I have had a lot of sexual intercourse (including oral) over the last 4 years. Is it possible to still carry DNA or bacteria from previous partners from a long time ago?
If you’re wondering about DNA from your past partners causing a pregnancy months or years later, that is NOT something that can happen.
But when it comes to STDs, it’s totally possible to carry bacteria or viruses that cause infections for many years after being exposed. People can have STDs for a long time without realizing it if they don’t get tested, and most STDs don’t go away on their own.
Many STDs have no symptoms, or have very mild symptoms that go unnoticed. If you’ve been having unprotected vaginal, anal, or oral sex and you haven’t been tested, it’s really important that you do that.
Practicing safer sex by using condoms or other barriers and getting tested regularly will help you stay healthy.
-Emily at Planned Parenthood
Tags: STD symptoms, STD testing