Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs): Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)
How Do STD Tests Work?
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Testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can help keep you and your partners safe. Here's what to know about who should test and when.
If you're sexually active, you're potentially at risk for a sexually transmitted infection (STI). This is even more likely if you don't use protection.
While STIs are easily treatable, they don't always have symptoms so often go unnoticed. Complications of untreated STIs can have serious consequences, including infertility. They can also lead to sexually transmitted disease (STD).
That's why STD testing is so important, and regularly if you have multiple partners. Here's what else you need to know.
The difference between STDs, or sexually transmitted diseases, and STIs is often muddled.
Sexually transmitted infections occur when bacteria, parasites, or viruses enter the body. This process happens before a sexually transmitted disease develops.
And while STDs stem from STIs, having an STI does not necessarily mean you'll develop a disease from that infection. An STI can be asymptomatic (without disease), but if symptoms or clinical manifestations develop, it becomes an STD.
As we mentioned, some infections may show no symptoms, so testing is very important for preventing the spread of STIs. On the other hand, a disease typically has more clear-cut signs or symptoms.
If you've been sexually active, it's a good idea to be tested for STIs. Also, get tested if:
If you're in a long-term, mutually monogamous relationship and both you and your partner were tested before entering the relationship, you may not need regular STI testing.
But many people in long-term relationships weren't tested before they got together. If that's the case for you and your partner, one or both of you may have been living with an undiagnosed STI for years. The safest choice is to get tested.
Talk with a doctor if you're concerned about a particular infection or symptom. The more honest you are, the better treatment you can receive.
Also know that many physicians don't regularly test patients for STIs, even during routine wellness exams; that's why it's important to ask your doctor for STI testing and ask which tests they plan to do and why.
Pregnant people also need to make testing a priority, as STIs can affect the fetus. Your doctor should screen for STIs, among other things, at your first prenatal visit, including syphilis, HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C.
In addition to the above, the CDC offers the following guidelines for who and when someone should test.
There are a number of different STIs, and specific variables — like your birth-assigned gender and sexual history — come into play when deciding which to get tested for.
Your primary health care provider or your local health clinic can also recommend specific testing by learning more about your sexual history and lifestyle. You'll likely be encouraged to test for one or more of the following:
Your doctor probably won't offer to test you for herpes unless you have a known exposure or ask for the test.
STI testing is available at your doctor's office, or your local health clinic, pharmacy, or nearest Planned Parenthood center. For a comprehensive look at your options, see our guide on STI testing and locations.
Other options for testingSome people opt to use at-home STD testing kits. These kits allow you to test in your home's privacy by providing samples and sending them back to a lab for testing. If you test positive for an STI, your next step would be to contact a healthcare professional.
Most STIs can be detected through urine or blood samples. Depending on your sexual history, your health care provider may conduct a series of tests for STIs, which can also include swab tests. These can be performed on the mouth, vagina, penis, or anus, depending on the type of test necessary based on symptoms and sexual history.
HPV testingTo check for human papillomavirus (HPV), which is the most common STI, your doctor will order a separate HPV test.
People assigned female at birth who have persistent HPV infections, particularly infections by HPV 16 and HPV 18, are at an increased risk of developing cervical cancer. People who have anal sex can also develop anal cancer from HPV infections.
Although some STIs can come without symptoms, it's still good to watch for any signs of infection, even if they are very mild. For example, it's important to let a doctor know if you've noticed any changes on or around your genitals. If you have anal sex, also let them know about any changes on or around your anus and rectum.
See a doctor or healthcare professional right away if you notice any of these symptoms:
If you get a positive STI test result, it's important to follow up with your doctor for treatment. Also, make sure you inform any recent sexual partners, as some STIs can be transmitted back and forth. It's a good idea to consider how you want to tell your partners — while factoring in safety if that's a concern.
For example, a face-to-face conversation may be no big deal for some partners, while for others, it could pose harm if your partner has a history of emotional or physical aggression.
There are also anonymous, free options for sharing this information with partners if you prefer:
These options do not require the use of your personal information.
If you opt for a face-to-face conversation instead, it may be helpful to have relevant research and resources on hand. This way, you can answer any questions and discuss things with your partner, including treatment options, risks, incubation periods, etc.
It's also OK to feel a wide variety of emotions if you test positive. These feelings are normal, and you can talk with your doctor about any concerns you may have.
How do they test you for an STD?You may be tested for STDs through blood, urine, and swab (genital, oral, anal, or site-specific). The testing method depends on the type of test and your symptoms.
You may be tested for STDs through blood, urine, and swab (genital, oral, anal, or site-specific). The testing method depends on the type of test and your symptoms.
How do I get myself checked for STDs?You can get tested for STDs by visiting your primary health care provider, or your local health clinic, pharmacy, or Planned Parenthood location.
You may also consider purchasing an at-home STD test if you don't have access to in-person testing.
