STD Testing
Why is STD testing important?
If you’re sexually active — even if you have a single, long-term partner — regular STD screenings should be part of your preventive health care routine.
Routine screenings are the only way to discover any STDs that may be asymptomatic or lying dormant. Regular testing also gives you an opportunity to find and treat an infection as quickly as possible, so you can prevent its further spread and avoid potential health complications.
Pure OBGYN offers in-office testing and treatment for a complete range of STDs, including:
- Chlamydia
- Gonorrhea
- Herpes
- Syphilis
- HPV (low-risk and high-risk)
- Hepatitis B and C
- Trichomoniasis
- PID (pelvic inflammatory disease)
- HIV/AIDS
After going over your medical history and performing a pelvic exam, your doctor can recommend which screening tests you should have, and how often you should be tested.
What are the most common STDs?
STDs are bacterial, viral, or parasitic infections contracted through sexual contact. Although any sexually active person is at risk of sexual infection, approximately half of all new STD diagnoses affect adolescents and young adults. The most common STDs are:
Chlamydia and gonorrhea
As the most frequently diagnosed STDs, chlamydia and gonorrhea may first present like a mild urinary tract infection. Left untreated, they can lead to chronic pelvic pain, ectopic pregnancies, and infertility.
Syphilis
This STD usually causes painless sores called chancres on your feet, hands, or genitals. You may also experience flu-like symptoms. Left untreated, syphilis can lead to serious health problems, including nerve damage.
Genital herpes
An estimated one in six adults has genital herpes, which is caused by the herpes simplex virus and usually causes painful sores around your genitals. Because not everyone who gets herpes has noticeable sores, however, it’s possible to carry and transmit this STD unknowingly.
Why should I be tested for HPV?
HPV, or human papillomavirus, is an exceedingly common sexually transmitted infection. It’s so widespread, in fact, that experts believe most people are infected with HPV shortly after they become sexually active.
Many people with HPV are unaware they’re infected because they don’t have symptoms. If you test positive for HPV, you’ll be told which type you have.
Low-risk HPV can cause genital warts, or small contagious bumps, on or around your vagina. High-risk HPV can escalate your risk of developing cervical, vulvar, or vaginal cancer; it may also increase your risk of developing throat or anal cancer.
To schedule your next STD screening, call your nearest Pure OBGYN office today or book an appointment online at any time.
