STD Testing

What is STD testing?

STDs are diseases contracted through sexual contact. Some are curable and go away after taking medications, while others are not, but you can manage them by taking certain medicines. Examples of STDs include:

• Gonorrhea
• Hepatitis A, B, and C
• Chlamydia
• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
• Human papillomavirus (HPV)
• Genital herpes
• Trichomoniasis
• Syphilis 

STD testing typically involves blood tests, urine testing, or swabs that detect or rule out the presence of sexual-related diseases. 

What are the symptoms of STDs?

STDs can cause:

• Burning or painful urination
• Sores or bumps on rectal, oral, or genital areas
• Pain during sex
• Unusual vaginal bleeding
• Unusual vaginal or penile discharge
• Fevers
• Lower abdominal pain
• Rashes
• Sore or swollen lymph nodes, often in the groin area

These or other symptoms might appear several days after exposure to an STD, but it sometimes takes years before noticeable symptoms show up. 

Who needs STD testing?

Anyone at risk of contracting an STD is a candidate for STD testing. You can get an STD by having unprotected sex with an infected person. STDs spread via oral, vaginal, and anal sex. Even when using a condom, STDs sometimes still spread if a condom breaks or isn’t applied properly.

STD risk factors include having more than one sexual partner, being a sexually active young adult, and having sex with someone with more than one partner. 

Avoiding sex altogether or only having sex with one mutually monogamous partner lessens your risk of contracting STDs. Using a condom can also help.

To determine which STD testing you may be a candidate for, the Denver Medical Concierges team discusses your symptoms, lifestyle, risk factors, and medical history. 

What happens during STD testing?

STD evaluations are virtual, but STD testing takes place at a lab or from the comfort of your home via mobile services. Your provider might need to analyze lab results from a blood sample, urine sample, or tissue swab from your genital, oral, or anal area. They review the lab results with you as soon as they’re available.

What should I expect after STD testing?

After STD testing, your provider discusses potential treatment options. If you have an STD, you might take medications to cure a disease or better manage a non-curable STD. Your partner must be notified and should undergo testing and treatment, too. 

In some cases, you take medications for the rest of your life to minimize symptoms and the risk of spreading a non-curable STD to other people.

Schedule STD testing at Denver Medical Concierges by calling the office or using the online booking feature today.