STD Screening
Some STDs can take ten years to show their symptoms, so if you have risk factors for an STD make sure to always use a condom and get STD testing. Call today to get started.
Risk Factors for STD Infection
You can contract an STD after just one act of sex. Anyone can get an STD, so use responsible practices and get STD testing regularly. Here are some lifestyle practices that can raise your risk for an STD.
- Multiple (more than one sexual partner)
- Having unprotected vaginal, anal or oral sex
- Improper or inconsistent condom use
- You have had another STD in the past
- You drink alcohol or abuse drugs
- You are an adolescent/teenage female
Symptoms of an STD
STD symptoms can be mild and you may not realize what’s wrong right away. Women often mistake bacterial infections like gonorrhea or chlamydia for yeast infections or urinary tract infections. If you experience any of the following symptoms, see your doctor.
- Soreness, bumps or raised areas on your genitals or anus
- Discharge or drainage from the penis or vagina (it may or may not have a bad smell)
- Pain in the lower abdomen
- Burning or painful urination (pee)
- Swollen lymph nodes in your groin or legs
Types of STD Testing
STD testing can take several forms depending on the infection your doctor may be looking for. HIV, syphilis and Hepatitis may be found with blood tests. Bacterial infections like gonorrhea and chlamydia will require a swab of your cervix (if you are female) or the inside of your penis (if you are male). Urine samples and swabs of draining sores can also provide results depending on the infection. Some STDs can be treated with antibiotics and others cannot be cured—you will carry them with you for life.
If you test positive for an STD, your sexual partner(s) should also be tested and treated. If you keep having sex with someone who has not been treated, you could redevelop the STD or pass it back and forth. Schedule STD testing today: Call or request an appointment online.