Importance of STD Testing

Could Farrokh Bulsara (better known as Freddie Mercury) who was the front man for the band Queen have extended his successful career and his life? The answer could be a big yes, had he had gone for HIV testing and taken adequate precautions. Freddie was bisexual and had stated he was 'overly cautious' when choosing partners or establishing relationships with them. His fame and success led to an abandoning of the caution he himself proclaimed to have and it landed him in a big trouble. He began allowing multiple sexual partners to share his bed unprotected and ultimately this resulted in the contraction of HIV and later AIDS. Although during that time HIV was still a fairly new phenomenon and many medical technologies we have today were unavailable, Freddy could have choosen to keep himself and others protected, and a large part of protection is conducting STD testing for all people who are sexually active. Who knows what great contributions this talented young man could have achieved had he done a simple HIV test.

Why is STD testing important?

There are many types of STDs or sexually transmitted diseases. Many of them are 'silent' meaning they may produce mild or no symptoms at all. This is one very important reason for STD testing, because many of the silent STDs can have very dire consequences in later stages if left undetected.

The importance of STD testing can be gauged from the fact that if STD test is not done in enough time, the probability of effective treatment of the disease is diminished. In such a scenario, a person may not only harbor and promote the virus of the disease within himself but he or she may also be putting others at risk of contracting the disease.

Some STDs can be detected from a simple rapid testing procedure, mainly for HIV testing. Another advantage of testing for STDs early and often is that if the afflicted person is a woman and wants to become a mother, she can confirm her STD status and can safely bring her baby to term and give birth without the fear transferring the disease to her unborn child. Even in the event that the Mother has contracted an STD, with the advent of medical advancements in this field and the latest research, doctors have created sophisticated medicines, injections, and procedures that can save the fetus from the affliction of the mother during pregnancy or child-birth.

Conditions for STD testing:

Here is a checklist to educate you on few conditions of the most common conditions for STD testing:

• A simple HIV testing is recommended by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for all men and women if they are sexually active. This means is suggested whether you are in a monogamous relationship or have multiple partners.
• STD testing for Gonorrhea, Chlamydia and Syphilis are also important if you are under the age of 25, as the age group between 15 and 25 constitutes about one fourth of the afflicted population.
• Persons who are homosexual or bisexual are considered to be at high-risk for contracting STDs. Safe sex should be practiced at all times but no method of STD protection or contraception is fool-proof. You really must get an HIV test or STD tests on a regular basis to ensure you are and stay, clean.

Physicians the world over have different opinions as to why a person should get STD testing done as well as the list of tests to be done. However, it is solely an individual's choice as to what all tests he or she wants to opt for while going for a STD test. If you are health conscious and feel that your level of sexual activity is average or above average then it is imperative that you undergo regular STD testing. It is highly advocated to ensure that your sexual partners also go for the same STD testing procedure to ensure that they are free from any kind of sexual diseases and are in good over-all health.

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STD Testing: Stay safe

STD is an abbreviation of sexually transmitted diseases, which are the most chronic diseases in today’s society. There are several research studies that have been conducted to accumulate the data that shows most people (1 in 5) will contract an STD- some of which can be deadly diseases. Therefore, the least we can do for ourselves is stay safe from these diseases by having as much information as we can to make informed decisions about sexual activities. The first step is securing your life and safety, as well as that of your partner, by doing STD testing. It’s completely natural to be scared or nervous about such testing, however, delaying or ignoring it is detrimental to your health. There are multiple reasons that compel people to refrain from this testing, but no amount of embarrassment or anxiety is worth your life. All sexual active people need to have STD testing.

What is an STD?
An STD is a sexually transmitted disease that can afflict people who indulge in unprotected sexual relationships; they can be transmitted by vaginal intercourse, anal intercourse, or oral sex. Because you sometimes have no way of knowing if someone is infected, doing regular STD checks is imperative to overall health and well-being. Early intervention can save your life!

Delaying or postponing STD testing/Testing Misconceptions:
There are many reasons people choose to ignore the thought of STDs, and some people are simply in denial. Some reasons people tend to delay testing (sometimes with negative consequences) are:

• People feel scared of such testing due to ‘information overload’ and don’t know the actual fact about STDs and their prevalence.
• Improper availability of testing services. There are some labs that will simply turn people off due to long wait times, rudeness, distance, inconvenience, or one very common reason people are deterred from STD testing, the privacy of the test.
• Some people believe myths they hear about these deadly diseases, and they think that STDs are very rare, when in reality STDs are more common than ever. Moreover, they also presume that having oral sex will keep you safe from being affected by STDs- This is NOT true.