College students can usually get free STD testing through their school's affiliated health clinic.
You can get tested for STDs by visiting your primary health care provider, or your local health clinic, pharmacy, or Planned Parenthood location.
You may also consider purchasing an at-home STD test if you don't have access to in-person testing.
College students can usually get free STD testing through their school's affiliated health clinic.
What does a full STD panel include?Generally, testing checks for chlamydia, gonorrhea, hepatitis B and C, trichomoniasis, syphilis, and HIV. People assigned female at birth can also be screened for HPV once they've turned 30 years old.
Generally, testing checks for chlamydia, gonorrhea, hepatitis B and C, trichomoniasis, syphilis, and HIV. People assigned female at birth can also be screened for HPV once they've turned 30 years old.
What to do if you think you have an STD?If you think you have an STD, get tested right away and stop all sexual activity with partners until you've received your results.
If you test positive, get on the recommended treatment plan immediately and refrain from sex until treatment is complete.
Depending on the STD, you may have to wait several days after treatment before resuming sexual activity.
If you think you have an STD, get tested right away and stop all sexual activity with partners until you've received your results.
If you test positive, get on the recommended treatment plan immediately and refrain from sex until treatment is complete.
Depending on the STD, you may have to wait several days after treatment before resuming sexual activity.
STIs are common, and testing is widely available. The tests can vary depending on which STIs your doctor is checking for.
Talk with a doctor about your sexual history and ask which tests you should get. They can help you understand the potential benefits and risks of different STI tests. Doctors can also recommend appropriate treatment options if you test positive for any STIs.
Early Signs Of STDs You Must Pay Attention To
So, you didn't use protection, it's worth noting that pregnancy isn't the only thing in the cards. Engaging in unprotected sex also increases the risk of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). These can range from common infections like chlamydia and gonorrhoea to more serious conditions such as HIV and herpes. Just so you know, not all STDs come with immediate symptoms. That's why it's a good idea to make regular testing a thing to catch any surprises early on. Taking care of your sexual health involves more than just preventing pregnancies – it's about safeguarding yourself and your partner from potential infections.Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are a significant concern. First off, they can mess with your health in various ways. Some infections come with symptoms like itching, pain, or strange discharges, but here's the tricky part – not all of them show any signs immediately. So, you might not even know you've got something going on inside you. The early signs of these infections often go unnoticed, making routine screenings imperative. The spectrum of symptoms, ranging from sores and painful urination to unusual discharge and swollen lymph nodes, underscores the need for vigilance. Untreated STDs can lead to serious issues like fertility problems, organ damage, or even things like cancer. So, it's not just about you – it's about keeping your health in check and looking out for your future self.Common culprits: Recognizing the usual suspects The common culprits – Bacterial Vaginosis, Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea, Hepatitis, Herpes, HIV, HPV, Mycoplasma Genitalium, Syphilis, and Trichomoniasis – bring a mix of symptoms and challenges. Bacterial Vaginosis might cause a fishy odor, while Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea can be stealthy with discomfort and funky discharge. Hepatitis, especially B, might lurk without symptoms, emphasizing the importance of vaccination. Herpes announces its presence with sores, and HIV, a game-changer, might mimic the flu initially. HPV, common but potentially serious, may lead to warts or cancer, advocating for vaccination and regular check-ups. Mycoplasma Genitalium is still evolving in testing, and Syphilis progresses from painless sores to organ havoc if untreated. Trichomoniasis brings itching, burning, and unusual discharge.
Gender dynamics: Know your body, know the signs Men and women may experience STD symptoms differently. Genital ulcers, for instance, might not be readily noticeable in women, whereas men may observe unusual discharge and penis sores. Men often notice external symptoms like genital ulcers, unusual discharge, or discomfort, whereas women may experience more internal symptoms such as pelvic pain or subtle changes in vaginal discharge. Genital ulcers, for instance, may be less visible in women, appearing internally on the cervix or in the vaginal canal. Additionally, both genders can be asymptomatic carriers of certain STIs, emphasizing the importance of regular screenings. Untreated infections can lead to fertility issues. Open communication between partners and consistent use of barrier methods are crucial for prevention.
Transmission routes: Understanding the risks STDs can be transmitted through oral, anal, or vaginal sex, with varying levels of risk associated with each route. While oral sex carries a lower risk for some infections, condom use and dental dams can offer protection. Anal sex poses higher risks due to the vulnerability of the rectal lining, making consistent condom use and lubrication crucial. Vaginal intercourse is a common mode of transmission for numerous STDs, emphasizing the importance of condoms and regular screenings. Additionally, skin-to-skin contact can transmit certain infections, necessitating awareness even with condom use.
