Dr. Marrazzo, Associate Professor, Division of Allergy & Infectious Diseases at the University of Washington in Seattle explains how often a women should get tested for a sexually transmitted disease.

Dr. Marrazzo:
It is a very good question. Women should get tested for certain STDs whenever they have symptoms that are concerning. I would say if you develop anything like genital itching, burning, or abnormal discharge from your vagina that just does not feel right or you have pain in your lower belly that is concerning or pain in the rectum, any of those things really should prompt you to get tested. So symptoms are really important; however, it is also very important to get tested for some STDs that do not cause symptoms, and I would say the main one there is chlamydia infection. In that, if you are a young woman who is sexually active, you really want to ask your doctor or your provider to test you at least once a year and possibly more depending on what your risk for STDs is.

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