For many people, they are not as concerned about pregnancy as they are about STDs when they are in the dating world. Birth control when used properly is very effective and many people choose to use multiple methods, especially if they are new to a relationship. But unlike a pregnancy which is usually obvious, STDs can be sneaky and you can have one and not know it.

How Long for STDs to Show Up
For this reason, it is always a good idea to go for an STD test after ending a relationship. You may think it’s a good idea to go within a week of the relationship ending but some STDs actually take a bit longer to show up. Did you know that it can take up to three months to test positive for HIV but you can get a positive result for gonorrhea, syphilis, and chlamydia within a few days?

With that said when you go in for testing, they may not run tests for all potential infections, just the ones that are the most common or maybe are having an outbreak in your geographical location. If you want to be tested for something specific, mention it to your Dr and you can discuss why you think you need this test if they disagree.

Should I Be Tested?
If you are sexually active, being tested is a good idea. But as to how often, it varies depending on your lifestyle and relationship status. It’s always a good idea to get tested after a relationship ends, or before you begin a new relationship, to make sure that there is nothing that you could pass on. For those that do not follow in traditional relationship models, testing more often may be a good idea, especially if you are going to be doing something sexual with a new partner.

For those in a monogamous relationship, you may think you may have an STD. If this is the case, it may be a good idea to visit your Dr and have tests run. Unfortunately, people have discovered that their partner wasn’t monogamous in this method.

There are No Symptoms
Even if you do not have any symptoms, it is a good idea to get tested. For instance, it is possible to have the herpes virus but not have any signs or symptoms of it. But as a result, it can be passed on to a partner without any knowledge. Additionally, depending on the STD a woman can show symptoms but a man may not which means that testing is even more important.
As with anything medical, it is a good idea to have a discussion with your Dr. If you do not have one, or cannot afford one, there are typically free resources that you can use.