Caller: “Hello, I’d like to get tested for STD.”

Counselor: “Great! What would you like to get tested for?”

Caller: “STD.”

Counselor: “Well, there are many STDs you can get tested for. Were you concerned about something in particular or would you like to get tested for the 8 most common STDs?”

Caller: “There are more than one!?”

Seriously.  This is what happens when we don’t have widespread support for sex education in public schools.  We live in such a highly sexualized culture but, as a nation, our sexual health literacy is very low.  If parents aren’t teaching their children about general safe sex practice and infectious disease and our teachers aren’t teaching about preventative care, it’s no wonder we get basic questions like this on a daily basis.  What is an STD?  Why are they sometimes called STIs?  What’s safer sex?  Do I really need to get tested?  Doesn’t my doctor test me?

Unfortunately, no, your doctor is probably not testing you for STDs.  And, no, STD is not an STD.  When you have unprotected oral, vagina, or anal sex, you are putting yourself and others at risk for becoming infected with a variety of sexually transmitted diseases or STDs.

Caller: “I’m interested in getting tested for all STDs. What is in your panel?”

Counselor: “Our 8 Test Panel includes testing for Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Herpes, HIV, and Syphilis.

Caller: “Well, I won’t need the Chlamydia and Gonorrhea tests, because I am a man, right?”

Sigh.  Chlamydia and gonorrhea are bacterial infections that occur in both men and women. In fact, chlamydia and gonorrhea  are among the most common STDs by and large because they can be present without any obvious signs or symptoms.  People don’t know they are infected with chlamydia or gonorrhea and unknowingly pass the infection to their partner.

Caller: “I need to get tested for HIV/AIDS.”

Counselor: “Just HIV, or all STDs?”

Caller: “I thought the HIV test covered all STDs?”

Look — getting tested is the most important thing you can do at the beginning of a new relationship (or after!) to protect your health and the health of your partner. Get tested for all STDs so you know the complete status of your sexual health. Don’t be afraid to ask questions if you aren’t sure what you need to test for. That is what we are here for – and we’ve heard it all!

• Get the facts on STDs.
• Get tested today.

BY SU McFAY, R.N.

We come across a lot of interesting stories at the Unzipped news desk, but this one wins the week.  In a weird twist of life imitating art, teenagers are literally biting each other as a way to express affection.  Call it the “Twilight” zone.

Sucking blood is also described as a way to “mark” a loved one.  Some teens are cutting themselves and letting others taste their blood, as a means of being “connected eternally.”  You know, like vampires.

But, we’re not vampires.  We’re humans.  Our bites are notoriously infectious and frequently under-managed.  Approximately 10-15% of human bite wounds become infected.  And the possibility of transmission of disease through human bites is real.  Of the sexually transmitted infections, human bites have been shown to transmit hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and syphilis.   While there is evidence to suggest that it’s biologically possible to spread HIV through human bites, the risk is low.

Teens -  there’s just no safe way to experience this hot new blood-sucking trend.  You can play on Team Edward or Team Jacob, but when it comes to your health, play safe.

• I’m not a blood sucker, but am I at risk for having an STD?

Before you toss your little blue pills, the researchers at Harvard did not discover that Viagra and other ED drugs cause sexually transmitted diseases.  They don’t.  They do what they are designed to do — help men achieve erections strong enough for sexual intercourse.  What the researchers did discover, however, was that men who take Viagra, Cialis and the others tend to engage in riskier sexual behavior.  In fact, according to the study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, men who were prescribed ED drugs are 2 to 3 times more likely to contract an STD, particularly HIV or chlamydia, than men who aren’t popping Viagra.

Earlier research has found that men aged 50 and older are less likely to use a condom and less likely to be tested for HIV compared with people in their 20s.  It’s not hard to understand why this trend is happening.  “We are typically unaccustomed to practice safe sex over the age of 50, because the risk of pregnancy is eliminated,” study lead author Dr. Anupam B. Jena of Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.

Viagra.  Meet Trojan.  Trojan?  Meet Viagra.  Guys — we’re happy you’re enjoying great sex, but please stay safe.  And if you haven’t gotten your routine STD or HIV test, we’re here to help.

• Are you at risk?  Get a Free Test Recommendation.
• Get tested for the 8 most common STDs today.
  

But what about the rest of us in our 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, and beyond?  While it’s critical to teach young people how to protect themselves, why is this important public health awareness effort so focused on teenagers?  FACT: The highest number of newly acquired cases of HIV/AIDS have been found in middle aged adults, ages 35 to 44.  Next highest age group?  Ages 45 to 54.  The least affected group is the youngest group between the age of 25 to 34.  This is CDC published data.

The new faces of HIV/AIDs are not gay men or the sexually promiscuous or IV drug users.  It’s the woman over 50 who doesn’t use condoms because she’s not worried about getting pregnant.  Or the divorced 42 year dad who’s dating again after many years and doesn’t know how to bring up the subject about using condoms or STD testing.  Viagra, Facebook, online dating, midlife divorce, and lack of awareness may be contributing forces but STDs are no longer an affliction of the young.

And maybe… it’s just that grownups are not so good at using condoms.  In a University of Chicago survey of single women ages 58 to 93, nearly 60% said they didn’t use a condom the last time they had sex. A May 2008 study conducted by the New York Department of Health and Mental Hygiene showed that among single people with at least two sexual partners, 56% of people over age 45 reported using condoms the last time they had sex, compared with 61% of 25-to-44-year-olds and 80% of 18-to-24-year-olds.

You may be wondering…if I have HIV, would I feel it?  Maybe.  HIV and AIDS, in the very early stages, may feel like the flu.  The virus attacks the immune system so your body can respond with a fever, swollen glands, skin rashes, body aches, or headaches.  But HIV can be silent for years so you cannot rely on symptoms to know if you are infected.  Some people can live with HIV for 8 years and not know it.  After the virus kills off helper T cells (CD4 lymphocytes), the body may weaken and develop chronic symptoms like diarrhea and weight loss.  Very serious symptoms happen in the later stages of infection which is when HIV officially becomes AIDS.  You can learn more about HIV and HIV testing here.

Bottom line?  Worrying about HIV doesn’t help you get answers.  A quick blood test at Labcorp does.  We’re here to help that happen privately, easily, and with a free doctor consultation if your test is positive.  It’s important to know your status for peace of mind but also to prevent transmission of the virus to other people.  Your results are your business and no one else’s.  All states require a legal provision to ensure the highest degree of confidentiality with regard to personal health data, especially HIV data.  Dr. Google provides information, but we’re here to help you find answers.

• How to Get a Private HIV Test

Now, if you want to try to “time” an STD test based on what you think was a recent unsafe experience, there is a more nuanced answer.  Let’s say that up until yesterday you were a virgin and never had any sexual contact — vaginal, anal, oral or other.  And yesterday you got busy in an unsafe way with someone who told you, after having a robust night of lovemaking, “Wow, that was great, but I should tell you that I have genital herpes.”  Or HIV or Hepatitis C or another STD.  In that instance, you need to get yourself checked out and think about the timing of the test.

Viral infections like Herpes (HSV-2) and HIV may not develop detectable antibodies to the virus for up to 3 months.  This is called “seroconversion.” The HIV DNA by PCR test will look for DNA cells as early as 28 days after a possible exposure because it’s not looking for antibodies.

This is getting technical but diagnostic screening is simple.  Haven’t been tested in 12 months and you’ve had unsafe sex?  Get tested today and then wear condom.  Enjoy sex responsibly!

We’d love to hear from you.  Do you get tested regularly?