Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) aren’t usually talked about and often carry a negative stigma in our culture. The truth is they are incredibly common — affecting more than 20 million people each year. STDs can bring symptoms, like painful urination, but sometimes they have no symptoms at all.
Nexclin Medicine, located in Roswell, Georgia, provides confidential STD testing for men and women. Whether you’ve been with a new partner or are experiencing some health changes, STD testing is a safe and simple way to keep your health in check.
The germs that cause STDs are found in semen, vaginal discharge, saliva, and blood. Over 30 different types of bacteria, viruses, and parasites can be spread through sex. Eight of the 30 pathogens are considered the most common STDs, but only four are curable — syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis.
STDs can occur after oral, vaginal, or anal intercourse. Whether you’re married or single, you can still get an STD. Thinking your partner doesn’t have an STD doesn’t guarantee they don’t, and you need to take an STD test to know for sure.
One of the most common signs of an STD is painful urination. If you’re noticing discomfort while you go to the bathroom, you should also make note of the color of your urine and if any blood is present.
Some STDs that may bring painful urination include:
Painful urination may also occur as a result of kidney stones or a urinary tract infection, so you need to get tested to be certain of the cause.
You might be living with an STD and have no idea. That’s because many STDs have no symptoms, but they can still do damage to your body if left untreated. Even if you don’t have any symptoms, it’s still important to undergo routine STD tests to help prevent you from passing a disease to a partner.
You might feel ashamed to need to get an STD test, but staying up-to-date with your sexual health is one of the best decisions you can make. We offer a non-judgment environment and are here to answer any questions or concerns you may have.
If you’ve had a Pap smear or gynecological check-up, that doesn’t mean you were screened for STDs. In many cases, you must request an STD test to get one. The type of STD test you undergo may rely on the symptoms you’re experiencing. Here are some of the most common types of STD tests and what diseases they can identify.
These tests are performed with a sterile Q-tip and are generally taken from the cervix, vagina, penis or anus. STDs like gonorrhea and chlamydia are identified with a genital swab test.
For a blood test, a phlebotomist takes a sample of blood from your arm and sends it to a lab for analysis. Diseases like HIV, syphilis, and genital herpes require a blood test.
This type of test requires urinating in a cup that’s then sent to a lab to identify any present STDs. This type of test is often used to check for gonorrhea and chlamydia in male patients.
The only way to know if you have an STD for sure is by getting tested. Schedule a safe and reliable STD test with us today by calling 770-558-2873 or by booking online.