These are the excuses people give to overlook or downplay the significance of STD testing. People must educate themselves and research these diseases to make the necessary informed decisions regarding testing.

Why is STD testing so important?

STD testing is undoubtedly imperative for people who are engaged in sexual relationships. There is no escaping from the facts or the importance of getting tested because all myths and excuses are enough to cause serious misconceptions regarding STDs. Some other reasons STD testing is so important include:

• It provides a tangible report in regard to whether or not a person is afflicted with an STD
• It saves people from many chronic diseases and alerts them of the importance of discussing medications and safety with the doctor.
• It strengthens loving relationships with your partner and helps each person feel more secure. If you love someone, it is your responsibility to yourself and your partner to know your STD status. STD testing is often a large and positive step forward in the course of a relationship.

Moreover, the ultimate benefit of this type of testing is the safety of the people from deadly diseases. A large concern is having a lab that provides the services for this testing in a proper manner. There are innumerable labs prevailing in the market to choose from. Therefore, you must have a proper list of your expected services to make an educated comparison and choose the best one. Here are some services that you would surely need to consider when selecting a lab for STD testing.

• The lab must be equipped with all the required instruments to provide flawless and accurate results and a professional report
• There should be an option to test anonymously
• Results should be provided in a timely manner, typically within 3-4 days
• An option should be in place to have instant delivery of the report, keeping the privacy of the applicants in mind.
• The charges for testing must be nominal and within reason. Look for a lab that offers a full STD panel for under $400.
• Most importantly, the lab must offer testing for the most common sexually transmitted diseases such as :

1. HIV testing
2. Genital Herpes I&II
3. Chlamydia
4. Hepatitis B
5. Hepatitis C
6. Gonorrhea
7. Syphilis

Overall, it is the responsibility of the individual to move forward with STD testing to secure their lives as well as the life of their partner or partners. By taking responsibility for your sexual health, you can have a secure, pleasant, and most importantly, safe sexual life.


(STD Testing Boca Raton)

STD Testing – A Must for Everyone

Illnesses and diseases do not always make their presence known immediately. Most of the developed world has woken up to the significance of getting tests done as soon as they believe something is amiss rather than waiting for one’s health to seriously deteriorate. STDs or Sexually transmitted diseases, are one such kind whose presence often goes undetected. It often comes to light only when the symptoms, which can seem harmless at first, tend to become more noticeable and painful . Hence, STD testing for anyone who is sexually active is imperative and even those who have limited sexual conduct should check themselves regularly.

Here is a list of some of the most common sexually transmitted diseases:

Here are a few diseases regularly checked for using STD testing; These diseases are very common and their remedial medicines and diagnostic tests are available everywhere.

• Chlamydia
• Gonorrhea
• Syphilis
• Herpes I&II
• HIV/AIDS
• Hepatitis B and C

If you lead an active sexual lifestyle there is vitually no way to avoid some risks associated with STDs. The best and the most effective course of action would be to take the necessary precautions and commit to doing STD testing as often as possible. These actions are imperative to your own health as well as the health of those you are intimate with. Especially throughout the stages of pregnancy, often gynecologists cannot treat you for sexually transmitted diseases and if left untreated, these diseases can pose severe risks to both the Mother and to the life of the unborn child. It goes back to the old adage, "Better safe than sorry". In such a scenario, if you were to desire to get pregnant with a child, it is always advisable to get STD testing done prior to conception. This will reduce the likelihood of complications that could arise during the course of the pregnancy.

At-home STD testing:
There are many at-home test kids for STD testing just like the ones that you get for the confirmation of your pregnancy. These are simple kits where one needs just a sample of your urine or a genital swab. However, some of the STD testing kits require both samples for correct and accurate results. The benefit of at-home testing kits is that these tests can be done in the privacy of your home without anyone else being privy to your secrets.

The biggest drawback here is that many times, the accuracy of the results is reduced due to improper collection and no medical knowledge about how these specimens are to be taken. It is better by far to go to a professional lab where experienced medical personnel can assist you in selecting tests, conduct proper and sanitary specimen collection, verify test accuracy, and explain laboratory results. Moreover, with the high rate of false positives often incurred with at home testing, you run a high risk of leaving a potentially life threatening situation left untreated. You can only reduce this undeniable risk if you are diligent enough to seek out a medical professional to assist you with STD testing.

Preconceived notions tend to make us believe that the only people who need to undergo STD testing are those who have multiple sex partners or lead high-risk lifestyles. But the reality is that all of us must get these tests done regardless of our age, sexual preference, or lifestyle. STD testing can be done at either diagnostic centers or at hospitals. Doctors and medical practitioners advise us to get STD testing done once every two years in order to diagnose the disease as early as possible and start taking the proper precautions against them.

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