If you have no symptoms, but have had oral, vaginal, or anal sex without using condoms—or you’ve had sex with more than one partner—you should get tested once a year. (A Pap smear is the only screening test for an HPV infection of the cervix.)
Your chances of getting an STD increase when you’ve had unprotected sex or sex with multiple partners. If you continue having sex with multiple partners, you should get tested every six months. And if you’re having unprotected sex, you should take steps to protect each other, such as use a condom, get tested and/or be monogamous. It’s also a good idea for partners to get tested before having sex with each other. This will help them feel more comfortable.
If you’re in a committed relationship and use condoms, get tested once a year. Even though you totally trust your partner, people sometimes make mistakes and cheat. And they often keep it secret, because they want to keep the relationship. So, always be safe.
When you make the decision to get a STD test, do your self a big favor and choose a high quality reliable at home test kits for STDs. With all of the options available, it would be easy to get a test that gives you less accurate results. Factors such as timeframe, exposure type and situational aspects can affect the outcome of your testing results.
After getting tested, be sure to continue using condoms, even if you’re in a steady relationship or using another type of hormonal birth control.