If HIV is contracted, for example, it can take a couple of weeks to a few months for tests to detect the infection.
If you have a vagina, doctors can use a cotton applicator to take vaginal and cervical swabs during a pelvic exam. If you have anal sex, they may also take a rectal swab to check for infectious organisms in your rectum. A Pap smear is a test that looks for early signs of cervical or anal cancer.
People assigned female at birth who have persistent HPV infections , particularly infections by HPV and HPV, are at an increased risk of developing cervical cancer. People who engage in anal sex can also develop anal cancer from HPV infections. A normal Pap smear result says nothing about whether or not you have an STI. Many abnormal Pap smears resolve without treatment. If you have an abnormal Pap smear, your doctor may recommend HPV testing. Most of those people never develop cervical or anal cancer.
Some STIs, like herpes and genital warts , can be diagnosed through a combination of physical examination and other tests. Your doctor can conduct a physical exam to look for sores, bumps, and other signs of STIs. They can also take samples from any questionable areas to send to a laboratory for testing. If you engage in anal sex, you should also let them know about any changes on or around your anus and rectum.
STI testing costs depend on several factors like where you get tested, the type of insurance you have, and your income. According to CDC guidelines :. The length of time it takes for an STI test depends on the type of test you take. But most STI tests take a few minutes to collect either urine, saliva, or a blood sample for your test. Some blood tests can help differentiate between the two main types of the herpes virus.
Type 1 is the virus that more typically causes cold sores, although it can also cause genital sores. Type 2 is the virus that causes genital sores more often. Still, the results may not be totally clear, depending on the sensitivity of the test and the stage of the infection. False-positive and false-negative results are possible. Certain types of human papillomavirus HPV can cause cervical cancer while other varieties of HPV can cause genital warts.
Many sexually active people become infected with HPV at some point in their lives, but never develop symptoms. The virus typically disappears within two years. There's no routinely used HPV screening test for men, in whom the infection is diagnosed by visual inspection or biopsy of genital warts. In women, HPV testing involves:.
HPV has also been linked to cancer of the vulva, vagina, penis, anus, and mouth and throat. Vaccines can protect both men and women from some types of HPV , but they are most effective when administered before sexual activity begins. At-home test kits for certain STIs , such as HIV , chlamydia and gonorrhea, have been gaining acceptance and popularity.
For home STI testing, you collect a urine sample or an oral or genital swab and then send it to a lab for analysis. Some tests require more than one sample.
The benefit of home testing is that you're able to collect the sample in the privacy of your home without the need for a pelvic exam or office visit. However, tests done on samples you collect yourself may have a higher rate of false-positive results, meaning that the test indicates you have an STI that you really don't have. If you test positive from a home test, contact your doctor or a public health clinic to confirm the test results.
If your home test results are negative, but you're experiencing symptoms, contact your doctor or a public health clinic to confirm the results. If you test positive for an STI , the next step is to consider further testing and then get treatment as recommended by your doctor.
In addition, inform your sex partners. Your partners need to be evaluated and treated, because you can pass some infections back and forth. Expect to feel many emotions. You may feel ashamed, angry or afraid. It may help to remind yourself that you've done the right thing by getting tested so that you can inform your partners and get treated. Talk with your doctor about your concerns.
Even though it can result in many nice things—closeness, orgasms , a pleasurable distraction from the fact that each passing second brings us that much closer to death—it can also lead to sexually transmitted diseases.
Hook III, M. What STDs should you be tested for? It can be a little tricky, but here are the basics. The two biggies are chlamydia and gonorrhea. Chlamydia is the most commonly reported STD in the United States , and gonorrhea is also incredibly common. But my doctor recommends that pregnant women be tested, so I'm going to do it.
I want to make sure that I have a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby. I had a test several months ago, and it was negative. I haven't had symptoms of any STIs since. I'm not in a relationship, and I haven't had sex with anyone since the test, so I don't think a test is necessary for me now.
I don't plan to have a test now. My doctor says I'm at pretty low risk since I haven't had sex with anyone since my wife and I split up a few years ago.
But if I meet someone, I may do it and ask her to do the same. I think it would be a pretty hard conversation to have, though. Your personal feelings are just as important as the medical facts. Think about what matters most to you in this decision, and show how you feel about the following statements.
I don't think there's any chance I could be spreading an infection to anyone. I'm not worried that I could have a false-positive or false-negative test result.
I am worried about having a false-positive or false-negative test result. I feel that I could tell my sex partner s that I'm going to have a test. I'm worried that if I tell my sex partner s I'm going to have a test, it would affect our relationship. Now that you've thought about the facts and your feelings, you may have a general idea of where you stand on this decision. Show which way you are leaning right now.
How sure do you feel right now about your decision? Use the following space to list questions, concerns, and next steps. Here's a record of your answers. You can use it to talk with your doctor or loved ones about your decision.
You have an increased risk of getting chlamydia if: 3. You have an increased risk of getting gonorrhea if: 1. You have an increased risk of getting syphilis if you: 2. I'm worried that I could have an STI that doesn't cause symptoms.
If I'm a woman and don't know if I have an infection, I could spread it to others and develop serious problems if I don't get treatment. Are you clear about which benefits and side effects matter most to you? Do you have enough support and advice from others to make a choice?
Author: Healthwise Staff. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use.
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Your options Have a blood or urine test or some other test to screen for sexually transmitted infections. Don't have the test. Key points to remember Many health professionals recommend having a routine screening test for certain STIs if you have a high risk for infection. For example, you're at high risk if you're younger than 25 and sexually active, or if you've had more than one partner in the past year.
Some STI tests are recommended for pregnant women whether or not they have a high risk for infection. Some STIs don't cause symptoms, or they can cause symptoms that go away. So unless you have a test, you may not know that you have an STI. STI testing can help find an infection early.
If you know that you have an infection, you can get treatment and prevent spreading the infection to others. Left untreated, some STIs can lead to serious problems. For example, if a woman has an STI when she gives birth, her newborn may have the disease. If your test shows that you have an STI, your sex partner s will need to know so they can be tested.
Some STIs can be cured with treatment.
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