GYT 4 STDs

GYT. Have you seen this trending on twitter and the interwebs? GYT stands for “Get Yourself Tested,” which is part of April’s STD awareness month.  

So why is getting yourself tested so important? First of all, STDs are gross. Beyond that they can cause painful blisters and warts that are not curable. Even the STDs that are curable can be tricky. Many do not have any visible symptoms and you could be a carrier without even knowing it! That means you could very easily unintentionally give the STD to someone else.

The side effects of STDs can be serious like damaging reproductive organs, and causing potential infertility. I know I don’t want to have kids now but I don’t want to risk ruining that option for the future. Even worse, cancer, brain damage and death are other potential effects of STDs, serious stuff! While syphilis is curable (which means you are unlikely to get to the stage of brain damage) other STDs are not so kind. Hepatitis and AIDs are no joke. Even HPV, the most common STD, can cause cancer.

The good news is getting tested is easy and pain free. Depending on the specifics, it could be a swab, urine or blood test –any of which you can get from your doctor or local clinic. To find a place where you can get tested click here: http://www.teensource.org/ts/find-a-clinic

How to avoid getting an STD:

  • Abstinence is the only way to be 100% sure you do not get an STD
  • Using a new condom each and every time you have sex (even more important with anal sex –it’s   easier to spread STDs via the anus),
  • Using a condom or dental dam when you have oral sex –yup STDs can be spread from oral contact too!

So go GYT today. Even if you think you are clear, it’s always a good idea to be sure!