If you are sexually active, including having oral sex, it is recommended that you get STI tested on a regular basis, or when you are intimate with somebody new. If you are planning on being intimate with somebody new, or recently have been with somebody new, you should get tested for STIs. Otherwise, if you are sexually active, it is typically recommended to get tested once a year! STIs can be spread through skin-to-skin contact, or through bodily fluids, so even if it is ora

An STI, or Sexually Transmitted Infection, is an infection that is spread through sexual contact. Depending on the STI, they can be spread through skin-to-skin contact or contact with bodily fluids. STIs are very common, and many are curable or treatable! There are also many ways to stay safe while having sex to prevent getting or spreading an STI! This includes getting tested, using a barrier (e.g., condoms) while having sex, and vaccinations. Some common symptoms of some ST

HPV, or Human Papillomavirus, is a very common sexually transmitted infection. It often has no symptoms at all, but may cause genital warts in some cases. Some varieties can also increase the risk of some cancers, such as cervical cancer. HPV is spread through skin-to-skin contact, so using a barrier for protection during sex, such as condoms or dental dams, can help prevent infection. In addition, an HPV vaccine can help prevent infection against many strains. During your gy

A mild UTI (urinary tract infection) may go away on its own in about a week. To help this, and help prevent future UTIs, drinking plenty of water and peeing often are good practices. However, if symptoms are severe (such as being in a lot of pain), or they are not going away within about a week, then you should see a doctor so that they can prescribe you antibiotics! This will make sure the UTI goes away and does not cause further health complications.

Symptoms of chlamydia typically appear 1-3 weeks after having unprotected sex with somebody who is infected. Oftentimes, people may not know that they have chlamydia - or other STIs (sexually transmitted infections) - because they never have symptoms, or the symptoms appear months later. Occasionally, symptoms appear before 1 week, though this is unlikely. If so, the symptoms will be like any other point. Your period will not affect your existing symptoms. While the most comm

Yes. There is one type of sexually transmitted infection (STI) called human papillomavirus (HPV) that can cause cancer. HPV is a virus, and can live in your throat, vaginal region, anus, and penis. HPV has many different strains, and some strains can cause cancer. HPV has been found to cause cancer in the throat, vagina, cervix, vulva, anus, and penis. HPV actually causes 70% of all throat cancers, so it's super important to use protection! We can protect ourselves from this

If you have used a dental dam or condom, then your chances of getting a sexually transmitted infections (STI/STD) is low in each sexual encounter you have. However, if your protection did not include a barrier method like condoms or dental dams, then your chance of getting an infection becomes higher after having sex. Your chance of getting an STI increases with the number of sexual partners you have, as your exposure to potential sources of infection are higher. That is why

As a teen, you have the right to consent for your own STI testing and treatment without your parents present or signing off on it. This means you can have treatment without your parents' consent. However, the age at which a minor can consent for STI testing varies among states. In Maryland, for example, any one under age 18 can consent for themselves to get STI testing and treatment, and your doctor is not required to tell your parents about the treatment you receive. If you

However, he is vaccinated against hepatitis A. Was it positive because he was vaccinated? Should we be concerned? If your partner had a positive total antibody hepatitis-A test (or total anti-HAV test), then this means your partner is immune to hepatitis A. It could be positive after hepatitis A vaccination. However, this test alone cannot tell if you have a current hepatitis A infection or not. If you are concerned about a test result, it is always best to ask your doctor or

Yes, you can still test for sexually transmitted infections (or STIs) on your period. Whether or not you are menstruating at the time of your STI test does not impact the accuracy or validity of the result. This is because STI tests look for a specific bacteria, fungi, or virus and the presence of menstrual blood does not impact whether or not these tests can detect those things. If you are interested in a home STI testing kit, you can visit our online store here.