STDs frequently show no symptoms. It is only via testing can you be certain you don’t have an STD. Therefore, discuss being tested with a doctor or nurse if you’ve had any sexual contact that can spread STDs, such as vaginal, anal, or oral sex. Talk to a doctor or nurse about being tested if you’ve had sexual contact with someone else and you detect any symptoms of an STD. Over time, STD symptoms may appear and disappear, but the STD is still present. Even though it’s typical for STD symptoms to be so minor that you don’t notice them, you should still consult a doctor or nurse if you feel out of the ordinary about anything. It will help if you look where to get free STD testing.
You are likely to experience different symptoms for different types of Sexually Transmitted Infections
Various STDs have various symptoms. The most common STD symptoms include:
- On and around your genitalia, thighs, or butt cheeks; sores or lumps
- strange spotting in your penis or genital area
- Having to urinate a lot or feeling burned when you do
- In your penis, vagina, vulva, or anus, there may be itchiness, soreness, inflammation, or swelling.
- Fever, body aches, swollen glands, and fatigue are flu-like symptoms.
Key points to disclose to the physician
Things other than STDs may be responsible for these symptoms (like pimples, UTIs, or yeast infections). Therefore, getting tested is the only way to know what’s going on. You can determine what kind of testing or treatment you might require with the assistance of your nurse or doctor. Inform them of the following:
- The symptoms you are experiencing
- Your history of sexual behavior likes vaginal, anal, or oral sex, or anything that involves skin-to-skin genital contact or passing sexual fluids.
- Whether or not you use dental dams or condoms.
If you suspect an STD and you are wondering where to get free STD testing, it’s crucial to get tested since, in certain cases, untreated STDs can lead to major health issues. Additionally, having one STD increases your risk of contracting HIV and additional STDs. To prevent spreading an STD to others, it’s best to find out if you do. Although getting tested might seem daunting at first, try to relax. The majority of common STDs get treated with medication. Additionally, there are frequent therapies for STDs that cannot get cured that can help with symptoms and reduce your risk of spreading the disease to others. Therefore, the sooner you discover you have an STD, the sooner you can begin treatment.
Is it still important to undergo the testing even if there are no symptoms?
Most of the time, people with STDs don’t have any symptoms, so it’s impossible to know if you have one based on how you feel or look. Therefore, getting tested is the only surefire way to determine if you (or your partner) have an STD. You should find out if you need to get tested by taking our quiz. If you’ve had unprotected sexual contact or learned your partner has an STD, it is crucial to get tested. You can ask a doctor or nurse whether you need to get tested for STDs.
Checking for particular STIs
Using these guidelines for particular STIs, you can decide whether or not STI testing is right for you.
Gonorrhea and chlamydia
Annual screening is advised by national guidelines for:
- Young, sexually active women
- Women over 25 are more likely to have STIs due to factors including having sex with new partners or many partners.
- Sex with other men by males
- Individuals with HIV
- Transgender ladies who engage with male partners
- Individuals who were coerced into having sex or engaging in sexual behavior against their wishes
Hepatitis, Syphilis, and HIV
- If you’re between the ages of 15 and 65, the U.S. Preventive Services Taskforce recommends getting tested for HIV at least once as part of routine medical treatment.
- Older adults or teens should get tested if they have a high risk of contracting an STI.
- If you have a high risk of infection, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend getting tested for HIV at least once a year.
- Hepatitis C screening gets advised by national guidelines for all persons ages 18 to 79.
- Hepatitis A and B vaccines are available and get often administered at birth.
- Adults who have never received a vaccination but are at a high risk of contracting hepatitis A or B can get one.
Genital Herpes
Only those with symptoms or other risk factors are typically encouraged to get tested for genital herpes, according to genital herpes providers. However, most herpes patients never experience any symptoms and can still infect others.
If you have blisters or early ulcers, your doctor may collect a tissue sample or culture and send it to a lab. However, especially if you have symptoms, a negative test doesn’t automatically imply you don’t have herpes.
Blood tests can also reveal whether you’ve previously had herpes, although the results aren’t always accurate. Some blood tests can enable medical professionals to identify which of the two main herpes virus strains you possess.
