STD Testing And Treatment

What are sexually transmitted diseases?

STDs, or sexually transmitted diseases, are diseases or infections spread through sexual activity. You can contract an STD through vaginal, anal, or oral sex and even genital skin-to-skin contact in some cases.  Examples of common STDs include:

• Chlamydia
• Human papillomavirus (HPV)
• Herpes
• Trichomoniasis
• Gonorrhea
• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
• Hepatitis A, B, and C
• Syphilis

Some STDs cause symptoms while others do not, but if left untreated, unpleasant or dangerous complications can arise. That’s why routine STD screening tests are important if you’re sexually active.

What are the symptoms of STDs?

If you have an STD you may or may not have symptoms. If you do, you might notice:

• Abnormal vaginal discharge
• Painful urination
• Pelvic pain
• Abnormal vaginal bleeding
• Pain with intercourse
• Genital warts
• Open genital sores
• A strong vaginal odor
• Vaginal itching
• Sore or swollen lymph nodes

If you contract HIV you might initially experience a headache, fever, sore throat, rash, or fatigue. If left untreated, complications associated with some STDs can lead to cervical and other cancers or liver problems.

What are STD screening tests?

If you suspect you have an STD or would like routine STD test, the OB/GYN physicians at Dr. DeLeon's Woman's Health Care can help. Your STD test might include:

• Blood tests
• Urine tests
• Cervical swabs
• Genital swabs
• A swab from genital sores
• At-home STD testing

If you test positive for an STD using at-home testing kits, the next step is further testing with your OB/GYN doctor and treatment if necessary. Your provider checks your cervix for abnormal cells or cancer during a pap test by taking a sample of cervical cells and sending it to a lab.

How are STDs treated?

Getting treated for an STD helps prevent complications from the disease, which might include pregnancy complications and cancer. The STD treatment that’s right for you depends on which STD you have and the severity of it. Your practitioner may recommend:

• Antibiotics for STDs caused by parasites or bacteria
• Antiviral medications to reduce symptoms associated with viral STDs
• Removing genital warts
• Treatment for complications associated with STDs
• Removing precancerous or cancerous cervical tissue

To lower your risk of contracting an STD, ask your doctor about the HPV vaccine, avoid sexual activity altogether, only have sex with one monogamous partner, or wear condoms during sexual intercourse.

To schedule an STD test, call Dr. DeLeon’s Woman’s Health Care today.