Sex Education and Sexuality Class project

1. STD Testing
Rebecca Gannon
HE 230-OL
Human Sexuality & Sex Education

2. Why?
• IMPORTANT for new partners, current partner, or even
those absent from sex
• Only way to know for sure!
• Common health risk for your age group (teenage)
• Sexually Transmitted Infection or Diseases are a big
health risk *all are treatable, most curable*
• Those that are curable are better caught early, treatable
ones can be controlled with medicine
• Affects you for rest of life; future kids or harm to self
• Ensures peace of mind- better to know
• Helps protect both parties physical health

3. Statistics
• 1 in every 2 sexually active
people will get an STD by age 25
and not even know
• More than 50% of sexually active
people will end up with HPV at
some point
• 1 in every 5 people living with
HIV do not know they are
positive
• Chlamydia is the #1 most
reported STD in the US –
Estimated 3 million infected
every year
*Centers for Disease Control and
Protection

4. How Do You Get An STD?
• Unprotected sex – both vaginal and anal
• Unprotected oral sex
• Genital skin-to-skin contact
• Sharing needles
• Sometimes hereditary
• Women can pass through from breastfeeding

5. Testing For Females
• Simple, slightly uncomfortable tests
done at clinics or doctor offices
• 1st step- clinical interview: done by
doctor/nurse to find out exposure to
sex and history. Also want to know
about symptoms (if any) in full detail
• 2nd step- visual exam of privates:
looking for evidence of sores- like
pelvic exam- take sample of tissue
with swab
**100% Confidential** Parents wont find
out results- for ALL testing !!

6. Testing For Males
• Same locations for testing applies to males and females
• Slightly uncomfortable/painful but very quick
• Clinician must take swab sample from inside urethra for
sample of cells
• Gathered cells are then examined under microscope
• Common to take swab sample from throat or rectum as well
– same procedure as previous swab test

7. Common Testing Forms
Depending on the STD & the doctors preference, different
procedures are used for screening..
• Swab cultures
• Pelvic exams
• Blood work* most common
• Urine sample/salvia sample
• Microscopic examinations (of tissue)

8. When To Get Tested
• You should maintain frequent visits to the doctor or
gynecologist
• Right when you become sexually active
• Sooner the better- better to know and catch it before it is too
late
• Some STD/STI’s show no symptoms in early stages or just not
noticeable – but that doesn’t mean you don’t have any –
regular checkups are key

9. Symptoms
• IMPORTANT to go right away if you have any symptoms
which include:
-Soreness
-Swelling
-Itching/burning
-Pain when urinating
-Bumps/sores
-Discharge different than normal
-Bleeding from genitals
If left untreated they get worse & cause bigger problems later
& can pass them on.

10. Cost
• Varies from health center to health center & which test you
get
• Most are free or very affordable
• Most accept health insurance
• Payment options for those without insurance or other
problems

11. Planned Parenthood
• “CARE- no matter what” is their logo
• Organization where people can go to get STD testing, help
with pregnancy, etc.
• Completely confidential
• Online website very informative about all topics
• Health care providers & participants in special projects in
community
• Goal of getting out and making difference in community

12. Sources
• http://www.scarleteen.com/article/sexual_health/testing_test
ing
• www.plannedparenthood.org
• www.itsyoursexlife.com
• Centers for Disease Control and Protection