Even if you're a champ at staying on top of your various gyno stuff, you may want to schedule another appointment now. That's because the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) just released two new recommendations regarding STDs—published in the Annals of Internal Medicine—and they may apply to you.
Here's the deal. The first recommendation regards chlamydia and gonorrhea, two sexually transmitted diseases. They recommend that all sexually-active women ages 24 and under get tested for both chlamydia and gonorrhea, as well as older women who are at an increased risk for infection.
So why do all women 24 and under have to get tested? It's because they're at an increased risk just based on their age alone, explains Michael LeFevre, M.D., Chair of the USPSTF, since studies prove that that age group has the highest record of these two STDs. For women over the age of 24, being "at risk" may mean that you don't use condoms every single time, you have multiple sexual partners, or you've slept with someone who may have multiple sexual partners. And remember, both of these STDs often come with no visible symptoms, which is why it's so important to know when to get tested.
MORE: The STD You May Have and Not Even Know It
Now, it's important to understand that even though these recommendations were just released, they're actually nothing new. "Our screening recommendation really hasn't changed significantly," says LeFevre. What is entirely new, though, is their second recommendation, which involves behavioral counseling.
Published in the same issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine, the task force recommends that all sexually-active adolescents and any adults who are at increased risk for STDs undergo "intensive behavioral counseling," which is when your doctor talks to you about your sexual behavior or recommends you to a different therapist if necessary.
So, what's that all about? In the past, the USPSTF recommended that at-risk people participate in two hours of behavioral counseling—but now they say that just half an hour is totally fine. "This is great news, because it means the counseling is less intensive. We found that 30 minutes was just as effective as two hours," LeFevre says. It also means this is more accessible, because come on, who's going to book a two-hour doctor appointment to chat about your sex life?
The recommendation is for clinicians first, but it applies to you because now you know to ask your doctor about it, too. "And the bigger reason it applies to consumers is that it shows how your behaviors can put you at increased risk for STDs. In the counseling recommendation, we're not trying to tell women they need to be abstinent. We're simply saying that it's important to learn that mutual monogamy is key, as is condom usage," says LeFevre.
MORE: The HUGE Sex Mistake You're Probably Making
So, what’s the summary? If you're under 24, get tested for both chlamydia and gonorrhea. If you're over 24, get tested if you're at increased risk only (and be honest with yourself about what your risk is). Then, be sure to book a half-hour appointment with your doctor—it can be for your annual gyno appointment or the next time you're getting tested—and remember to talk to your doctor about your sexual behaviors so they can help you determine which tests you really need to be getting.
For more info on how to protect yourself from STDs, check out three major rules for staying protected.
MORE: 11 Things Every Woman Should Tell Her Gyno
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