It can be difficult or embarrassing to get tested for sexually transmitted diseases and infections (STIs and STIs, respectively); to facilitate the process, you can perform them at home. Nowadays, you can buy home kits online and send a sample to a lab for analysis. While these tests are not always completely reliable, there are some great options available; in addition, you can start paying attention to the symptoms of major diseases and assess if you are at risk.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Testing with a Home Kit
Step 1. Purchase an STD home kit
There is an increasing number of products available on the market that allow you to take a sample from the body and send it to a laboratory; you can find several for major STDs, such as gonorrhea, chlamydia and HIV. You can order one for a specific disease or choose a type that allows you to detect multiple STDs. Evaluate the different products offered by a company; However, keep in mind that these are not as reliable solutions as a visit to the doctor or an examination performed at a clinic.
- Get a kit online by doing some research. Consult various commercial sites for home tests and read various reviews. These kits always come with clear instructions for use and may contain a prepaid envelope for sending the sample.
- If you live in the United States, buy myLAB Box. The instructions of the kit and the commercial pages that offer it are in English (to date there is no Italian version), but it is a product that allows you to test diseases such as HIV, gonorrhea, chlamydia, trichomoniasis and other similar ailments. You can buy the product that analyzes the presence of a single disease or the complete one, for different types of STDs; order it online and it will be sent to your home by post. The company claims to be able to send the results within two to five days; if you test positive for the disease, the company can make a virtual appointment with a doctor to define a therapy.
- STDcheck.com is another similar site (this also operates only in the United States), which allows you to perform home tests for venereal diseases; seems to be the only one capable of providing that for hepatitis A.
- Use the OraQuick test (by ADVANCE®) for HIV. This kit is also available in Italy, it allows you to take a sample from the gums and obtain the result in twenty minutes; However, keep in mind that in the 3-6 months following the risky sexual intercourse, the test can still be negative.
Step 2. Test at home
Follow the instructions on the package carefully and remember to send the sample back as soon as possible to get the results faster. Some kits already contain a prepaid envelope to speed up the process; you need to get a sample from your body, which can be urine, blood, or a gum swab.
- MyLab Box can predict all three types of samples, which you can take in five minutes. If the test is positive, the company contacts you to find a doctor available for a phone appointment and can prescribe your medications without leaving the house.
- The OraQuick test involves rubbing a cotton swab on the gums and you can know the result after twenty minutes.
Step 3. Get tested
If you test positive for this type of "do-it-yourself" test, you will need to perform further tests at a clinic to confirm the diagnosis; also contact your doctor to find treatments for your specific case.
- Home tests have a high false positive rate.
- If the result is negative but you have unusual symptoms, you should go to the doctor for a visit.
Part 2 of 4: Identifying the Symptoms
Step 1. Understand that it can be difficult to spot symptoms
Many STIs are asymptomatic, but even if you don't complain of any ailments, you may still be affected. You should always use condoms and regularly get tested for STDs.
Step 2. Check for Chlamydia Symptoms
It is a common pathology, a bacterial infection of the genital tract; in the early stage, you may not notice any particular signs. After a few weeks of exposure, however, you start to have the following symptoms, some of which are sex-specific:
- Pain when urinating
- Pain in the lower abdomen;
- Vaginal discharge
- Secretions from the penis;
- Pain during sexual intercourse (if you are a woman)
- Bleeding between periods
- Pain in the testicles.
Step 3. Pay attention to the symptoms of gonorrhea
This is another bacterial infection that affects the anus, throat, mouth and eyes. Although symptoms may appear ten days after exposure to the bacterium, it is possible to have contracted the disease months before the obvious signs appear. When they emerge, they are usually (again, they can vary by gender):
- Thick, bloody, or cloudy secretions from the genitals
- Pain when urinating
- Bleeding between menstrual periods or heavy menstrual bleeding;
- Pain or swelling in the testicles
- Pain during defecation;
- Sore anus.
Step 4. Look for the symptoms of trichomoniasis
It is caused by a small single-celled protozoan, called Trichomonas, which can spread during sexual intercourse; in women it infects the vagina, while in men it affects the urinary tract. After a period ranging from 5 to 28 days, you may begin to experience some of the following symptoms:
- Vaginal discharge that is clear, white, yellowish, or greenish in appearance
- Secretions from the penis;
- Very strong vaginal odor;
- Vaginal itching or irritation
- Any kind of pain during sexual intercourse;
- Pain when urinating.
Step 5. Look for any symptoms of HIV infection
It is caused by the human immunodeficiency virus; Symptoms sometimes appear after 2-6 weeks and may look a bit like common flu-like illnesses; therefore, the only way to get a certain diagnosis is to get tested. If you experience the symptoms described below, you should definitely see your doctor for tests:
- Fever;
- Headache;
- Sore throat;
- Swelling of the lymph glands
- Skin rashes;
- Feeling tired
- Other more serious signs are diarrhea, weight loss, fever, cough, and swollen lymph nodes;
- In the advanced stage of the disease you may notice persistent fatigue, night sweats, chills, chronic diarrhea, severe headache and strange infections.
Part 3 of 4: Assessing if You Are at Risk
Step 1. Check the risk level of your current sexual behavior
If you currently have unprotected sex, engage in intimate relationships with multiple partners, or have a past history of STIs, you are more exposed. If you are concerned about having STD, you need to get tested and, if necessary, undergo appropriate treatments.
Make sure you follow all treatment and make a full recovery before having sex with anyone again
Step 2. Know the odds of getting sick
Young people, between the ages of 15 and 24, are at greater risk, although they are not very aware of it.
Step 3. Make an overall assessment of recreational drug use
If you are injecting yourself with psychotropic drugs or sharing needles, you are more likely to contract HIV, hepatitis B and C.
According to research findings, two out of five people who contracted needle disease were completely unaware that they were sick
Step 4. Assess if alcohol intake affects your judgment
Drinking can have a major impact on behavior and common sense, putting you at greater risk of contracting some STIs. If alcohol seems to be affecting your mental clarity and you feel you are losing control, you should consider cutting back on alcohol.
If you have alcohol problems, you can turn to support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous
Part 4 of 4: When to See Your Doctor
Step 1. See your doctor if the tests are positive
Your doctor will perform a further examination to confirm the diagnosis. He will take a sterile sample to make sure the test is done properly. After the tests, discuss the results with your doctor.
You may have the opportunity to do the tests for free at a local counseling center
Advise:
home kits for STDs can produce false positives, so you may not have anything. However, you should still see your doctor so you can be sure.
Step 2. Get a prescription for treatment
If the results are positive, you will need to treat the infection. Many of the sexually transmitted diseases are treatable, but those like HIV and herpes will need lifelong treatment. Consult your doctor about the treatment you need, then follow drug therapy as directed.
- They are likely to be drugs to be taken by mouth, but it could also be an ointment;
- If you have any questions regarding your treatment, talk to your doctor;
- Do not panic if you have such a disease. The treatment will help you heal or otherwise live a normal life.
Step 3. See your doctor if you have symptoms of STD, but the tests show negative results
Sometimes a test produces false negatives, so it's best to see your doctor if you have symptoms. The doctor will perform different tests under sterile conditions to come up with a more accurate diagnosis.
Discuss your concerns with your doctor. Even if the results are negative, you may be suffering from some other type of disorder
Step 4. Take a test annually if you have sex with multiple people
If you are a person at risk for STDs, it is advisable to undergo tests often. Take at least one test a year to make sure you are healthy. If you notice symptoms, do it sooner as well.
