Come out to Rollins College Wellness Center for free HIV and Hep C testing on Feb. 13th from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM!
Preventative healthcare is a smart way to be proactive about your health. When a health issue does arise, knowing about it is the first step in treating it. You may have had other preventative tests before, including a mammogram, colonoscopy, or blood tests to check for high blood pressure or cholesterol. Adding STI tests to your regular health screenings will keep your sexual health in check too. Let’s review some of the benefits of visiting our Tampa STI testing clinic regularly.
If your traditional definition of a “virgin” is someone who has not had intercourse (vaginal or anal), keep in mind that some STIs can be transmitted through skin-to-skin contact. HPV (human papillomavirus), herpes, and syphilis do not require intercourse to spread from one person to another. Getting tested, even if you’re a “virgin,” is the best way to protect your health.
You could have a sexually transmitted infection and not know it because you don’t feel unwell or see any signs of illness. Chlamydia is the most common STI for females under age 25, and it typically has no symptoms. Sometimes called the “silent STI,” chlamydia can still be spread from person to person, even without symptoms.
When symptoms do occur, they can be confused for symptoms of a UTI or yeast infection and do not get proper treatment. It is recommended that sexually active females under age 25 get tested yearly for chlamydia.
Other STIs with mild or no symptoms include gonorrhea, HPV, and herpes. It is important to note that these and other STIs can be transferred to a sexual partner even when asymptomatic.
Just because an STI doesn’t show symptoms doesn’t mean it won’t cause significant health issues down the road. Gonorrhea and chlamydia, for example, can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease, which can affect a female’s reproductive health. Scarring in the fallopian tubes can cause ectopic pregnancy or infertility.
You can’t be treated until you’re diagnosed. When diagnosed early, STIs can be treated, so they do not cause long-term health issues. Visiting our Tampa STI testing clinic yearly will help protect your short-term and long-term health.
Keeping your sexual health in check is the best way to show respect to your sexual partners and to your own health. Open, honest communication about health risks, STIs, and safe sex practices is important to keeping our community healthy. There is no way to know if you or your partner are STI-free without getting tested!
Because regular STI checks are so important to your overall health, we want to make it easy and comfortable for you to stay in the know. Harmony Healthcare Orlando has offices across Central Florida to serve you. When you step into our Tampa STI testing clinic, our friendly and knowledgeable staff will assist you with your healthcare needs.
Above and beyond STI testing, our clinics offer resources to help members of our community find food banks, employment opportunities, referrals for mental health services, and more. And don’t forget about the free condoms! We are all about health – sexual, mental, and physical – so stop by one of our clinics or contact us online for more information. We look forward to meeting you!
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Our offices will be closed on Monday, May 29th in observance of Memorial Day.
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