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Every woman who is sexually active should get tested regularly for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Even if you don’t have any symptoms, a routine STD test by your gynecologist can be extremely helpful for a number of reasons. Many STDs and STDs have no obvious symptoms at first.
HIV, hepatitis and syphilis
An HIV test should be part of the annual gynecological examination, especially between the ages of 13 and 64. Annual testing for HIV should be done if you are sexually active or have had multiple sexual partners. You may need to specifically ask for an HIV test if you are not sure if your doctor has it so test run automatically or not. An HIV test requires a blood test.
Screening for hepatitis C should also be requested during your annual doctor’s visit, especially if you were born between 1945 and 1965, as rates of hepatitis C continue to be higher in this age group. Hepatitis C often shows no symptoms until it reaches an advanced stage. You can also get vaccinated against hepatitis A and B if you are screened and do not have these viruses. A soatest woman on hepatitis C requires a blood test.
Chlamydia and gonorrhea
If you are a sexually active woman, you should get screened for chlamydia and gonorrhea at least once a year. Other criteria for an annual test for these 2 STIs are:
- If you are a woman over 25 having sex with a new partner (or more than one partner).
- If you are a woman with HIV.
- If you are forced to have sex against your will.
The test for gonorrhea and chlamydia is done through a simple urine test or cervical smear. Once the sample is taken, it is sent to a laboratory for analysis. You can have chlamydia or gonorrhea without any symptoms, so testing remains essential for early detection.
Genital herpes
There are currently no tests for genital herpes. Unfortunately, this disease can be passed from person to person without symptoms. However, your doctor may take a tissue scraping from sores in the genital area to test it. Blood tests are also available, but in many cases they do not give accurate results.
Can you detect STDs at home?
Yes, you can test yourself for certain STDs with home test kits. Some women prefer an STD test at home because they can get tested at home. Home STD testing for women can be done at any time, without a doctor’s appointment.
Keep in mind, however, that home STD tests have a fairly high false positive rate. In addition, these tests often do not screen for all types of STIs a woman can contract.
HIV, gonorrhea, and chlamydia can be tested at home and sent to a laboratory for further analysis. If you really want to do an STD test at home, we strongly recommend that you send more than one sample to confirm the results of your test. If you test positive for an STD, you should see your obstetrician/gynecologist as soon as possible for further diagnosis and treatment. If you experience symptoms of an STD, see your doctor immediately.
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soapoli-online.nl - Original title:
Which STD tests should you take and how often? - Target audience:
Healthcare professionals, policy makers, informal carers, students - Datum:
2023-03-20