How to take care of your sexual health.

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What is sexual health check?

Sexual health check is an examination by a doctor or nurse for sexual health issues such as sexually transmitted diseases (STDs, in English). During your sexual health check, you can also ask any questions you have about sexual and reproductive health.

Who can perform a sexual health check?

Sexual health check is performed by a health professional, but the exact title of the person depends on where you go to receive your check. You may see your regular doctor, or a doctor or nurse in a health center in the community or family planning clinic like Planned Parenthood.

Who needs to have a sexual health check?

Anyone who is sexually active should have a sexual health check. How often and when to have it depends on lifestyle and sexual activity of each. It is advisable to have a sexual health check as soon as possible if any of the following circumstances have to do with you:

• If you think you have a sexually transmitted disease (STD);

• If you have had unprotected sex, including vaginal, oral or anal sex;

• If you have been broken or dropped a condom during sex;

• If your partner has another partner with whom also have sex;

• If you have sex with more than one person;

• If you have shared injecting equipment such as needles;

• If you just start a sexual relationship.

What happens during sexual health check?

Generally, a health care professional check your start talking about your sexual history. Some of the questions that will make your doctor or a nurse might seem so personal. Here are some examples of questions that he or she can make:

• How many sexual partners have you had?

• What types of sexual activities have you done?

• Have you had sex with men, women or both?

• Do you have any symptoms?

• Have you ever injected any drugs or have shared needles?

• Do you have tattoos or body piercings?

You may feel uncomfortable answering these questions truthfully. But if you do not give your physician the correct data, you may not receive the recommendations you need or that you do not make the appropriate analyzes. That could seriously affect your health. Some sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) may have health problems long term if not treated properly.

During your checkup, and with your permission, may examine your external genital area to see if there are signs of any sexually transmitted disease. You might make a variety of analyzes, including:

• A sample of your urine or blood tests;

• swabs, where a sample of fluid or discharge from the genital area is taken and examined under a microscope. Sometimes it may be necessary to take additional samples from the throat or inside the anus;

• For women, a pelvic exam, a Pap test can also be performed. A Pap test is a routine where a sample is taken from the cervix, and this test is recommended for all women who are sexually active. You should consult with your doctor about how often you should get a Pap test.

Then whatever your results, your medical records are private, according to the law if you are 18 or older. Any information that healthcare providers receive or discuss with you in a clinic is completely confidential and cannot be shared with your parents or people you know. Regardless of your age, health care providers are also required, according to ethical practices, to keep your health records confidential.

If positive for a sexually transmitted disease (STD) salts, the doctor is required to report to the government the cases of certain STDs so that the disease can be controlled throughout the US No identification data is used, such as your name. No need to know who you are, just want to know how many people are being infected through the country.

You may also want to inform your previous sexual partners about it, so that they too can take the tests and treatment, if necessary. You can tell in many ways: face to face, by phone, or even in an email. Whatever the way you tell them it is important that reports to them for the sake of their sexual health.

Ask questions

Considers sexual health check as a good opportunity to ask any questions you have about your sexual health or discuss anything that concerns you. A good health care will encourage you to ask questions.

It is important that you feel you can ask any questions you have. It is equally important that your vendor to answer your questions and explain all the procedures in a way you can understand.

Important questions that you can do during your checkup

These are some of the questions you can ask your provider before your sexual health check:

• Can you be seen by a provider without the presence of your parents or guardians?

• What kind of insurance do you accept your supplier? Can you pay for services?

• Can you get a Hepatitis B vaccine for free or low cost? (This vaccine is recommended for young people.)

• Can you get the results of your analysis in writing?

• Your provider will keep your confidential information?

• Your provider will have time available for emergency visits for cases like pregnancy and emergency contraception?

You could also ask the next questions during your visit:

• What type of STD you are going to do the analysis?

• Is it a blood or urine? How often you should make these analyzes?

• If some of the tests come positive, do you have to tell someone? Does the vendor will tell someone else?

• If the test comes back positive, what receive treatment?

• Your infection will affect your fertility, pregnancy or your overall health in the future?

Feel comfortable

Stay in touch with your feelings. It is normal to feel uncomfortable when you talk about these issues. If your doctor or nurse makes you feel uncomfortable in the way of answer, you might want to see