How to choose the right test for you
| Your situation | Fully online test | Home-to-lab test |
| testing out of curiosity | X | X |
| testing after unprotected sex or a broke ... | X | |
| experiencing unusual symptoms | ||
| testing before or after a new partner | X |
- A urine test — you just pee into a cup.
- A cheek swab — you rub the inside of your cheek with a soft swab to test for HIV.
- A blood test — your nurse or doctor takes blood from your arm or a quick finger prick.
Which STD tests should I get?
Below is a brief overview of STD testing recommendations. STD screening information for healthcare providers can be found here. All adults and adolescents from ages 13 to 64 should be tested at least once for HIV. All sexually active women younger than 25 years should be tested for gonorrhea and chlamydia every year. Women 25 years and older ...
What kind of Doctor to see for STD testing?
Your doctor tests you for syphilis by taking either a blood sample or a swab from any genital sores you might have. The sample is examined in a lab. A blood sample is taken to test for HIV and hepatitis. Genital herpes No good screening test exists for herpes — a viral infection.
What is included in Standard STD testing?
Sep 29, 2021 · Why do I need an STD test? Sexually active women under the age of 25. Experts recommend that women in this age group get a chlamydia test and a gonorrhea test every year. Women 21 years and older. Women in this age group should get a Pap smear to check for abnormalities in the cervix. These include ...
How long does it take to get STD results?
Your doctor can help you figure out which tests you need. STD testing may include: A urine test — you just pee into a cup. A cheek swab — you rub the inside of your cheek with a soft swab to test for HIV. A blood test — your nurse or doctor takes blood from your arm or a quick finger prick.
What are the most common STD tests?
Here are the tests for the most common STIs:Chlamydia: Swab of genital area or urine sample.Gonorrhea: Swab of genital area or urine sample.HIV: Blood test or finger prick.Genital herpes (no symptoms): Blood test (ask for a type-specific IgG test, not an IgM test)More items...
What are the names of STD tests?
Types of STD TestsSTD TESTSHerpes TestingBlood sample or swab from site of potential infectionHIV TestsBlood sample or oral fluid sampleHuman Papillomavirus (HPV) TestCervical swabSyphilis TestsBlood sample or swab from site of potential infection7 more rows•Nov 9, 2021
What test can detect STD?
Blood tests can confirm the diagnosis of HIV or later stages of syphilis. Urine samples. Some STIs can be confirmed with a urine sample.Sep 21, 2021
Can a urine test detect STDs?
The two sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) medical providers can detect using a urine test are chlamydia and gonorrhea. Many STDs or sexually transmitted infections (STIs), as healthcare providers now call them, don't cause immediate physical signs or symptoms.
Do normal blood tests show STDs?
Most STDs can be detected using a blood test. This test will often be combined with urine samples and swabs for a more accurate outcome. This test is important for those who have more than one sexual partner to ensure that you are not passing along harmful STDs to others.Apr 7, 2020
How do STDs start?
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) — or sexually transmitted infections (STIs) — are generally acquired by sexual contact. The bacteria, viruses or parasites that cause sexually transmitted diseases may pass from person to person in blood, semen, or vaginal and other bodily fluids.Sep 21, 2021
Can a STD be cured?
Bacterial STDs can be cured with antibiotics if treatment begins early enough. Viral STDs cannot be cured, but you can manage symptoms with medications. There is a vaccine against hepatitis B, but it will not help if you already have the disease.
Can you get rid of a STD on your own?
The upshot is that it's possible for some — not all — STDs to go away by themselves, but it's also possible for STDs to persist for months, years, or the rest of your life. If you could have been exposed to an STD, the best thing to do is get tested — not to hope that if you did get something, it'll just go away.Apr 25, 2016
Why is it important to get tested for STD?
This is important because a person can have a sexually transmitted disease (STD) without knowing it. In many cases, there aren't any signs or symptoms.
How to screen for gonorrhea?
