STD Testing
Anyone who is sexually active, especially those who have or had multiple part partners, should have the following advice drilled into them: Use protection and get tested regularly. Regular STD screening is essential to protecting your own health and the health of others because many STDs may not exhibit any symptoms, which is why many in the medical field use the term STIs (sexually transmitted infections) since you may carry an infection without symptoms of disease. There are a range of STI and STD tests that you can request, so don’t assume you are tested for all major STIs every time you have a pap test or gynecological exam. The Benjamin Wellness Center offers comprehensive STD lab testing services that you can request as part of your regular gynecological exam or as a separate screening.
Common STIs And Testing Guidelines
Here are the major STIs we screen for and some risk factors to consider.
HIV, Syphilis, and Hepatitis
HIV testing is recommended by the CDC as a routine part of medical care if you’re an adolescent adult between 13 and 64 years of age or are currently sexually active. For those at high risk of infection, yearly HIV testing is recommended. Hepatitis C screening is encouraged for everyone in the age group born between 1945 and 1965, and there are vaccines available for hepatitis A and B. Some national guidelines for HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis testing risk factors are:
Testing positive for another STI
You or your partner have had multiple partners since your last test
Use intravenous (IV) drugs
Are pregnant or planning on it
Are a biological male engaging in sex with other biological males
Have had non-consensual sexual activity
Syphilis can be tested for via swab or blood test and HIV and hepatitis require blood samples.
Chlamydia and Gonorrhea
It is recommended that you receive annual screenings if:
You’re a sexually active man or woman
You have HIV
You’ve had non-consensual sex
Chlamydia and gonorrhea are screened for through urine testing or a swab inside the penis/cervix. These STIs often don’t show symptoms, so make sure to get regularly tested if you are sexually active since they can significantly increase your risk of other STIs and cervical cancer.
Genital Herpes
Herpes is an extremely common viral infection that often doesn’t exhibit symptoms. Even if you have no visible symptoms, you can still pass it onto someone else. Your doctor may collect a sample from blisters or early ulcers if you have them for lab testing, but just because you test negative for certain strains of herpes it doesn’t rule out herpes as a cause for certain genital ulcerations.
HPV
HPV is an extremely common virus with dozens of different strains. Certain strains of HPV are responsible for genital warts, while others may cause cervical cancer. A significant portion of sexually active people may carry HPV asymptomatically at some point since the virus can disappear on its own within a year or two. There isn’t a routinely used HPV test for men, but in women HPV testing typically consists of pap tests and HPV tests.
Contact Us Today
Regular STD screening is an essential part of staying healthy as a sexually active individual. Contact The Benjamin Wellness Center to schedule an appointment today.