Each and every day, many thousands of people throughout the country get infected with sexually transmitted diseases. Whether it is HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea, herpes, chlamydia, or hepatitis, STDs are a very common problem for anyone who is sexually active in any form. Unfortunately, even though these diseases are all very common, they can also have extremely dire consequences if not caught early and given proper treatment. From infertility and sexual problems to extreme illness and death, sexually transmitted infections are no laughing matter.

The problem is that, within our culture, STDs are considered a taboo topic. While a huge percentage of the population will have to deal with at least one of them over the course of their life, nobody really talks about them. This can make the process of getting tested for an infection and dealing with a positive result a lot more stressful than it should be. It also has the unfortunate consequence of making people put off testing and treatment out of fear of being embarrassed or having other people find out.

Whether you have been putting off getting tested for STDs or you have just found out that you may have been exposed, it is very important that you go ahead and get the necessary tests. There is a at home STD test kit as well if you want to do it yourself.

An important thing to remember is that not all STDs have noticeable symptoms. In fact, many of them don’t have any symptoms at all- at least in the early stages. However, just because diseases like HIV and Chlamydia don’t produce obvious symptoms like gonorrhea, doesn’t mean they aren’t doing damage and can’t be passed on to your sexual partners.

Early testing can make the difference because losing your fertility, suffering permanent pain or disfigurement, or even death. It can also allow you to get treated so that you don’t pass the infection on to future sexual partners and contribute to the disease’s spread.

Remember, just because most people don’t like to talk about STDs doesn’t mean they aren’t prevalent and that you aren’t at risk of contracting one. If you are sexually active in any form, you may be at risk of having or getting an STD. Don’t wait until it is too late before getting the testing and treatment you need.

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