Doctors screen people for chlamydia and gonorrhea by taking a urine test or a swab inside the penis in men or from the cervix in women . The sample is then analyzed in a lab. Screening is important, because if you don't have signs or symptoms, you may not know that you have either infection.
How often should I get tested for HIV?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) encourages HIV testing, at least once, as a routine part of medical care if you're an adolescent or adult between the ages of 13 and 64. Younger teens should be tested if they have a high risk of an STI. The CDC advises yearly HIV testing if you're at high risk of infection.
Which type of virus causes cold sores?
Type 1 is the virus that more typically causes cold sores, although it can also cause genital sores. Type 2 is the virus that causes genital sores more often. Still, the results may not be totally clear, depending on the sensitivity of the test and the stage of the infection.
Can you test for herpes?
Genital herpes. No good screening test exists for herpes — a viral infection. Most people with herpes infection never have any symptoms but can still transmit the virus to others. Your doctor may take a tissue scraping or culture of blisters or early ulcers, if you have them, to be examined in a lab.
Can a negative test show herpes?
But a negative test doesn't rule out herpes as a cause for genital ulcerations. A blood test also may help detect a past herpes infection, but results aren't always definite. Some blood tests can help differentiate between the two main types of the herpes virus.
Can you test for STIs at home?
For home STI testing, you collect a urine sample or an oral or genital swab and then send it to a lab for analysis. Some tests require more than one sample.
How to check for STDs?
STD testing is quick, easy, and it usually doesn’t hurt. There’s not a single test for all STDs — each STD has its own test. Your doctor can help you figure out which tests you need. STD testing may include: 1 A urine test — you just pee into a cup. 2 A cheek swab — you rub the inside of your cheek with a soft swab to test for HIV. 3 A blood test — your nurse or doctor takes blood from your arm or a quick finger prick. 4 A physical exam — your nurse or doctor looks at your genital area to check for warts, sores, rashes, irritation, or discharge. 5 Testing your sores — your nurse or doctor takes a sample of fluid from any sores or blisters you have with a swab. 6 Using a swab to gently take discharge or cell samples from your penis, vagina, urethra, cervix, anus, or throat.
What are the symptoms of STD?
If you or your partner has ever had an STD before. The number of people you’ve had sex with. The kind of sexual contact you’ve had — like oral, anal, or vaginal sex, or anything that involves skin-to-skin genital contact or passing sexual fluids.
How often should I get tested for STDs?
Most people get an STD at least once in their lives, and getting tested is the responsible thing to do — it means you’re taking good care of your health. Here are some ways you can bring up STD testing with a nurse or doctor: I’ve never been tested for STDs.
What is the purpose of a physical exam?
A physical exam — your nurse or doctor looks at your genital area to check for warts, sores, rashes, irritation, or discharge. Testing your sores — your nurse or doctor takes a sample of fluid from any sores or blisters you have with a swab. Using a swab to gently take discharge or cell samples from your penis, vagina, urethra, cervix, anus, ...
How long does it take for a STD test to come back?
Your doctor may be able to tell right away if you have an STD. But some tests take a few days or weeks to come back from a lab. Many clinics can do rapid testing for HIV — you’ll get your result in about 20 minutes. If you don’t hear back from your doctor after your STD test, don’t assume everything’s okay.
Can you cure STDs?
And even though some STDs can’t be cured, there are lots of ways to treat your symptoms and prevent you from giving your STD to anyone you have sex with. People with STDs can be in relationships, have sex, and live totally normal lives. Most people get an STD at least once, and millions are living with STDs now.
Why is it important to get tested for STDs?
It’s really important to get tested if you think you have an STD, because some STDs can cause serious health problems if you don’t treat them. Also, having an STD makes you more likely to get other STDs, like HIV. And it’s best to find out right away if you have an STD, so you can avoid giving it to other people.
