“There’s a lot of education to be had about STD screening because so many of these STD’s don’t have symptoms and it’s important that we educate people about that,” says Dr. Alyssa Dweck, OB/GYN. Getting tested for STD’s is standard care for women in this age group and if you’re sexually active, you should get tested every year during your yearly checkup.
“There is definitely a stigma about getting tested for STD’s because it has a negative connotation and I hope we can change it with this campaign,” she says. The goal of this campaign is to let young women know that testing and treatment is available. This campaign focuses on chlamydia and gonorrhea, but the good part is that when you get tested for STD’s, you’re also getting tested for other sexually transmitted diseases, such as HPV, HIV, and syphilis.
It’s important to be honest with your doctor about your overall health, including your sexual health. If you have a question, concern, or even curiosity, don’t leave the doctor’s office without asking. More than likely, “Your doctor has heard it or seen it before and while somebody might feel embarrassed or uncomfortable bringing the subject matter up, it’s something that should be brought up because it’s important and it’s treatable, many times with antibiotics,” explains Dr. Dweck. It’s important to not hesitate and get tested, especially as a woman because some of these infections can affect infertility down the line. 
Help spread the word on social media by sharing this hashtag, #YESmeansTest. To learn more about the campaign or to find a clinic to get tested, visit YesMeansTest.org.
