Have you actually been tested for STDs?!

Have you actually been tested for STDs?

Over and over I read people respond with condescending remarks about people with STDs. They are accused of being dirty or it is assumed they sleep around. Since 80% of the American population will eventually contract an STD with most not even knowing it, it is safe to say that most of those making these comments have or have had an STD. Most women here seem to incorrectly assume that they were tested at their ob/gyn exams when all they had was a pap and routine physical. .

Here is the question. Have you actually gone in and requested a full STD screening including herpes, and if you are a woman, HPV? Have you required that your partner show evidence of these tests before becoming sexually active?

I find it frustrating too. Until I caught herpes, I beleived when you went in and asked for a full screening they screened you for everything, which of course they don't. Testing for hpv and herpes are not standard. A blood test for herpes is never done unless herpes is suspected, and even then many doctors are not aware or do not tell people that a blood test is even available. They don't tell you when you have a pap smear that they are really testing for abnormal cells caused by the warts virus, and if they find them they don't tell you it is because you are infected with hpv. They often don't even test for hep or hiv as standard, these have to be requested.

So it is true, don't think because you have had a full screen they have tested for herpes or hpv, most of you think you have been and you don't have herpes but one in four people do have it. And one in two people have one of the HPV or warts viruses. Don't think it isn't you. One of the reasons they don't test for these things is because they are so common. Find out what they are actually testing you for. The basic screen is not enough.