What are the symptoms of a swollen penis?
itching, pain, irritation and/or swelling in your penis, vagina, vulva, or anus. flu-like symptoms like fever, body aches, swollen glands, and feeling tired. All of these symptoms can be caused by things that aren’t STDs (like pimples, UTIs, or yeast infections ).
Can a STD go away?
STD symptoms can come and go over time, but that doesn’t mean the STD is gone. It’s common for STD symptoms to be so mild that they don’t bother you, but you should still see a doctor or nurse if you notice anything that feels off. Different STDs have different symptoms. Signs of STDs include:
Can STDs be cured?
Most common STDs can be easily cured with medicine. And STDs that can’t be cured often have treatments to help you with symptoms and to lower your chances of giving the STD to anyone else. So the sooner you know you have an STD, the faster you can start taking care of yourself and your partner (s).
Is STD testing free?
STD testing is a regular part of being responsible and taking care of yourself. Plus, STD tests can be quick, painless, and sometimes even free.
Can you test for STDs?
Most of the time, STDs have no symptoms. Testing is the only way to know for sure if you have an STD. So if you’ve had any kind of sexual contact that can spread STDs — like vaginal, anal, or oral sex — talk with a doctor or nurse about getting tested. X in a circle.
Who Gets the Test?
All women should get tested for STDs when they're pregnant, even if you think you've never had an STD. Some STDs don't cause symptoms, so you wouldn't know if you had it. But, untreated, it could harm your baby. Prenatal STD tests help keep you and your baby healthy.
What the Test Does
These tests may rule out possible problems, including chlamydia, hepatitis B, herpes, gonorrhea, syphilis, and HIV.
How the Test Is Done
You'll probably be tested for STDs on your first visit to the doctor when you get pregnant. A blood test will check for some conditions, such as syphilis or HIV. You'll get tested for chlamydia and gonorrhea with a swab or urine test.
What to Know About Test Results
If you test positive for an STD, try to stay calm. Antibiotics will clear up infections like gonorrhea or chlamydia. Antiviral drugs can help with other conditions, such as herpes. You may need more testing or closer monitoring to keep your baby healthy.
How Often the Test Is Done During Your Pregnancy
After your first testing, you may get retested for some STDs later in your pregnancy.
What is STD check?
Quick, secure, and completely confidential, STD Check is a lab-based at-home test. This means you order the test over the phone or online, and then you go to a facility for sample collection. Lab-based tests are generally more thorough than self-collected examinations.
What is LetsGetChecked test?
LetsGetChecked tests require you to collect a urine and blood sample, depending on which test you select. The service also includes a medical support team to answer any questions. If your results are positive, a nurse or physician will call you to explain your results and provide treatment options.
Can STDs be transmitted through blood transfusion?
It is important to note that, while most STDs are contracted through vaginal, anal, or oral intercourse, some can be transmitted through non-sexual means, such as blood transfusions and shared intravenous products, like needles and syringes. As such, it is important you are tested frequently and regularly.
How much does Nurx cost?
This kit tests for infections most common in people with vaginas: HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and trichomoniasis. Basics Covered Kit ($150).
Is STI a disease?
STIs are infections that are spread from one person to another during vaginal, anal, and oral sex. An STI is only considered an STD — a disease — when it causes symptoms. Usually, an infection is the first step on the road to a disease, but hasn’t yet turned into disease and often doesn’t cause any symptoms.
Know Your Status. Get Tested
Giving you control over your sexual health is one of the most important things we can do. That is why we've eliminated the embarrassment and hassle of conventional STD testing. We give you access to the same FDA-approved / cleared testing used by doctors and hospitals.
10 Reasons STDcheck.com is the Leader in STD Testing
10-Test Panel - We are the only STD testing service that tests for all common sexually transmitted diseases. Our 10-Test Panel includes HIV 1 & 2 antibody (4th gen), syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, hepatitis A, hepatitis B & hepatitis C, and herpes 1 & 2.
