About Getting Tested for an STD

Overview

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are a major medical issue, not just for personal care but for the public at large. STDs range from annoying and painful infections to life-threatening illnesses. Getting tested for STDs can be daunting, but the process itself is fairly quick. In addition, the results are usually provided anonymously.

In Absence of Symptoms

In general, women should receive a Pap smear and a pelvic exam annually once they have turned 21, regardless of whether they have symptoms of any sexually transmitted disease. It is important to remember, however, that although these procedures can detect some STDs, it is not a full STD test. Gynecologists can, however, perform a full STD scan if requested.

Recommendations

The Mayo Clinic recommends that men who have sex with other men receive yearly screenings for several STDs, including syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea and HIV. Homosexual men as a whole are at greater risk of developing STDs, and syphilis and HIV can be fatal if untreated. In addition, gonorrhea and chlamydia infections can raise your risk of getting other STDs. In addition, men and women who are sexually active and have had a new partner or partners should get screened annually for chlamydia and gonorrhea at a minimum.

Blood Tests

Some STDs are best tested for via a blood sample. These include tests for HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis A and B. Although blood tests take longer and are more invasive, for these infections it is the most reliable (and sometimes only) way to detect the infection.

Other Methods

Some STDs can be tested for without drawing blood. Chlamydia and gonorrhea, for example, can be detected either via a urine test or a "swab" (in which a cotton swab is stuck into the penis for a man, or over the cervix for a woman) to detect the infection. This is because neither of these infections is viral in nature and, as a result, can be isolated from the infected areas.

Undetectable STDs

Although these tests can detect a number of STDs, there are some infections for which there is no good test. This includes genital warts and HPV. Although there are blood tests for these infections, they are not particularly reliable and, as a result, a negative test does not mean that one has not been infected.