People don’t often experience any symptoms when they have an STD, so that means you or your partner could have one and not even know it. That’s why it’s so important to get tested and find out if you are at risk, or if you are a risk to others.

If you are sexually active, you should get an STD test at least once a year. But you can catch or spread an STD every time you or your partner have sex with someone new. If it’s possible you could have an STD, call Alternatives as soon as possible, and avoid having sex until you know for sure.

There are a lot of STDs, and each kind has different symptoms. But if you’re experiencing any of the symptoms below, you might want to consider getting tested.

• Itching, swelling, or redness in your genitals

• Bumps, sores, warts, or rash around the mouth, penis, vagina, or anus

• Abnormal discharge (sometimes smelly) from penis or vagina

• Vaginal bleeding (not during your period)

• Pain during urination

• Painful during sex

• Aches, pains, fever, and chills

• Jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes)

• Unusual weight loss

• Loose stools

• Night sweats

STDs are usually spread by sexual contact with an infected person. Even if you don’t have penis in vagina sex, you can still catch or spread them through sexual activity that involves skin-to-skin contact, bodily fluids, etc. That means oral sex, anal sex, fingering, fisting, and the use of sex toys all pose a risk of spreading and catching STDs.