Sexually transmitted diseases, or STDs, are bacteria, viruses, and parasites that are passed from one person to another through sexual acts. Most STDs can be treated or cured, but without treatment, can result in illness or even sterility. Once you begin having sex, it’s important to see your doctor, or go to a testing clinic, for STD tests at least once a year. This will put your mind at ease, or enable you to seek treatment for an STD should you have one. In addition to this routine screening, you should see your doctor immediately if you experience: Abnormal discharge from your penis or vagina, pain during sex, pain during urination, or growths on your genitals or anus, such as bumps, blisters, sores or a rash. However, some STDs have minimal, or no symptoms, and this makes routine testing absolutely vital for sexually active people. (Most STDs can be diagnosed via blood, urine, or cell samples. But here’s where things get tricky: Most doctors won’t test you for STDs if you don’t ask, and not every doctor will test for every disease. That is why YOU need to initiate the STD talk with your doctor. Ask what she usually screens for in an STD test, and see if you’re being checked for everything that you’re worried about. Most insurance plans will cover STD testing, but it is also possible to obtain inexpensive or free tests from government-funded and independent testing clinics. Your local Planned Parenthood is a great place to start. A blood test involves taking samples of your blood from a vein in your arm and sending those samples to a lab for screening. Blood tests can screen for common STDs like HIV, the potentially deadly virus that causes AIDs; HSV, the virus that causes herpes; hepatitis B, a virus that inflames the liver; and potentially deadly syphilis. Urine tests are not as always as accurate as blood tests. They are, however, a way to screen for diseases like HIV, or gonorrhea, which can cause infertility or even death. A physical exam is another way in which a doctor can check for STDs. Because some STDs involve outbreaks, a visual exam may be all that is needed for diagnosis. STDs like genital herpes, syphilis, pubic lice, or genital warts, which are caused by HPV, can be seen with the naked eye. However, a follow-up test is usually ordered to confirm the diagnosis. For women, the best confirmation for many STDs is a swab test, which usually involves taking a sample of the cells in the cervix. A cervical swab can test for gonorrhea; Chlamydia, which can cause infertility; and the bacterial infection trichomoniasis. A pap smear, which is a similar procedure, can test for HPV, the virus that causes genital warts and cervical cancer in women. STDs can be scary, but many are treatable. Ensure your safest, healthiest sex life by talking to a health care provider about regular screening for STDs!
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