Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are highly contagious for sexually active people. But testing STDs is uneasy because of shy or faulty feeling, so many people with STDs often ignore it. To make the process of testing STDs easier, you can test STDs at home. But if you want to self-diagnose, there’re three necessary things for testing STDs at home you should notice.
STDs sometimes don’t show up any symptoms, so it’s hard for people to know they have been infected with STDs or not. But if you experience abnormal symptoms in the genitals after having unprotected sex, an STD may come to your mind. What happens if you’re too shy and scared to see a doctor? Can you self-diagnose your STDs at home? The answer is “possible”. You can be able to diagnose your STDs at home based on the symptoms you have.
However, self-diagnosis at home can give a false result that leads to improper treatment. Thus, you should talk to your doctor after testing STDs at home. The doctor may examine and do some tests to give an accurate diagnosis. Then, proper treatment is prescribed for you.
Related: Top 10 Important Things About Sexual Health Your Gynaecologist Hope You Know
Get STD tests at home
If you are shy to go to the doctor’s office for testing STDs, you can self-diagnose at home. But there’re necessary things for testing STDs at home you should know, including
For testing STDs at home, a home STD test kit is necessary as it allows you to collect a sample for yourself and then send to the lab to test. The home STD test kit is available for many common STDs, like chlamydia, gonorrhea, and HIV. You can order a test for one specific STD or a test for many STDs at the same time.
After ordering an STD test kid at home, you should follow the instruction carefully and send the sample as soon as possible. You will gather a sample from yourself by using the kit. This may include a urine sample, a swab from the gums, or taking a blood prick sample.
If you receive a positive test result, you should go to your doctor’s office to confirm the diagnosis. Then, you can ask your doctor about treatment options.
Related: Why You Should Let Your Doctor Know About Your Sexual Health
A home STD test kit is necessary for testing STDs at home
Although many STDs don’t present symptoms, you may still have an STD. One day, if you notice any abnormal symptoms, you should check for what STD you get, including
For genital warts
Check if you have symptoms of genital warts– an STD caused by HPV
Related: Can You Accurately Test Yourself for Genital Warts?
For Chlamydia
Chlamydia mostly doesn’t show up symptoms. But the following symptoms may indicate this STD
For Gonorrhea
You may get gonorrhea if you experience
For Trichomoniasis
You can contract trichomoniasis when you see
A home STD test kit for gonorrhea
For HIV
This STD will worsen your immune system, consult with your doctor if you feel
For genital herpes
Genital herpes is a highly contagious STD that cause
If you have symptoms of an STD, take a look back your risks of that STD. You should
Assess the risk of your sexual behaviors if you get an STD
It’s always the best idea to see your doctor if you recognize symptoms of an STD. Although you can self-diagnose at home, it may be not correct. Thus, it’s better to see your doctor for an accurate result. Your doctor will examine your symptoms and do some tests to diagnose your STDs. Then, the doctor will prescribe proper treatment for you.
For example, your doctor can prescribe antibiotics to treat gonorrhea or chlamydia. But for genital herpes or genital warts, there’s no cure for both STDs completely. The doctor may give antiviral medications, topical creams, or alternatives therapy to treat. If you’re positive with genital warts, some topical creams, like Imiquimod, Vidarox can help. Laser or surgery therapy will also be used to remove large genital warts.
Every sexually active person has an equal chance of contracting STDs. If you doubt about your STD, you can prepare some necessary things for testing STD at home. However, it’s always recommended to see your doctor for an accurate diagnosis and receive proper treatment.
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