STD Testing and You

STD Testing is not necessarily part of your annual gynecologist visit or pelvic exam. So ensure to request STD testing at your next appointment. Be as forthcoming as possible with your physician or nurse regarding your sexual activity, so they are well able to advise you on which tests would best suit your needs. You should be aware that certain STDs may have no known cure. Their treatment can only be symptomatic or less severe, and can often go away by themselves after a while.

For example, genital warts are usually easy to identify on a routine physical. However, if you or your partner does have genital warts and are unsure of their exact status, it’s wise to get yourself tested for HPV. If you think you might have genital warts, discuss your concerns with your medical provider, who can then recommend a STD test kit or an STD testing center. An STD test kit includes a swab, skin test, and urine test. A swab is used to collect samples from the inside of your body, which are then sent to a medical provider for analysis. The test results are normally mailed to you within three weeks.

There are also other STD tests that your medical provider may suggest for you to determine whether or not you’re suffering from one or more serious STD diseases. One such STD test is for inflammation of the genitals. This is usually indicated when pain or redness occurs in the genital area. Common symptoms include a burning sensation during urination, swelling or inflammation near the anus, and presence of blood in the urine.

For those who are positive by means of a urine test for either hepatitis or HIV, you should immediately inform your doctor. Your doctor will likely want to do a test for antibodies, which indicate previous exposure to disease. Some people do not have any antibodies, indicating they might have had contact with the disease without showing any symptoms.

Interval Testing for STDs. If you go to a regular health care practitioner, he or she may suggest using an STD test for both genders, while using an interval method to monitor pregnancy. Interval testing involves testing each of the partner’s partners at a predetermined interval within two weeks of the first infection to determine whether transmission has occurred. Since the incubation period for most STD infections is six to nine months, this method provides more accurate results than a true-positive test.

An annual exam for sexually active women may include HPV testing. An annual exam for all sexually active women may include a self-exam or a brief interview to obtain additional information about the past history of STD. If you have multiple sex partners, you may also be advised to get an STD test. Men can also be diagnosed with an STD if they have multiple partners or use a rectal area to have sex with others.