Few people go to their doctor to take an STD test. Most are embarrassed to talk to anyone about it. Some are clueless as to how they may get help. Using an STD test kit can be a great solution since they can get one online and keep their privacy. These come with complete tools and instructions. Below are a few basic information that you might like to know before you proceed:
Sample Collection
There are different types of tests for various kinds of diseases. Some of them will require a sample of your blood or your urine. Others will need vaginal or penile swabs. A few will only call for easy cheek swabs. The kits will have everything that you will need to collect these samples and seal them to prevent contamination. Most will have to be sent to a lab for testing while others could provide results within minutes. If you are not sure about what STD you’re dealing with, then you can order full-panel kits that can test for several of them.
Antibody Detection
When they samples get to the labs, technicians check for the presence of antibodies that show the immune system response to infections. The antibodies will appear within a certain timeframe after infection. That’s why there is an optimal period before people should take the tests for greater accuracy. This is to prevent false negatives and ensure thorough testing. For example, gonorrhea antibodies can appear within days while HIV antibodies make take months. If you tested to HIV right away, then you may get a negative result because you did not wait long enough. Note that people can respond differently to these pathogens.
Common Signs
One of the most common signs of STD is itching around the genital area. Just remember that other conditions that don’t have anything to do with STDs can have the same symptom including urinary tract infections. That’s why you should get tested to be sure. Other signs include pain while urinating and sores around the genitals.
Risk of STDs
Every sexually active person is at risk of getting infected. However, some have a higher risk than others. Having multiple partners and getting involved with people who have multiple sexual partners increases the probability. Using condoms and engaging in sex only within a monogamous relationship can lower the risk. Still, it’s a good idea to use an STD test kit for regular checks.
