A whopping 50% of all of the sexually active young adults in the United States will end up contracting an STD (sexually transmitted disease) by the age of 25. Most of these people will, unfortunately, not even be aware that they have these STDs.

Continue reading to learn more about why every woman should get tested for these diseases from Cielo Gonzalez Villa. And when you’re ready to get checked, you can find free STD testing clinics near you.

1. STDs Could Result in Health Complications

If you have an STD and it goes untreated, it could end up causing more serious health conditions in the long run. For example, some STDs will increase your risk of developing cervical cancer, while others could make you infertile. Getting tested means that you will be able to get the right treatment to clear the infection before it can wreak havoc on your body.

2. Some STDs Do Not Even Cause Symptoms

Again, a lot of people who have STDs will not even know it because many of these sexually transmitted diseases do not cause any symptoms. Around 70-95% of women, as well as 90% of men, will have chlamydia but they will not develop any symptoms, as one example. Also, individuals who have contracted HIV will not have any symptoms for a decade, on average. Therefore, the only way to know for sure whether or not you are clean is by getting yourself tested.

3. Some STDs are Transmitted Without Having Sex

Just because you have never had sex does not mean that you definitely do not have an STD. This is because there are a few STDs that can be spread via skin-to-skin contact with another person. For example, oral herpes can be passed from one person to another through casual contact, such as by sharing eating utensils or kissing. Oral herpes can be spread to the genitals during oral sex, so knowing that you have this STD will allow you to take steps to prevent transmission of the disease.

4. A Lot of STDs are Treatable, and Curable

Even if you are diagnosed with an STD, rest assured that many of them are treatable, if not curable. Therefore, you should not avoid the test simply because you think that there is nothing that you can do about it if you have contracted one of these diseases. Just be aware that your annual pelvic exam does not automatically include an STD test, so you have to request it.

5. The Tests Are Easy

Oftentimes, the tests to check for STDs are really quick, easy, and painless. To check for some STDs, all you have to do is give a urine sample. There are also HIV tests that will give you your results in just 20 minutes after a swab in your mouth.

Now that you know just a few of the main reasons why you should get tested for STDs, talk to your doctor about the tests that are required. The sooner you get tested, the sooner you will be able to put your mind at ease.