As STDs rates rise in California, officials urge people to get tested

 

California has been experiencing a surge in sexually transmitted disease (STD) rates, which is why it's important for residents to practice safer sex. Recently, the Golden Gate Xpress, a San Francisco State University news source, published an article about how occasionally using condoms and visiting STD testing centers is not enough, and stressing the importance of making sexual health a priority.

According to the information provider, in California, rates of chlamydia increased by 5 percent, gonorrhea by 1.5 percent and syphilis by 18 percent between 2010 and 2011. While wearing a condom during intercourse is a good way to reduce the chance of transmitting an STD, individuals should still get tested regularly even if they always use protection.

"It is recommended that an individual be tested once every three to six months, depending on how sexually active you are and how frequent your barrier use is," peer sexual health educator Brianna Williams said, quoted by the news source. "The time frame of three to six months is selected because [STDs] have different window periods, meaning if you’re exposed to an [STD] it won’t necessarily show up before a certain time when a test can recognize it."

The Xpress added that people who have an STD are two to five times more likely to contract HIV than uninfected individuals. The news source stressed the importance of visiting an STD testing center in San Francisco, especially for young people and college students.

According to College Times, nearly one in five college students is infected with genital herpes, and one of the biggest problems is that many individuals do not realize how simple it is to contract an STD. These infections can be the result of oral sex as well as intercourse, yet many people do not use condoms during oral sex, which is yet another reason why it's important to get tested.