How do I know if I have a sexually transmitted disease (STD)?

If you have had a new sexual partner since you were last tested for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), ask your doctor to test you for all STDs and make sure you know exactly which diseases were checked. Many women believe that they are automatically tested for all STDs when they have their annual gynecologic exam. Certainly, this is a terrific time to be tested, but it is not a given. Your Pap smear only tests for cervical cancer, and possibly HPV (the human papillomavirus, which is the cause of both cervical cancers and genital warts). Pap smears do not test for gonorrhea, chlamydia, HIV, herpes, etc.

Guys, you're not off the hook here. When you have your physical exams, a normal report does not mean you are disease-free either, unless you have asked your doctor to test you for STDs.

The good news is that blood and urine tests together will do the trick -- no swabbing necessarily needed.