Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Risk Assessment

How Do I Know if I Am Really Safe

We would like to encourage you to take a few minutes to review the risk factors outlined below. Many people think only of the risks for getting HIV infection/AIDS. You may also be at risk for other diseases because of your sexual practices. This includes things we often see in Iowa, like genital warts, chlamydia and herpes.

You May Be At High Risk If:

• you have had more than one sex partner in your life
• you know or suspect your partner has had sex with other partners
• you have had oral, vaginal, or anal sex without using a condom, glove, or rubber dam ("barriers")
• you have shared IV drug needles or have had sex with someone who has
• you received blood between 1978 and March 1985 or have had sex with someone who has (it is not a risk to give blood.)
• you have had sexual contact with a hemophiliac (a person with a blood-clotting disorder)
• you have had an STD in the past

You May Be At Moderate Risk If:

• you think your partner is not having sex with other partners, but you are not 100% sure (and you are not using a barrier.)

You Are Likely At Low Risk If:

• you are 100% sure that your partner is not having sex with other partners and your partner has tested negative for STDs
• you have never shared IV drugs or had sex with someone else who has
• you did not receive blood between 1978 and 1985 nor had sex with someone who has
• you have tested negative for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and have not engaged in unsafe sex since the tests
• you have had a normal pap smear in the last year or so
• you have tested negative for HIV 3 to 6 months since the last time you had unsafe sex

Think About This:

1. Do you want to be tested for STDs today?
2. Do you need to change any of your sexual practices?

See related Patient Textbooks about Internal Medicine or Obstetrics and Gynecology.

See related Patient Topics Infections, Infectious Diseases, Internal Medicine, Men's Health, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pregnancy and Reproduction, Reproductive Health--General, Sexual Health, Sexually Transmitted Diseases or Women's Health.

See related Provider Textbooks about Internal Medicine or Obstetrics and Gynecology.

See related Provider Topics Infections, Infectious Diseases, Internal Medicine, Men's Health, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pregnancy and Reproduction, Sexual Health, Sexually Transmitted Diseases or Women's Health.

All contents copyright © 1992-2004 the Author(s) and The University of Iowa. All rights reserved.

http://www.vh.org/adult/patient/obgyn/stdriskassess/index.html