Frequent, regular testing for sexually transmitted diseases and infections is an important part of health maintenance for any sexually active adult. No matter what your sexual history is or how long you’ve been with your current partner(s), ongoing STD testing from a medical professional is the best way to get the knowledge you need to protect yourself.
You Don’t Have to Do It on Your Own
There are many ways you can get tested for STDs, including from the comfort of your own home. There are plenty of testing kits on the market that allow you to send in a sample of your blood or urine to a laboratory, which will then analyze your sample and report your results to you. This may sound like an easy and convenient option, but it requires you to take the sample yourself and wait for what may be weeks while the lab processes and returns your results. Also, the sample may be inconclusive, and you will need to send another one for testing.
Getting tested at a doctor’s office ensures safe, clean, and easy testing. However, you will need to make a doctor’s appointment and ask for an STD test. Many people assume that STD testing is included when you get a physical, a gynecological exam, or any sort of urine or blood work done. This is usually not the case; you need to request STD testing from your doctor, even if you have given a sample of your blood or urine.
Part of testing includes being asked basic questions about your sexual history, and testing is always judgment-free. There are different ways to test for different STDs, including urine, saliva, or blood samples, or a physical exam. Talk to your doctor about different methods and decide what is best for you. You will not be forced into any exams or providing any samples you’re not comfortable with.
Why You Should Get Tested
STD rates are on the rise in the US, partially because people aren’t getting tested regularly. Many STDs have mild to no symptoms, so you can have (and spread) an STD without realizing it. STDs are caused by viruses and bacteria, so you need a medical professional to test you. You can’t accurately diagnose yourself with a sexually transmitted infection. Medical testing is safe, clean, and can help you prevent, treat, and manage STDs.
Easy, Quick, and Affordable Testing
A fast, safe, and simple way to get an STD test, often with same-day results, is to go to your local urgent care. You can just walk in without an appointment and get peace of mind right away. Whether or not you have health insurance, urgent care will work with you for affordable testing options. Don’t wait until you have symptoms or a new sexual partner; check out your local urgent care or primary care center and get tested today!