Female 1: More than half of sexually active Americans will get an STD at some point. For this reason, STD testing just make sense.
Female 2: Sexually Transmitted Diseases or STDs are bacteria, viruses, and parasites that are passed from one person to another through sexual acts. Most STDs can be treated or cured, but without treatment, can result to an illness or sterility. Before you begin having sex with someone new, it is important for each of you to see your doctor or testing clinic for STD screening. This protects you both and if necessary allows you to seek treatment for an STD. If you were your partner do not plan to be monogamous, you should be routinely screened for STDs. In addition, see your doctor immediately if you experience abnormal discharge form your penis or vagina, pain during sex or urination or growths on your genitals or anus. However, some STDs have minimal or no symptoms and this makes routine testing absolutely vital for sexually active people.
Most STDs can be diagnosed via blood, urine or cell samples. Most doctors will not test you for STDs if you do not specifically ask and not every doctor would test for every disease. That is why you need to initiate the STD talk with your doctor. Ask what he or she usually screens for an STD test. A comprehensive test includes HIV, herpes, syphilis, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, gonorrhea, and Chlamydia. Women can also request an HPV test. Keep in mind that the two most common STDs Herpes and HPV are the two which doctors test for with least frequency.
Most insurance plans would cover STD testing but it is also possible to obtain inexpensive or free tests from government funded and independent testing clinics. Blood test can screen for common STDs like HIV, the potentially deadly virus that causes AIDS, HSV, the virus that causes herpes, Hepatitis B a virus that inflames the liver and potentially deadly syphilis. Urine test are not always as accurate as blood test. They are however; a way to screen for diseases like HIV, Chlamydia. and gonorrhea.
A physical exam is another way in which the doctor can check for STDs. A cervical swab can test for gonorrhea, Chlamydia and the bacterial infection Trichomonas. A pap smear, which samples the cells of the cervix can test for HPV, which the virus that causes genital warts and cervical cancer in women. STDs can be scary, but many are treatable. Insure your safest, healthiest sex life by talking to a health care provider about prevention and regular comprehensive screening for STDs.
Female 1: Want to learn more check out other videos and sources on this site for more information.
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