Testing for specific STIs. These guidelines for specific STIs can help you decide if STI testing is right for you.
Usually the above named infection presents itself with whitish penile discharge/ abnormal vaginal discharge, painful urination, and frequent urinations. If any of these symptoms happens to you, do seek treatment as these infections are easily treated, and can be eradicated completely from you and your partner. These infections affect men and women equally, so it’s best to get tested to be on the safer side. Other milder forms of this infection would not even have symptoms.
We recommend screening:
Screening for chlamydia, gonorrhoea and NSU are usually done using a urine test or swab. Swabs are taken inside the penis in men or from the cervix in women. The sample is then studied in a lab. Screening is important, because if you don’t have symptoms, you may not know that you’re infected.
HIV testing is recommended at least once, as a routine part of health care if you’re between the ages of 18 and 65. Younger teens or older adults should be tested if they have a high risk of an STI. Yearly HIV testing is advised at least yearly if you’re at high risk of infection. If you at a higher risk of acquiring HIV, such as having multiple partners, men who has sex with men, a more frequent screening may be needed. Your doctor will explain in detail regarding your consultations, and try to limit the risk of acquiring HIV. Usually HIV infected patient would not know their infection status as usually it is asymptomatic. So if you have had a risky encounter, visit your doctor to get information on what to do next.
Syphilis is also very common, and rarely has symptoms and if they do happen, usually they come as a penile ulcer that is painless. If left untreated syphilis can progress to different stages and makes it harder to treat. So it’s best to get checked at the initial stages, as treatment is more effective, and your chances of eradicating these bacteria is more.
It is also commonly recommended for Hepatitis B screening for all adults ages 18 to 79. Vaccines are available for hepatitis B and are usually given at birth. Unvaccinated adults can be vaccinated if they are at high risk of getting hepatitis B. Usually vaccinated individuals over the years their antibody will be low, so it’s advisable to do an antibody level testing for Hepatitis B, and if it’s below the targeted line, then booster vaccinations may be recommended.
If you have any of the following risk factors, talk to your doctor about testing for HIV, Syphilis or Hepatitis:
Your doctor tests you for syphilis by taking either a blood sample or a swab from any genital sores you might have. A lab specialist studies the sample in a lab. Your provider also takes a blood sample to test for HIV and hepatitis.
Doctors generally only recommend testing for genital herpes for people who have symptoms or other risk factors. But most people with herpes infection never have any symptoms but can still spread the virus to others. Your doctor may take a tissue sample or culture of blisters or early ulcers, if you have them, and send them to a lab. Blood testing for Herpes Antibody/Antigen is accurate in determining the types of herpes that you have or have had in the past. This blood test can help your healthcare provider to see which of the two main types of the herpes virus you have.
Type 1 is the virus that usually causes cold sores, although it can also cause genital sores.
Type 2 is the virus that causes genital sores more often. At an initial outbreak, prompt treatment will shorten the outbreak and discomfort. Genital sores are usually painful to touch.
The only way to distinguish and for confirmation, a blood test should be done to evaluate antibody/antigen levels in the blood for Herpes.
Certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV) can cause cervical cancer. Other types of HPV can cause genital warts. Many sexually active people get HPV at some point in their lives but never have symptoms. Most of the time, the virus goes away on its own within two years.
Regular HPV testing isn’t recommended for men. Instead, health care providers may choose to test men who have symptoms, such as genital warts. A sample of the wart is removed and sent to a lab. In women, HPV testing involves:
Pap test. Pap tests, which check the cervix for irregular cells, are recommended every three years for women between ages 25 and 65.
HPV test. Women between ages 25 and 65 should have an HPV test alone or an HPV test along with a Pap test every five years if previous test results were within the standard range. Testing may take place more often for those who are at high risk of cervical cancer or those who have irregular results on their Pap or HPV tests.
HPV is also linked to cancer of the vulva, vagina, penis, anus, and mouth and throat. Vaccines can protect both men and women from some types of HPV. So if you have not yet been vaccinated, get your vaccines to protect your health both for men and in women.
At-home test kits for certain STIs, such as HIV, chlamydia and gonorrhoea, have become more common and popular.
However, tests done on samples you collect yourself may not always be accurate. If you test positive for an STI from a home test, contact your health care provider or a public health clinic to confirm the test results. If your home test results are negative but you have symptoms, contact your provider or a public health clinic to confirm the results.
The danger is if the test is negative, but you are positive, you run the risk of getting worse or infecting others without knowing. For this reason it is better to get these tests done at a professional clinic by a trained medical professional with experience.
If you DO have an STD, it’s best to find out as soon as possible. Some STDs can cause serious damage over time, even if you feel totally fine right now. STDs can also spread to other people you have sex with, whether or not you have any symptoms.
The best part about getting tested for STDs? Once you get it over with, it can really put your mind at ease. STD testing is a regular part of being responsible and taking care of yourself. Plus, STD tests can be quick and painless.
