STD Testing: Why Annual Screening Matters More Than You Think

Written by Kristy Beard, MSN, APRN, FNP-C — Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner and Founder of Elevate Health and Wellness, serving patients across the Gulf Coast in Gautier, MS and Foley, AL.

The Silent Nature of Most STIs

One of the most important things to understand about sexually transmitted infections is that the majority of them produce no symptoms — at least not initially, and sometimes not ever. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that there are approximately 26 million new sexually transmitted infections in the United States every year. At any given time, roughly 1 in 5 Americans has an STI. And the overwhelming majority of those people have no idea.

This is not a statement of judgment — it is a clinical reality that has profound implications for individual health and public health. Untreated STIs can cause chronic pelvic pain, fertility complications, increased cancer risk, and — in the case of HIV — progressive immune suppression if left undetected and untreated. The only way to know your status is to test.

Who Should Get Annual STI Screening?

The CDC recommends annual STI screening for all sexually active adults under 25, all sexually active adults with new or multiple partners regardless of age, all pregnant women at their first prenatal visit, men who have sex with men — for whom more frequent screening (every 3 to 6 months) may be appropriate, and anyone who has been notified of a potential exposure. Many healthcare providers and professional organizations additionally recommend that all sexually active adults discuss their STI screening status with their provider annually as part of routine preventive care.

What STI Testing at Elevate Includes

At Elevate Health and Wellness, Kristy Beard, MSN, APRN, FNP-C offers comprehensive, confidential STI screening panels that can be customized based on your specific risk factors and health history. Standard panels may include chlamydia and gonorrhea (urine or swab), HIV (fourth-generation antigen/antibody test), syphilis (RPR), hepatitis B surface antigen, hepatitis C antibody, herpes simplex virus (HSV) type-specific antibody testing, and trichomoniasis screening.

A Judgment-Free Environment

At Elevate, sexual health conversations happen in a compassionate, completely judgment-free environment. Kristy understands that discussing sexual health can feel uncomfortable — and she approaches these conversations with the same clinical professionalism and respect that she brings to every other area of patient care. Telehealth visits are also available for patients who prefer to discuss testing needs and receive results remotely.

Ready to schedule your STI screening? Visit our Lab and Testing page to learn about all available panels at Elevate.

Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. STI Incidence and Prevalence. cdc.gov. | CDC. STI Screening Recommendations. cdc.gov/std.

This article is written by Kristy Beard, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner and founder of Elevate Health and Wellness. Information provided is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Please consult a licensed healthcare provider for personalized care.