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STI Testing

If you are sexually active, you risk getting a sexually transmitted infection (STI). STIs can be present in a person’s body without symptoms, and you and your partner may not know you are infected. Left untreated, STIs can have serious health consequences. Although numerous strategies lower the risk of getting an STI, none of them eliminate your risk, not even using condoms 100% of the time.

Why Test for STIs?

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Some STIs are curable; some are not. Their impact on physical health varies. STIs like chlamydia and gonorrhea are capable of causing reproductive problems, including infertility. HIV is a virus that targets and alters the immune system, increasing the risk and impact of other infections and diseases. Many STIs are silent; it’s easy to think “I’m healthy” even though you may actually be infected. Women can have trichomoniasis for months to years without symptoms. This is why testing for STIs is so important.

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Many women who are NOT given antibiotics before a surgical abortion will develop an infection of the uterus. These infections are caused by a number of bacteria including, but not limited to, STIs. Getting STI testing and treatment before an abortion is still an important step to take.

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Haven Center offers free STI testing to all women with confirmed pregnancies.

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Testing is required to know if you are infected with an STI. Unfortunately, a partner’s past history, the absence of symptoms, their use of condoms, and their personal character are not enough to judge whether or not they are infected.

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Possible STI Symptoms

 

Two of the most common STIs are chlamydia and gonorrhea. We offer our confirmed-pregnant clients free urine-based testing for chlamydia and gonorrhea. 

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Chlamydia

Early-stage chlamydia infections often cause few or no symptoms. When symptoms occur, they usually start one to two weeks after exposure to chlamydia. Even when symptoms occur, they’re often mild and passing, making them easy to overlook.
 

Symptoms of chlamydia infection may include:

  • Painful urination

  • Lower abdominal pain

  • Vaginal discharge in women

  • Painful sexual intercourse in women

  • Bleeding between periods and after sex in women

  • Testicular pain in men

  • Discharge from the penis in men

 
Gonorrhea

In many cases, gonorrhea infection causes no symptoms. When symptoms do appear, gonorrhea infection can affect multiple sites in your body, but it commonly appears in the genital tract.

Symptoms of gonorrhea infection may include:

  • Painful urination

  • Pus-like discharge from the tip of the penis

  • Pain or swelling in one testicle

  • Increased vaginal discharge

  • Painful urination

  • Vaginal bleeding between periods, such as after vaginal intercourse

  • Abdominal pain

  • Pelvic pain

Gonorrhea can also affect these parts of the body:

  • Rectum – Signs and symptoms include anal itching, pus-like discharge from the rectum, spots of bright red blood on toilet tissue and having to strain during bowel movements.

  • Eyes – Gonorrhea that affects your eyes may cause eye pain, sensitivity to light and pus-like discharge from one or both eyes.

  • Throat- Signs and symptoms of a throat infection may include a sore throat and swollen lymph nodes in the neck.

  • Joints – If one or more joints become infected by bacteria (septic arthritis), the affected joints may be warm, red, swollen and extremely painful especially when you move an affected joint.

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