What to Expect From STD Testing Services (And Its Benefits)

According to the World Health Organization, more than 1 million sexually transmitted diseases, also known as STDs or STIs, are transmitted every day. This is why it is so important to practice safe sex and utilize STD testing services.

Getting STD screening done can be nerve-wracking, especially if you have never done it before. However, it may be important for your sexual health. Keep reading to learn what you can expect from an STD screening and why it’s important.

When to Seek Out STD Testing Services

You might be wondering when or if you should be tested for STDs. If you are sexually active with multiple partners, you should be tested regularly. The CDC has established the following guidelines for how often to get tested:

• Those having unprotected sex or sharing needles: yearly for HIV
• Females aged 13-64: at least once for HIV
• Sexually active gay or bisexual men: once every three to six months for HIV, yearly for gonorrhea and chlamydia
• Those who are pregnant: tested for HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B
• Those with at-risk pregnancies: tested for gonorrhea and chlamydia
• Sexually active females under 25: yearly for gonorrhea and chlamydia

If you have questions about these guidelines, your doctor can help you decide when to get tested and for what.

OF course, if you suspect exposure, you should be tested for that STD within the appropriate testing window. You should also look out for symptoms, which might include painful urination, pain with sex, sores on the genitals, bleeding or discharge from the vagina, or discharge from the penis.

What to Expect From STD Testing

Once you decide to get tested for STDs, it might help to have a general idea of what to expect. You may choose to get testing done through your family doctor or gynecologist, or you can go to an urgent care clinic.

Once you arrive, the doctor will ask you about your sexual history and sexual partners. It is important to be honest with them, even if it is uncomfortable. Together, you and your doctor will decide which STDs you should be tested for.

The tests are different for each one, but most of them are quick and painless. These might include a urine test, blood test, a cheek swab, a physical exam of your genital areas, taking a sample from any sores or blisters, or taking a swab from your genital area, anus, or throat.

If you are looking for a reliable place to get tested for STDs in the New Orleans area, please check out https://www.theurgentcare.com/ for more information.

Benefits of STD Testing

Getting tested can offer peace of mind if you’ve had multiple sexual partners so that you don’t have to worry that you might have an infection. Testing is also important if you want to have children in the future because some STDs can affect fertility.

Additionally, getting tested protects your current and future sexual partners. One of the reasons STDs spread so quickly is that they rarely present with symptoms, so getting tested is a good precaution against unknowingly infecting others.

Ready to Get Tested?

Now that you know more about STD testing services, if you are sexually active or suspect an infection, consider going to your local urgent care facility or talking with your doctor. It might be intimidating, but your sexual health is worth it.

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