Play It Safe-get Tested For An Std
At Virginia Medical Acute Care (VMAC), you can come in and be tested without an appointment
. The results will typically be given in three days, with only one visit and one fee needed to cover all lab work, a consultation and, when needed, antibiotics. Ultimately, it is your decision to get tested for a sexually transmitted disease (STD), but it is important to know what to look for and where to go for testing.
About Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are infectious diseases that spread from person to person through intimate contact. STDs can affect both men and women of all ages and backgrounds who are sexually active. Unfortunately, STDs have become increasingly common among teens. Since teens are more at risk for getting some STDs, it is important to learn what you can do to protect yourself.
One reason STDs spread is because people think they can only be infected if they have sexual intercourse. This assumption is incorrect because a person can still get an STD, such as herpes or genital warts, through skin-to-skin contact with the infected area or sore. STDs spread easily. In fact, some people don't even know that they have an STD, which poses a danger of passing an infection to their partners without even realizing it. Some factors that increase your chances of getting an STD are:
*Sexual activity at a young age
*Many sexual partners
*Unprotected sex
At your visit, an NP or MD will consult with you prior to testing. The cost is included in the fee and is required by Virginia prescription law should you need treatment. If you do need treatment, advice and direction will be given through a follow-up phone call only to the number you give us.
Basic STD Testing Guidelines
When official recommendations are made they are based on research statistics about sexual activity and infection rates. However, experts suggest that the best strategy is for individuals to educate themselves and then ask for tests based on their own sexual history and level of concern.
It is important to understand some basic guidelines on when you should get an STD test:
*If you are sexually active
The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends HIV tests for all sexually active adults and pregnant women. Urine tests are available now for chlamydia and gonorrhea, making testing easier than ever before.
*If you are under the age of 24
According to a 2006 CDC survey, young people between the ages of 15 and 24 represent just 25 percent of the sexually active population, but they also represent almost 50 percent of new STD cases that year.
*If you are a man of any sexual preference
Most doctors don't test men for STDs other than HIV unless they have symptoms. This is partly because women get more severe health problems from HPV and chlamydia, and also because until recently STD tests for men, have involved painful swabbing. Testing for HIV and syphilis is especially important if you are a man who has sex with a man because there are higher rates of both infections among the men you are likely to have as partners.
*If you are a woman of any sexual preference
In addition to getting tested for HIV, all women should get an annual Pap smear to make sure there are no potentially precancerous abnormalities in the cells of the cervix, possibly caused by HPV.
Please contact Virginia Medical Acute Care (VMAC) for more information about STD testing.
by: Gen Wright
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