Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are a major public health problem affecting about 20 million people every year in the United States. STD testing is the only way to know if you have an infection. The team at Family Medicine Associates, PC, takes a proactive approach to health and wellness and offers STD testing at their office in Thornton, Colorado. Call or schedule your STD testing online today.
STDs are bacterial, viral, or parasitic infections that get passed from person-to-person through sexual contact, most often through vaginal, anal, and oral sex. However, some STDs — herpes and human papillomavirus (HPV) — spread through intimate skin-to-skin contact.
Some of the more common STDs include:
When left undiagnosed and untreated, STDs can lead to other health problems like infertility and cancer. Women are especially vulnerable to long-term health complications from untreated STDs.
If you’re sexually active, you need to talk to your health care provider at Family Medicine Associates, PC, about STD testing. You can have an STD and not know it because not all STDs cause symptoms.
The team recommends STD testing for:
They also recommend STD testing if you have any STD symptoms, such as genital discomfort, unusual genital discharge, or pain during sex.
The team at Family Medicine Associates, PC, spends time talking to you about your sexual health and history when you come in for STD testing. They may also perform a physical exam to look for signs of STDs.
The type of STD testing the team performs depends on the infections they want to test for. Testing may include blood work, urinalysis, or a saliva test.
After STD testing at Family Medicine Associates, PC, the team tells you when you can expect results. Some tests give results right away, while others may take several days.
Once the team has the results of your STD testing, they talk to you about the findings. If you test positive for an STD, the team provides the appropriate treatment.
They prescribe antibiotics to clear up bacterial and parasitic infections. There are no cures for viral STDs like herpes and HIV, but the team prescribes medication to manage symptoms.
The team also spends time talking to you about safe sex practices.
STDs are more common than you might think. Call Family Medicine Associates, PC, or schedule your STD testing online today.