If you have questions about sexually transmitted infections(STIs), you’re not alone.
Understanding the facts is a crucial first step in protecting your health. Mosaic is here to help answer your questions and provide key information and resources.
Contact Mosaic today to schedule a free and confidential appointment to talk through your situation and learn how we can help you.
What Makes an Infection “Contagious?”
In the simplest terms, a contagious infection is one that can pass from person to person.
All sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are, by definition, contagious. These illnesses are caused by bacteria, viruses, or parasites that target the body’s mucous membranes. These pathogens are passed primarily through sexual contact. Transmission typically occurs via:
- Fluid Exchange: Infections like HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis are primarily transmitted through the exchange of bodily fluids during any form of sex.
- Skin-to-Skin Contact: Viruses like herpes simplex virus (HSV) and human papillomavirus (HPV) can be transmitted through contact with infected skin or sores.
- Mother-to-Child: Some STIs can be passed from a mother to her child during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding. This is why prenatal STI screening is vital.
Why Does STI Testing Matter?
Because STIs are often highly contagious and frequently show no symptoms at all, regular testing plays a significant role in protecting your health.
If you are sexually active and don’t get tested, certain diseases can go undetected for months or years, leading to complications and long-term health problems such as:
- Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and chronic pelvic pain
- Infertility (in both men and women)
- Ectopic pregnancy
- Pregnancy complications, including low birth weight and premature labor
Knowledge is Protection
Protecting your reproductive health is one of the most important things you can do for yourself and your partner. STI testing isn’t about judgment: it’s about care, prevention, and empowerment. If you’re not sure where to begin, reach out to Mosaic to learn more information about testing.
We do not test for all STIs at Mosaic, but we can connect you to other testing sites if you suspect an STI that we do not test for. Contact us directly to see which STI testing we offer.