When someone says that they’re being tested for STDs, it usually means that they do not know what STDs they’ve been tested for yet. They might assume that the annual check up included STD testing, when it did not. Many people often assume that when Pap smears are done, or blood tests are drawn, they’re covered. This is not necessarily true. Each case is different depending on many factors including the symptoms that were displayed during the routine examination.
Some doctors believe that a full pap smear is enough to let them know if someone has been treated for an STD. However, this isn’t the case for everyone. If the doctor suspects that something is wrong and that STD testing may be necessary, he or she will perform the genital exam along with some other tests. These other tests can include urinalysis, cultures, blood tests, and even a mammogram.
If someone has been examined and has positive results from a standard STD test, they may be treated for any of the associated symptoms. If there is a possibility of an STD, a doctor may recommend that s/he see a urologist or a doctor of internal medicine. The urologist will examine the sores and take samples of the fluid in the cervix and the genital area. The doctor will take a sample of the fluid in the urinary tract, too. If the genitals are involved, a sample of the fluid from the vulva will also be taken. These STD tests are called urinalysis, chlamydia and gonorrhea tests.
Some STD tests may involve the use of a sample of the patient’s blood. This is called a venipuncture or venereal culture. Other STD tests can include rectal examination, abdominal x-ray, urinalysis, and swab test. A urine testing kit may also be used.
It is important that anyone who is sexually active and unsure of their health receives a regular STD test. Being sexually active means having sexual relations with another person and not being aware of whether you are suffering from any of the associated conditions. In fact, you could have an STD and not even know about it. It is possible for you to get this STD without experiencing any symptoms. However, most people do experience some of the associated symptoms such as painful sex or an unusual discharge from the genitals.
A regular STD test can help to detect any possible infections as well as the early stages of an infection so treatment can be started immediately. It is possible for someone to become infected with STD’s even when they are asymptomatic. However, sexually transmitted diseases such as gonorrhea or chlamydia can lead to serious complications such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and infertility. If left untreated, STDs can cause pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, and in some cases, death. Therefore it is very important for you to receive an STD test for every intimate contact you have with another person.
