Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are tested by checking blood, urine, or body fluid. Common STD screenings check for gonorrhea, chlamydia, HIV, and syphilis. If you are concerned about possible exposure to an STD, please schedule an appointment with one of the experienced physicians at Persona Medical. STDs are most effectively treated when detected early.
The need for STD testing depends on how sexually active a person is and how many partners they have. Doctors recommend that individuals who are sexually active with many different partners get checked for STDs every 6 to 9 months. Individuals who are in a committed relationship with only one partner should still be tested annually. In most cases, the test can be performed at a person’s annual checkup. Certain STDs, like HIV/AIDS, can lay dormant for several months before offering a positive test result, so continued testing is recommended. In addition, pregnant women should be screened for hepatitis B, HIV, and syphilis. Pregnant women who engage in high-risk behaviors, such as unprotected sex with multiple partners, should also be screened for chlamydia and gonorrhea.
Most STDs can be prevented through safe sex and by limiting the number of sexual partners and encounters. Even though a person uses birth control pills, an IUD, or other types of contraceptives, they are not protected from STDs. Using condoms can offer some protection against sexually transmitted diseases but are not 100% effective at stopping the spread of STDS from one person to another. The only completely effective way to prevent the spread of STDs is through abstinence.
Treatment varies according to the infection. Syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea are treated with antibiotics. Herpes are treated with antiviral medication but can not be cured because the virus lives in your nervous system and causes outbreaks periodically (similar to cold sores). Anyone who is sexually active is at risk; it’s important to screen and treat both partners.