Are STDs Contagious?
If you’re experiencing unusual symptoms or have recently had unprotected sex, you may be wondering whether STDs are contagious. They are, and they can be spread through sexual contact.
Life’s Choices Women’s Clinic offers STD testing at no cost for both men and women, so you can get answers and protect your reproductive health. Our appointments are confidential, and we also provide no-cost pregnancy services.
Schedule an appointment today and get the clarity you need.
How STDs Spread
STDs, also known as sexually transmitted infections (STIs), are caused by bacteria, viruses, or parasites. More than 25 million STDs are acquired each year in the United States.
STDs can spread through contact with infected bodily fluids, as is the case with chlamydia, and through skin-to-skin contact, such as with herpes. Some infections, including syphilis, can also be passed from mother to baby during pregnancy or childbirth.
Why STD Testing Is Important
The only way to know if you have an STD is through testing. Symptoms alone are not enough to tell you if you have an STD, as some STDs can have no symptoms.
Many bacterial STDs can be treated with antibiotics if detected early. Viral STDs can often be managed with medication. Left untreated, some STDs can lead to long-term reproductive health complications, including pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), ectopic pregnancy, infertility, and chronic pelvic pain.
Regular routine testing can protect both you and your partner’s health.
Symptoms of an STD
Some people may experience STD symptoms while others have none at all.
Common STD symptoms are:
- Painful urination
- Unusual discharge
- Pain during sex
- Unusual bleeding
- Sores or bumps
- Fever
You should still get tested for STDs regularly, even if you aren’t experiencing symptoms, especially if you have recently had unprotected sex.
Can You Pass an STD to Your Child?
Some STDs can be passed from mother to baby during pregnancy, labor, or childbirth. For example, babies who are exposed to chlamydia can develop pink eye and pneumonia.
Genital herpes can also be passed from mother to baby during delivery. Your healthcare provider may recommend antiviral medication near the end of pregnancy or a cesarean delivery in certain situations to reduce the risk of transmission.
Gonorrhea has also been linked to miscarriage, preterm birth, low birth weight, and serious infections in newborns.
This is why STD testing is an essential part of prenatal healthcare.
Get STD Testing at Life’s Choices Women’s Clinic
If you think you may have been exposed to an STD, scheduling a no-cost STD test can give you clarity and help protect your health.
At Life’s Choices Women’s Clinic, we are here for you, whether you want to ask questions about reproductive health or need our no-cost pregnancy services.
Contact us to make an appointment.
Pregnancy Tests
If you have had unprotected sex or missed your period, you might wonder if you are pregnant. The first thing you should do is take a pregnancy test. We offer lab-quality pregnancy testing at no cost.
Ultrasounds
If you are pregnant, an ultrasound will help determine how far along you are, if the pregnancy is viable (growing), and if it’s located in the correct place. We offer limited obstetric ultrasounds at no cost.
STD Testing
When a person engages in sex or sex-like activity, there’s a chance of contracting an STD. Most people with an STD don’t have immediate symptoms. Regular testing helps prevent later physical risks. We offer no-cost and confidential STD testing to women and men.
Men MENtoring Men
Our fatherhood program, Men MENtoring Men, begins during the first medical appointment. Men MENtoring Men is the opportunity for you to meet with a male advocate to discuss your feelings about becoming a dad.
Pregnancy Tests
If you have had unprotected sex or missed your period, you might wonder if you are pregnant. The first thing you should do is take a pregnancy test. We offer lab-quality pregnancy testing at no cost.
Ultrasounds
If you are pregnant, an ultrasound will help determine how far along you are, if the pregnancy is viable (growing), and if it’s located in the correct place. We offer limited obstetric ultrasounds at no cost.
STD Testing
When a person engages in sex or sex-like activity, there’s a chance of contracting an STD. Most people with an STD don’t have immediate symptoms. Regular testing helps prevent later physical risks. We offer no-cost and confidential STD testing to women and men.
Men MENtoring Men
Our fatherhood program, Men MENtoring Men, begins during the first medical appointment. Men MENtoring Men is the opportunity for you to meet with a male advocate to discuss your feelings about becoming a dad.
