Sexually Transmitted Disease Testing

STIs (also known as STDs) are infections that are primarily acquired through sexual contact with another person. The most common STIs include gonorrhea, chlamydia, trichomoniasis, HIV, syphilis, HPV (human papillomavirus), HSV (herpes simplex virus), and hepatitis.

Having unprotected (without a condom) vaginal, oral, or anal sex with someone who has an infection can cause an STI.  It is possible to get some STIs, such as syphilis and herpes, without having sex such as during touching or transmitted from a pregnant/breastfeeding woman to her baby.

Many STIs have mild symptoms, or none at all.   Symptoms can often be mistaken for other conditions, such as urinary tract infections or yeast infections.  That’s why getting tested is important to determine if there is any infection present.

There are several places where you can be tested for STIs and Alliance Obstetrics & Gynecology Group is one of those locations!  Some ways to get tested for STIs include:

• Pelvic exam.  Your doctor looks for signs of infection, such as warts, rashes, or discharge.
• Blood test.  A nurse draws some blood to be tested in a laboratory.
• Urine test. You urinate into a cup and this is sent to the laboratory for testing.
• Fluid sample.  Your doctor uses a cotton swab to take fluid or discharge from an infected place on your body. T he fluid is looked at under a microscope or sent to a laboratory for testing.

Sometimes.  Pap smear testing is mainly used to look for cell changes on your cervix that could be cancer or precancer.  However, your doctor may test you for HPV in addition to doing the Pap test if you are older than 30.  Also, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and trichomoniasis can often be tested with your pap.  At Alliance Obstetrics & Gynecology group, we always ask if you want to be tested at your annual well woman exam, so don’t worry!

For some STIs, treatment may involve taking medicine by mouth or getting a shot.  For other STIs that can't be cured, like HIV and HSV, medicines can help reduce the symptoms or prevent you from becoming sick.

Yes.  Each STI causes different health problems. Some STIs have been known to cause:

• infertility
• health problems for an unborn baby
• organ damage
• cancer
• death

The only way to completely prevent STIs is abstinence. If you do have sex, you can lower your risk of getting an STI with the following steps:

• Get tested.  Be sure you and your partner are tested for STIs.  Talk to each other about the test results before you have sex.
• Use condoms. Condoms are the best way to prevent STIs. Because a man does not need to ejaculate to give or get some STIs, make sure to put the condom on before the penis touches the vagina, mouth, or anus. It is important to remember that other methods of birth control, like birth control pills, shots, implants, or diaphragms, will not protect you from STIs.
• Get vaccinated. There are vaccines to protect against HPV and hepatitis B.
• Be monogamous. Having sex with just one partner can lower your risk for STIs. 
• Limit sex partners. Your risk of getting STIs goes up with the number of partners you have.
• Do not douche. Douching removes some of the normal bacteria in the vagina that protects you from infection.  This may increase your risk of getting STIs.
• Do not abuse alcohol or drugs. Drinking too much alcohol or using drugs increases risky behavior and may put you at risk of sexual assault and possible exposure to STIs.

Which tests you will need and how often you need to get them will depend on you and your partner's sexual history. The providers at Alliance Obstetrics & Gynecology group recommend STI testing with each new sexual partner, or once per year, whichever is more frequent. If you are sexually active, our number one goal is to keep you safe. Our office is a judgement free zone! 

Maybe.  If the tests show that you have an STI, your doctor will recommend that your partner get tested. The STI may have spread to you or your partner from a former sex partner.  This is why it is important to get tested after each new partner.   If your partner does not have a doctor, the providers at Alliance Obstetrics & Gynecology Group may offer testing and treatment to them as well.  

To optimize your health and well-being, schedule your appointment for STD screening with us at Alliance Obstetrics & Gynecology and The Center for Pediatric & Adolescent Gynecology.