Any sexually active person is at risk of developing STDs, especially if they don’t use protection. Every day, more than one million STDs are transmitted, which translates to more than 300 million cases every year. While there is still a stigma surrounding STDs, it’s evident that the diseases are common, and there’s a need to create more awareness about them.
One great way to create more awareness about STDs is to embrace STD testing. Most sexually transmitted diseases have common signs, and the best way to know what you might be having is to go for STD testing near you. The testing process is simple, doesn’t hurt, and unveils the problems so you can start early treatment.
Read on to learn more about STD testing, including what to expect during the process.
What Is an STD?
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) can be transmitted through sexual contact, whether it’s vaginal, oral, or anal. They’re mainly caused by bacteria, viruses, or parasites. During their initial stages, STDs are normally termed infections. You can have an infection and not show any symptoms, making it easy to unknowingly pass it to another person. With time, the infection becomes a disease and may begin to show symptoms.
STDs come in many types, and some have similar signs and symptoms. The most common ones include:
- Gonorrhea
- Syphilis
- Chlamydia
- Herpes
- Hepatitis
- Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
Importance of STD Testing
STD testing involves doing one or more tests on a person to know if they have any sexually transmitted diseases. A healthcare professional performs this process at the hospital for anyone suspected of having any disease.
Most healthcare professionals, however, don’t do this test during normal wellness checkups, so it’s important to ask for it whenever you suspect you might have an infection.
Here are the main reasons why getting an STD test is important.
- It allows you to get immediate treatment, reducing the possibility of developing long-term infections or conditions like infertility.
- By knowing your status, you can protect your partners from contracting the disease.
- If you are pregnant, you will be able to protect your unborn child from the disease.
Who Should Get STD Testing?
Any sexually active person should go for STD testing once in a while. That’s because most infected people don’t usually show symptoms, making it easy to transmit the disease. You should get tested mostly if:
- You are starting a sexual relationship with a new partner.
- You are sexually active and aged between 13 and 64 years.
- You are pregnant. Pregnant women tend to have a higher risk of infection.
- You have multiple sexual partners.
- Your partner was diagnosed with sexually transmitted diseases.
- You are gay and have sexual relations with fellow men.
- You share needles and other drug injection equipment.
- You suspect you may have an STD because of the symptoms you experience. These symptoms may include painful urination, vaginal discharge, pain in the lower abdomen, and pain during sexual intercourse.
The STD Testing Process
The STD testing process is usually short and can take a maximum of 20 minutes, depending on the method your healthcare provider uses. After testing, the results may take a few hours or even up to seven days to come out.
Here’s a general overview of how the process is done:
- Once you visit the hospital, your doctor may ask a few questions regarding your sexual health before the actual testing begins. For instance, they may ask if you are sexually active, the number of sexual partners you have, if you use protection during sex, and if there are any weird signs you may have noticed.
- You should be open when answering the questions as it may guide the doctor towards the particular STD tests they will carry on you.
- After the conversation, the doctor may proceed with the actual testing, which may involve any of the following methods.
Blood Test
This method is commonly used to diagnose HIV, syphilis, or herpes. It uses blood samples that your doctor extracts from the veins using a needle. The blood taken can help determine if you have an STD and the particular one you have.
Urine Test
The urine test is commonly used to diagnose gonorrhea and trichomoniasis. During the test, a doctor asks you to collect a sample of urine in a container, which they screen for bacteria that cause the STD.
Oral Swab Test
The oral swab test method uses saliva to identify the presence of an STD in your body. Usually, the doctor takes a swab on your throat to determine the presence of gonorrhea or chlamydia. Your doctor may recommend this method if you mostly have oral sex or have been doing deep kissing with an infected person.
Genital Area Swab
Besides the throat swab, a doctor may also conduct a genital swab, which involves taking a sample of fluids from the vaginal area or the penis. This method is mostly used to diagnose the presence of gonorrhea or chlamydia.
What to Do After STD Testing
Your doctor will notify you when the results are ready. Even before then, you should make a follow-up to know if you have an STD or not. If the results come out negative, you can do a retest after some time just to make sure you didn’t get a false negative.
If the results come out positive, you should not lose hope or become frustrated. Instead, you should follow your doctor’s instructions on treating it using antibiotics or antiviral medications.
Besides the medications, you should also inform your active sexual partners about your STD status so that they can also go for testing. In addition, you may seek the help of counselors if you have difficulty dealing with the STD.
Test for STD Today
STD testing helps you know if you have an STD or not. You don’t have to experience the symptoms to take the test, but you can randomly do it to ensure you are healthy. During the process, cooperate with the doctor when answering the questions and follow the recommendations/treatments. The tests are highly effective and won’t take much of your time.