases of gonorrhea were reported, making it the second most common nationally notifiable STI in the United States for that year. 

** The testing and symptoms for Chlamydia and Gonorrhea are the same and anyone testing for chlamydia is tested for gonorrhea at the same time.

Who should get tested?

  • Someone who had vaginal, anal, or oral sex without a condom 
  • Having sex with someone who has this infection
  • Sexually active women younger than age 25
  • Gay men above 13 years 
  • People with HIV
  • Transgender women who have sex with men
  • Rape victims

Syphilis

Syphilis is another very common and harmful sexually transmitted disease that can have detrimental effects on one’s well being if not treated timely. This disease develops in stages  (primary, secondary, latent, and tertiary), each with different symptoms. Another type of syphilis is Congenital syphilis, in which a pregnant mother passes the syphilis disease to her baby.

In 2023, 209,253 cases of syphilis were reported which is the greatest number of cases reported since 1950.

Symptoms:

Though the symptoms vary in different phases but the most common ones across different stages are:

  • sores in or around the genital areas, rectum, lips or in the mouth
  • faint and reddish rash on your palms or bottoms of feet
  • Fever
  • Swollen lymph glands
  • Sore throat
  • Patchy hair loss
  • Headaches
  • Weight loss
  • Muscle aches
  • fatigue 

Who should get tested?

  • Men, 13 years and older, who have sex 
  • Pregnant women at prenatal period, 28 weeks and at time of delivery  
  • People who have vaginal, anal, or oral sex without a condom 
  • Gay and bisexual men 
  • Having sex with someone who has this infection

Procedure/ Methods

  • Blood test.
  • Genital swab

Reasons and Benefits of Getting STD Check

As evident from this article, sexually transmitted diseases can prove to be very harmful and detrimental for an individual’s health and wellbeing. So getting tested can save you, your partner and even your children from many risks. Some of the reasons and benefits are:

  • Early detection of preventable long term complications
  • Help protect your fertility against any kind of risk
  • Risk free pregnancy 
  • Avoid transmission to partners 
  • Protects unborn baby from transmission of infections or disease