Staying up to date on your STI status is essential for everyone who is sexually active. The minimum frequency recommended for STI screening by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is every 12 months, so consider adding this to your annual health checkup. Individuals at higher risk based on certain criteria, such as the type of sexual activity engaged in, number of new partners or regularity of unprotected sex, are advised to increase testing frequency to at least every 3 or 6 months. Many STIs are asymptomatic, and with the current spike in cases, it is as important as ever to protect yourself and others by being aware.