For women:
At a minimum, get a Pap smear — a simple procedure that collects cells from your cervix to test for cancer or precancerous changes. This type of cancer can arise as a result of a human papillomavirus (HPV) infection — a common STD. Pap smears are recommended for women who are age 21 and older or no later than three years after a woman’s first intercourse. If you’re a woman between age 30 and 69, you may only need a Pap smear every two to three years if you’ve had three normal Pap smears in a row and have had no new sexual partners.
For men:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines don’t suggest routine STD screening if you don’t have any symptoms, unless your sexual practices include having sex with men.
If you are a man who has sex with men, annual screening for HIV, syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhea is recommended. HIV and syphilis can be life-threatening if untreated, and chlamydia and gonorrhea can put you at greater risk of acquiring HIV and other STDs.
For men and women:
Also see your doctor for STD testing if you have any signs such as genital sores, including fluid-filled blisters, ulcerations or warts, or if you have unusual discharge from your penis or vagina. If you’re a woman, abdominal pain or fever along with unusual discharge may indicate pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) — an STD-related condition that can cause infertility.
The CDC also encourages voluntary HIV testing, at least once, as a routine part of medical care if you are an adolescent or adult between the ages of 13 to 64. The CDC advises yearly HIV testing if you are at high risk of infection, for example if you’ve had unprotected sex with more than one sexual partner since your last screening. Please see your doctor for any questions you may have.
Source: Mayo Clinic
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