Home testing: Modern solutions for modern times Home testing kits for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) like HIV, chlamydia, and gonorrhoea have revolutionized sexual health management. Offering advantages such as accessibility, reduced stigma, and timely results, home testing kits have become a modern approach to self-care. The convenience of online ordering and self-administered tests addresses barriers to testing, making it more accessible to a broader population.
Timely detection: The power of routine check-ups Routine gynecological check-ups are essential for both cancer prevention and early detection of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Individuals with multiple partners or engaging in high-risk behaviours are advised to undergo more frequent examinations, ideally every three to six months. Regular screenings during these check-ups, including Pap smears and tests for common STDs like chlamydia and gonorrhoea, help healthcare providers identify issues early, reducing the risk of complications and transmission.
Treatment and prevention While antibiotics can cure bacterial STDs, viral infections are often incurable but manageable. Vaccines against hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and HPV provide an additional layer of protection. Lifestyle choices, such as abstinence, limited sexual partners, mutual monogamy, and consistent condom use, significantly reduce the risk of infection.Infertility, organ damage, sickness, cancer, and the spread of other diseases can result from untreated STDs. It is a must to ensure people who engage in high-risk behaviours get psychological counselling in addition to education, awareness, and prevention. Thus, it is important to encourage a holistic approach to sexual health which includes psychological support, prevention, education, and awareness in order to lessen the negative effects of untreated STDs and enhance general wellbeing.
(Author: Dr. Basavaraj S Kumbar, Consultant- Internal medicine, Aster Whitefield Hospital, Bengaluru)
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US Hasn't Seen Syphilis Numbers This High Since 1950. Other STD Rates Are Down Or Flat
The U.S. Syphilis epidemic isn't abating, with the rate of infectious cases rising 9% in 2022, according to a new federal government report on sexually transmitted diseases in adults.
But there's some unexpected good news: The rate of new gonorrhea cases fell for the first time in a decade.
It's not clear why infectious cases of syphilis rose 9% while gonorrhea dropped 9%, officials at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said, adding that it's too soon to know whether a new downward trend is emerging for the latter.
They are most focused on syphilis, which is less common than gonorrhea or chlamydia but considered more dangerous. And while it continues to have a disproportionate impact on gay and bisexual men, it is expanding in heterosexual men and women, and increasingly affecting newborns, too, CDC officials said.
Total cases surpassed 207,000 in 2022, a 17% increase and the highest count in the United States since 1950, according to data released Tuesday. The count includes not only the most infectious stages of the disease but also latent cases and cases in which pregnant women passed syphilis on to their babies.
Syphilis is a bacterial disease that can surface as painless genital sores but can ultimately lead to paralysis, hearing loss, dementia and even death if left untreated.
New syphilis infections plummeted in the U.S. Starting in the 1940s when antibiotics became widely available and fell to their lowest by 1998.
About 59,000 of the 2022 cases involved the most infectious forms of syphilis. Of those, about a quarter were women and nearly a quarter were heterosexual men.
"I think it's unknowingly being spread in the cisgender heterosexual population because we really aren't testing for it. We really aren't looking for it" in that population, said Dr. Philip Chan, who teaches at Brown University and is chief medical officer of Open Door Health, a health center for gay, lesbian and transgender patients in Providence, Rhode Island.
The report also shows rates of the most infectious types of syphilis rose not just across the country but also across different racial and ethnic groups, with American Indian and Alaska Native people having the highest rate. South Dakota outpaced any other state for the highest rate of infectious syphilis at 84 cases per 100,000 people - more than twice as high as the state with the second-highest rate, New Mexico.
South Dakota's increase was driven by an outbreak in the Native American community, said Dr. Meghan O'Connell, chief public health officer at the Great Plains Tribal Leaders' Health Board based in Rapid City, South Dakota. Nearly all of the cases were in heterosexual people, and O'Connell said that STD testing and treatment was already limited in isolated tribal communities and only got worse during the pandemic.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services last year convened a syphilis task force focused on stopping the spread of the STD, with an emphasis on places with the highest syphilis rates - South Dakota, 12 other states and the District of Columbia.
The report also looked at the more common STDs of chlamydia and gonorrhea.
Chlamydia cases were relatively flat from 2021 to 2022, staying at a rate of about 495 per 100,000, though there were declines noted in men and especially women in their early 20s. For gonorrhea, the most pronounced decline was seen in women in their early 20s as well.
Experts say they're not sure why gonorrhea rates declined. It happened in about 40 states, so whatever explains the decrease appears to have occurred across most of the country. STD testing was disrupted during the COVID-19 pandemic, and officials believe that's the reason the chlamydia rate fell in 2020.
It's possible that testing and diagnoses were still shaking out in 2022, said Dr. Jonathan Mermin, director of the CDC's National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention.
"We are encouraged by the magnitude of the decline," Mermin said, though the gonorrhea rate is still higher now than it was pre-pandemic. "We need to examine what happened, and whether it's going to continue to happen."
Copyright © 2024 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
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