According to reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are 20 million new STD cases every year. Infections are known to extend for some time and in most cases, the infected person does not realize they have the STD until severe symptoms start showing up. This is why it is important to get tested regularly especially if you are at risk of infection. An STD home test kit is a great way to test for different STDs without the stigma or embarrassment that comes with this process.
HPV or human papillomavirus is a sexually transmitted virus that leads to chronic infections and warts. If left untreated, there are strains that cause cancer. HPV home test kits will help you find out if you have HPV and the strain you have.
Hepatitis C is a disease that spreads through bodily fluid exchange. It affects the liver and is a leading cause of liver cancer. The disease is known to exist in a human body without symptoms for years, which makes treatment difficult. A Hepatitis C home test will lead to early detection and better management.
HIV refers to a viral infection that targets the immune system in humans. The virus attacks the immune system cells and this leads to weak immunity. This means that the body cannot fight infections and diseases that it normally does without medication. Though HIV has no cure yet, it can be managed to a point of being undetectable. Testing is the only way to know if you have HIV especially because the infection has no symptoms in its early stages. Early detection prevents the advancing of HIV to AIDS which is more difficult to manage.
Chlamydia is a bacterial infection that is sexually transmitted. It rarely shows any symptoms which is why it is important to have routine tests. It is a common infection and if left untreated, can cause serious health problems.
Gonorrhea is a bacterial infection that is sexually transmitted and carries serious health issues when not treated for a long time. Some of the health problems caused by gonorrhea include pelvic inflammatory disease.
Trichomoniasis is a parasitic infection that rarely shows symptoms. The infection has symptoms in only 30% of infected people. For this reason, it is important to get tested regularly if you are at risk of infection.
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection that causes fever, rashes, and sores. This infection can be dangerous to pregnant women since it can be fatal for unborn babies. If you suspect you were exposed to syphilis, getting a test at home is a good idea.
Herpes is a viral infection resulting from two main herpes strains – herpes simplex virus 1 and herpes simplex virus 2. The infection is mostly referred to as oral or genital herpes depending on the part affected. The main symptoms are sore on the lips, mouth or genital area and anus. Herpes has no cure but the available treatment is effective in reducing or eliminating the annoying symptoms. An at-home genital herpes test will help you find out if you have the virus or not.
There are a couple of reasons why you should test for sexually transmitted diseases. The following are some of these reasons:
The ultimate goal in health is to have a healthy mind, body, and sex life. To protect your general health, you might want to get tested for STDs. When some STDs are left untreated, they can lead to complications. These complications can include certain cancers, reproductive health issues, and infertility.
If you know you are infected, you can get into a treatment plan immediately. Just like it is with many other illnesses, an early diagnosis means that the STD will be managed better. When the STD is untreated for long periods, things will get complicated and reversing the damage it causes will be almost impossible.
There are many STDs that go unnoticed for long periods. It is not easy to tell if someone has an STD by just simply looking at them. For instance, a person how has HIV will not show any symptoms for a couple of years. The best way to be sure is to get tested to allow early detection in case you are infected.
The only way to know if you have an STD or not is to get tested. If you suspect you might be infected and are embarrassed or too busy to go to a test clinic, an at-home STD test kit is your best option. The kit allows you to collect a sample at home where you have privacy.
When you decide to use the at-home STD test kit, you will not have to visit a clinic or your doctor’s office. The sample collection kits arrive through the mail which means receiving it will not affect your daily schedules.
Most people would be embarrassed to walk into a clinic and discuss their STD status. Others want to avoid the stigma attached to STD testing processes. The test kits allow anyone to collect samples in the comfort of their home without the involvement of a second party.
Research shows that home test kits are highly accurate with a sensitivity of 98% to 99% and a specificity of 95% to 98%.
Fortunately, the home testing process is straightforward. Once you place the order, you will have your test kit within a short period (between 1 and 5 business day depending on where you are). The test kits, depending on the STD you are testing for will either be a urine collection kit, vaginal swab, or a pin-prick blood sample collection kit. Once you are done, you just need to send the sample to the lab using a prepaid postage box included in the package. Within a period of about 5 business days, you will receive an email informing you that you can view your test results online.