At Home Testing for Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Sexually transmitted diseases are a frightening and all too common problem. There is a lot of embarrassment and shame associated not only with having a STD, but also with being tested for one. If you suspect that you have been exposed to, or contracted a sexually transmitted disease, an at home STD test can provide you with confidential results in a very private manner.

Home STD testing utilizes the same tests that your doctor or hospital would use to determine if you had contracted a sexually transmissible disease. The at-home version of these tests give results that are just as accurate as those administered by your hospital or doctor.

At home STD testing is available for the following sexually transmissible diseases:

Chlamydia: The symptoms of chlamydia include abnormal bleeding and discharge from the vagina, burning sensation upon urination, pain in the are under your naval, and discharge from the penis in men. If you have any of these symptoms, it is important that you be tested. www.getstdtested.com offers an at home version of this STD test for $90. The test for chlamydia requires a urine sample that you return to www.getstdtested.com and receive confidential results in 2-3 days.

Gonorrhea: The symptoms of gonorrhea are very similar to those of chlamydia. They include vaginal discharge, burning sensation when urinating, lower abdominal pain, and discharge from the penis. The test for gonorrhea also involves a urine sample. This at home STD test can be purchased at www.getstdtested.com for $90. Because of the similarity of the symptoms associated with chlamydia and gonorrhea, I suggest the purchase of the combination testing kit from www.getstdtested.com for $150.

Herpes: The symptoms of herpes are pain and abdominal pressure, unusual discharge from the penis or vagina, an itching or burning sensation in the sexual organs and rectum, and blisters in the mouth, vagina, rectum, or penis. Private Diagnostics has developed an at home test for Herpes. This STD test costs $221 at www.privatediagnostics.com.

Other STD tests require blood to be drawn by a professional, licensed phlebotomist, and you will have to go to a testing center (www.getstdtested.com offers 2000 locations), a hospital, or your doctor. This applies to HIV, Syphilis, and Hepatitis B and C. www.getstdtested.com offers a STD testing option that tests for all sexually transmitted diseases that costs $245. It is a good idea to be tested for all sexually transmitted diseases if you think that you have been exposed to, or contracted one STD.

www.getstdtested.com also offers counseling if you test positive for an STD, as well as physicians on-staff that can prescribe medications for some of the more common sexually transmitted infections. For HIV, Syphilis, Hepatitis B and C, and Herpes Simplex 1 and 2, you will still need to schedule an appointment with your physician in order to obtain treatment.

Testing for sexually transmitted diseases after having an unsafe or questionable sexual encounter is very important. Because STD's can cause long term damage, infertility, or even death, it is important to seek medical treatment and follow the advice of your physician.

Most importantly, even if you receive a negative result from the at-home STD test, it is imperative that you learn to protect yourself in the future. Condoms work, but abstinence is the only sure way to prevent the contraction of a sexually transmitted disease. Remember that there is no such thing as safe sex, just safer sex.

www.medicinenet.com
www.getstdtested.com
www.privatediagnostics.com