STI/STD Testing

STI screening in Ashtabula, Ohio. All services are confidential and provided to you at no cost.

Testing Services

Mya Women’s Center provides free Limited STI Testing in Ashtabula, Ohio to our pregnancy center patients.

If your pregnancy test is positive, we will test for Chlamydia and Gonorrhea and offer referrals for treatment if needed.

(440) 990-9107

STI and STD Information

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) can be a serious concern. Left untreated, infections can cause irreversible damage to your reproductive system. Both STIs and STDs can pass onto newborns during childbirth if the mother is infected and remains untreated.

It’s important to remember that not everyone infected with an STD will experience signs or symptoms. But STDs can still cause severe damage, and can be passed to your partner(s) without your knowledge. You don’t need to be experiencing symptoms to be contagious. You can spread the disease at any time.

The Center for Disease Control can provide you with accurate and up-to-date information on each STI.

STDs and STIs… What’s the difference?

The terms STD (sexually transmitted disease) and STI (sexually transmitted infection) are often used interchangeably. But do you know the difference?

The term “STI” (sexually transmitted infection) is used to describe the presence of an infection in the body, which may or may not be accompanied by symptoms. The term “STD” (sexually transmitted diseases) on the other hand, describes an infection that has caused damage in a person’s body—though, like sexually transmitted infections, an STD may or may not be accompanied by symptoms.

STI is the broader of the two terms. All STDs are STIs, though not all STIs become STDs.

So what’s the big deal with STIs?

For starters, 1 in 4 sexually active teens has an STI according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Stop and think; 1 in 4. Is that someone you know? Maybe they don’t even know they’ve got an STI. You can’t always tell.

Some STIs can make you sick today and others can cause problems later in life. Problems like cancer, infertility or death. Not exactly harmless or fun!

I’m sexually active. How often should I get tested for STIs?

The CDC recommends STI testing any time you have had new or multiple sex partners. There are four types of sex that can put you at risk for contracting an STI: vaginal sex, oral sex, anal sex and mutual masturbation. Many infections may not cause symptoms but can still be passed between partners. Also remember that condoms, even if used consistently and correctly each and every time, they cannot provide 100% protection.

Am I not tested for STIs during my yearly check-up?

While the services performed in a yearly check-up vary by physician, most physicians will not screen for STIs unless requested to do so. Please ask your physician for more information about what testing they routinely offer during your appointment.

What About Abortion?

If not treated prior to an abortion, these infections may cause serious health problems. During an abortion these organisms can be carried from the vagina up into the uterus. When this occurs, a second condition called Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) may develop.

Immediate symptoms of PID can be mild and even non-existent, but the effects are long lasting. According to the CDC, 1 in 8 women with a history of PID experience difficulty getting pregnant. PID is known to cause scarring of the Fallopian tubes, increasing the risk of an ectopic pregnancy. This may result in serious maternal complications, even death.

Dr. Richard A. Zinni

D.O. Certified In Internal Medicine

The content on this page has been reviewed and approved by our Medical Director: Dr. Richard A. Zinni

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