There are a couple of different STD tests out there, but you may wonder about the accuracy of STD testing. We can help you get answers.
STD tests are accurate when performed correctly and can be performed at your local medical clinic, doctor’s office, or pregnancy clinic. Though at-home testing is an option, accuracy rates vary for this method.
Possible STD Symptoms
Do you think you may have an STD? A sexually transmitted disease or infection can spread through sexual contact or bodily fluids like semen or blood. The chance of contracting an STD increases when you have multiple partners, don’t practice safer sexual practices, and more.
Some STDs are symptomatic, and some are not. It’s vital that if you do have symptoms, you get tested right away. The following may indicate a possible infection:
- Fever
- Lower abdominal pain
- Painful, burning urination
- Unusual or odorous vaginal discharge
- Pain during sexual intercourse
- Sore, swollen lymph nodes
- Unusual vaginal bleeding
Don’t Delay Getting Tested
Not undergoing regular testing poses serious risks to yourself and your partner. And if you’re pregnant, an STD can be passed to your baby during pregnancy or childbirth. Pregnancy does not protect you against contracting one.
Untreated STDs in pregnant women can cause complications like miscarriage and premature birth. Other complications may not be discovered months or even years into the future.
You could experience the following complications from an untreated STD:
- Arthritis
- Heart disease
- Eye inflammation
- Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
- Infertility
- Certain cancers
A Free STD Test
You are not alone as you navigate this difficult time. We at North Care Women’s Clinic provide free testing and treatment for the following STIs/STDs:
- Chlamydia (for both men & women)
- Gonorrhea (for both men & women through a urine test & oral swabs)
- Trichomoniasis (for women)
- Bacterial vaginosis (for women)
Contact us to schedule your free appointment. A nurse will do a health assessment to determine which tests to offer.
“STD testing: What’s right for you?” Mayo Clinic, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sexually-transmitted-diseases-stds/in-depth/std-testing/art-20046019.
“Screening for Chlamydial and Gonococcal Infections.” JAMA Network, https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2784137.
“Home STD Tests are Convenient, but There are Drawbacks.” UAB Medicine, https://www.uabmedicine.org/news/home-std-tests-are-convenient-but-there-are-drawbacks/.
“Sexually transmitted infections, pregnancy, and breastfeeding.” National Institutes of Health, https://orwh.od.nih.gov/research/maternal-morbidity-and-mortality/information-for-women/sexually-transmitted-infections#:~:text=Some%20STIs%2C%20such%20as%20syphilis,passes%20through%20the%20birth%20canal.
