If you are sexually active, you are at risk of having or contracting an STI (sexually transmitted infection) or STD (sexually transmitted disease). Unfortunately, it’s fairly common for women to have an STI and not know it. While some of the most common STIs are undetectable at first, that doesn’t mean that they aren’t causing harm to your body.
The Difference Between STIs and STDs
STIs and STDs, sometimes used interchangeably, are slightly different from each other. While they are the same in that they both refer to a set of sexually transmitted viruses and conditions, STIs refer to the virus when it doesn’t exhibit any symptoms, also called “asymptomatic.” An STD, however, is the terminology used when symptoms are present.
Do you have questions about STIs and STDs? Learn more about sexual health, common STDs, symptoms and more here.
STIs/STDs and Pregnancy
Having an STD while pregnant can be problematic for your health and the health of the fetus. Whether you’re considering continuing with your pregnancy or contemplating abortion, an STD can negatively affect your health.
If you plan on continuing with your pregnancy, an undetected STI can be transferred to the fetus or can cause complications before or during birth. Therefore, getting tested for STIs/STDs is imperative if you are pregnant.
If you are considering abortion, you will need to be tested prior to getting the procedure done. Having an untreated STI can cause complications and infections after an abortion procedure. This infection could lead to PID (pelvic inflammatory disease), which could cause infertility down the road.
You owe it to yourself to get tested, no matter what you choose for your pregnancy.