Over one million cases of chlamydia have been reported in the U.S. since 2006, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC. One in four Americans between the ages of 15 to 55 will end up with an STD in their lifetime, and most of those cases show up in people under the age of 25, according to the Center for Young Women's Health. Currently there are multiple options for testing, with lab tests becoming more quickly available and more sensitive each year.
Why Test
Testing is important since many diseases do not have symptoms. Even if there are symptoms, they often do not show for weeks, so this disease can be passed on to a new partner without knowing. Chlamydia is considered a silent disease, according to the CDC, as many who have it do not have symptoms and those who do notice symptoms notice it one to three weeks after a sexual encounter. Herpes virus can be passed on even without any open sores being visible. Human papillomavirus, HPV, has no symptoms at all and some strains are responsible for cervical cancer in women. The CDC recommends all sexually active women under the age of 25 get tested at least once a year, more often if there are multiple partners or symptoms of a disease.
Where To Go
A doctor or nurse practitioner that specializes in gynecology will be able to perform the appropriate testing. Many clinics like Planned Parenthood offer sliding fee scales and absolute privacy for those who do not have insurance or are under the age of 18. Even if a woman is getting her annual Pap exam, it is important to ask for an STD test, as they are not automatically performed at the exam. As of 2010, a few online companies are offering home testing kits, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Visual Exam
Planned Parenthood states that an office exam will include a visual examination of the outer genitals and anus as well as visualization of the cervix, the opening to the uterus. A speculum is used to open the vagina wider for easier inspection of the cervix. The practitioner looks for any open sores, rashes, abnormal discharge or warts.
Sample Collection
A sample of the vaginal discharge is placed on a glass slide and several cotton swabs are taken from the vagina and cervix. These samples are then sent to a lab. Additionally, blood and urine samples can be used for testing, according to Planned Parenthood. Home kits usually require the woman to mail both a swab and a urine sample. The Mayo Clinic states that home tests have higher false-positive rates than in office testing, as of 2010.
Lab Testing
Once the samples are in the lab, the lab then attempts to grow any potential diseases on specific cell lines. Or the samples are placed in machines that test for the presence of disease by trying to replicate the virus or bacteria over and over again. The latter of the two testings has more specific results, but the cell culture testing is still the gold standard for many STD tests.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Chlamydia
- MayoClinic.com: STD testing: What to know before your appointment
- Planned Parenthood: STD Testing
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Sexually Transmitted Diseases Surveillance, 2007
- Center for Young Women's Health: Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)
