If you are considering taking the abortion pill or potentially having a surgical abortion, there are several things you should know. One of those is making sure you don’t have a sexually transmitted infection (STI or STD). You may not like talking about STIs and many people think it couldn’t happen to them. But the truth is - anyone who is sexually active and has had more than one partner, or is having sex with someone who has had another partner is at risk for infection.
WHY SHOULD I GET TESTED BEFORE AN ABORTION?
During an abortion, the cervix opens, which gives bacteria a pathway from the vagina to a woman’s reproductive organs - uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries. Chlamydia and gonorrhea, two of the most common STIs, can cause Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) if left untreated. Many women can have PID and not even know it until it causes infertility, scarring in the fallopian tubes or long term pain.
Another reason to make sure to be tested and treated for an STI before an abortion is because one of the main risk factors of abortion is infection. It makes good sense to be infection free before proceeding with an abortion.
KNOW THE FACTS ABOUT SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS:
Biologically, women are more likely to get an STI than men because of the anatomy of their reproductive system
There are over 2.5 million cases of Chlamydia, Gonorrhea and Syphilis in the United States.
People ages 15-24 acquire half of the new STIs each year
Hormonal contraception does not protect against STIs
Some STIs are transmitted outside of the area of a condom
1 in 2 sexually active adults get an STI by age 25
Most people who have an STI don’t have symptoms
The only way to know if you have an STI is to be tested
About 1 in 4 college students have an STI
Reinfection of STIs is common, especially for Chlamydia and Gonorrhea
HER HEALTH PROVIDES FREE STI TESTING
If you are pregnant or think you might be pregnant, make an appointment at Her Health Women’s Center. Services are cost-free and no insurance is needed. We can test for Chlamydia, Gonorrhea and Syphilis and discuss your pregnancy options with you, as well as provide an ultrasound to help determine how far along you are. Schedule an appointment today.
Disclaimer: The content of this blog is meant to be used for informational purposes and is not a substitute for medical care. The sources cited for this blog are found to be reliable, however, Her Health Women’s Center can not endorse or oppose the entire content of the websites listed.
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