A
female
age
36-40,
anonymous
writes:My boyfriend went to the doctors for a general check up. He told the doctor that he was thinking of having kids in a couple of years, but didn't want to find out if he had fertility issues when it was too late so he asked if there was any way of finding out now. Doctor asked him a few questions and did a physical exam down there and then recommended an std test. Is that normal? The doc said no other indicators of infertility and should get tested to see if he had an std. Now my boyfriends nervous about test results and I don't get why!! Anyway, how does std test suggest infertility and is it normal for the doctor to recommend one in this situation? I'm going to my doctor tomorrow and should I ask for std test to check for any fertility related issues?
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reader, anonymous, writes (10 April 2014): It is just the doctor's advice, because your boyfriend is sexually-active and has no record of ever being tested in his medical records.
It is only a precautionary measure. If he wants kids, he will be having unprotected-sex. he should be sure he is not exposing his partner to any STD or viral infection.
Some sexually-transmitted viral infections (i.e. HIV) can lay dormant for years. Some STD's are asymptomatic, and may not become known until medical complications appear.
Why would anyone sexually-active not want to know if they may have been infected or exposed to an STD?
It's stupid irresponsible people who run around spreading infections and placing the health of others at risk. Thinking only gay people have to worry about AIDS and other STD's.
Yes, if you have had unprotected sex; you should get tested and you both should share your results.
A
female
reader, Honeypie  +, writes (10 April 2014):
 It makes sense. And yes, I would get tested too. I think anyone who is sexually active should get a STD test.
I had one done around 20 and then did a full panel after I broke up from a BF who (as it turned out) had SEVERAL GF at the same time. Then I did another FULL panel (to include HIV) when my husband and I decided to no longer be LDR, but to move in together. He did the same. It only makes sense.
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A
female
reader, So_Very_Confused +, writes (10 April 2014):
 Makes sense to me as some STDs can be dormant or have no symptoms and can cause infertility.
As for STD testing, anyone who is sexually active should have them until they are 100% long term committed to the same person.
My doctor ran them for me at every check up till the most recent one since my current partner and i have been monogamous with each other (and had blood work when we first started dating and at 6 months out) since March 2011.
Running STD tests is just smart medicine in this day and age.
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A
female
reader, anonymous, writes (10 April 2014): I remember when I was terrified when I was taking HIV test for work to the point that I almost fainted in doctors office. Considering that I am married for the
Past 25 years and never had sex with another man but my husband, had healthy children, I was still terrified. Before the test all kinds of thoughts came to my mind. What if he cheated, and I never knew about it. What if he doesn't have any symptoms yet and infected me. When the text came negative all seemed silly to me.
What the doctor offered to your boyfriend is very common. He is a young man, sexually active, why not to test him?
STDs do cause infertilitilty but onlyif not treated for a long period of time.
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A
female
reader, CindyCares  +, writes (10 April 2014):
 Some STDs can cause male infertility, so if he had one AND then he resulted infertile, he would know why.
Then again, he would not know if he has infertility issues before a sperm analysiss ( assessing sperm count, sperm motility , etc. ) So, although of course it is always a good idea for a sexually active person to get checked for STDs, he is sort of putting the cart before the horses. He could be STD- free yet still be infertile , for all he knows.
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A
female
reader, Tisha-1 +, writes (10 April 2014):
 I think it would be logical to do so. Some STDs affect sperm. For example, Chlamydia damages sperm and sperm motility: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/85553.php
According to that article Chlamydia is the most common STD in the UK. It can be symptomless so your partner may have it and not know.
As for you, I think it would be reasonable to ask the question. I don't see any reason NOT to do the testing. Some STDs have no immediate symptoms, or they are overlooked.
A competent qualified physician will do a thorough checkup and I think STD testing is perfectly common, normal and usual for sexually active people.
As for being nervous about being tested, well I remember hearing about female athletes being tested for the Olympics. They were being genetically tested to make sure they were actually females. Now these women knew that they were women, they grew up as a girl and knew that they absolutely were female. But that little 'what if' question suddenly made them nervous. What if they were genetically freaks, as in having the Y chromosome but not expressing it somehow. It's just an irrational fear but an irrational fear is just as scary as a real fear.
So discuss your concerns with your doctor about STD testing and fertility and ask what you need to do to protect your own health and well-being.
Best wishes.
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