Sexual Healing - Why an STD Test Is So Important

Accurate, Discreet, and Fast. Local & At Home Options. Test Now! Call 888-647-3625. There's no denying that sex is a large part of many of our lives. Some groups and institutions may fight against this, proclaiming their morality above all others, yet the fact remains: people have sex. It is the strongest urge in humankind beside self preservation. With sex comes the possibility of becoming infected with an STD. Because of this risk many people decide to undergo a test or two to discover their status. This is responsible behavior and must be commended. The commendation derives not only the protection of one's own health, but the health of society in general. When one undergoes an STD test and discovers their status, society is healthier. If the results of a person's STD test shows that the individual is infected with one of any STD, that person will more often than not seek treatment for their illness. For a large number of STDs, treatment means recovery, and recovery means that no one else will become infected from that particular path of the disease. Every one person who undergoes a test and seeks treatment means that a large number of their partner's partners' partners will remain disease free! Anyone living in a medically advanced society and engages in sexual activity should take full advantage of all the benefits their society affords. These benefits include birth control-including condoms and the Pill-and the STD test. By remaining vigilant to the dangers of sexual activity, one proves to the aspects of society that may take umbrage at what it is that "gets you off" that you are an adult and are responsible for your own personal choices. It is a weak stitch in the fabric of society that would dictate their morality to others who act responsibly and do everything in their power to heed to caution. For all that enjoy healthy sex lives, whether they are straight, gay or bisexual, engaging in responsible behavior (including the STD testing when necessary) proves to those who think differently that they should, quite frankly, mind their own damn business. There are over twenty five separate diseases that can be categorized as an STD and all of these diseases have a test to diagnose them. The common STD is a huge problem in this country as they are everywhere else on Earth. One of the main problems with detecting an STD without its proper test being administered is the fact that many of these diseases show no symptoms. Fortunately most STDs do come with symptoms. When symptoms arrive a person should immediately head to the nearest certified STD clinic to receive a test-or a battery of them. The following is a list of some common STD symptoms. Remember, if you or a loved has had or are currently showing signs of any of the following, it is time to receive a test to properly diagnose your status. Common STD Symptoms Dark and/or bad-smelling urine Healthy urine is not dark and has a distinct odor. We all know what our urine should smell like. If your urine is dark and smells differently than what you think it should-it is time for a test. Secretions from genitals Obviously not all secretions from our genitals are a cause for concern. Once again, common sense needs to be applied. If you have any secretions that do not look normal to you-and if it is discolored (green or yellow)-it is time for a test. Pain while urinating Urination should be pleasurable in the sense of receiving relief from a full bladder. When urination becomes painful it is a sure sign of an STD-and it's time for a test. Blisters, warts or sores Another very obvious sign that there is trouble down below. Healthy genitals do not show any sign of sores, scabbing or blistering. These can be the symptoms of herpes or genital warts (HPV)-and it's time for a test. Accurate, Discreet, and Fast. Local & At Home Options. Test Now! Call 888-647-3625. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6800275

Condoms and STD Safety

Accurate, Discreet, and Fast. Local & At Home Options. Test Now! Call 888-647-3625. Minimize Your Risk For STDs With Proper Condom Use You may not realize it, but a condom could actually preserve your life. Statistics show that Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) are a widespread problem throughout the world. In the United States alone, approximately 12 million people are affected by STDs yearly. The cold hard facts are that there are serious problems caused by STDs, and anyone who is sexually active or who plans to be sexually active needs to understand about things such as the use of condoms and STD safety. There are many health problems associated with STDs that people may not know about. For instance, women may develop cervical cancer as an effect of an STD. The ability for a woman to get pregnant may also be diminished or lost altogether because sterility is often caused by STDs. If a woman with an STD does get pregnant, tubal pregnancies are common, and these have been known to be fatal to the unborn child and to the pregnant woman. Babies born to infected women may have severe damage or even die because of effects of these diseases. The brain, kidneys, and heart may be damaged in a person who has an STD. STDs such as the HIV virus can cause death to the infected individuals. STDs are very serious and should be taken seriously by everyone. The surest way to not contract an STD is abstinence, but for many people, that is not a choice they prefer. Having a monogamous relationship where the couple has no other partners and they do not have an STD is another way to prevent the problem. While condom use is not 100% safe, it can greatly reduce the risk of becoming infected by an STD, including the AIDS virus. Condoms and STD safety go hand in hand. While condoms are also used as a method of birth control, other methods of birth control such as the pill are not effective in reducing the risk of STDs. This is because a condom presents a physical barrier to the transfer of bodily fluids from one person to another. These bodily fluids can carry the germs that transmit STDs, and without the barrier of a condom, can easily pass from one partner to the other. Even if your partner appears to be healthy, if they have been intimate with infected people or have shared needles with a person who was infected with an STD they could still be a carrier. If you are not 100% sure of your partner, you should use condoms. While no condoms are 100% effective, those designed to help prevent disease can greatly reduce the risk of passing along this type of infection. Accurate, Discreet, and Fast. Local & At Home Options. Test Now! Call 888-647-3625. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6805590

Celebrate STD Awareness Month by Getting Tested

Accurate, Discreet, and Fast. Local & At Home Options. Test Now! Call 888-647-3625. Created by Congressional resolution in 2009, STD Awareness Month serves as a campaign to bring awareness to the continued fight against STDs, or sexually transmitted diseases, which, in some areas, are still on the rise. Not only are some STDs on the rise, but they are on the rise among young people. Those in the age group 15-24 account for nearly half of all newly reported cases of STDs. And really, there is no reason for this continued increase in STD infection. Safe sex practices are widely known and STD testing is easier than ever. If you're reading this and are sexually active, do yourself-and others-a favor by making a commitment to practice safe sex and get tested for STDs. Condoms provide the best protection against STD infection and are widely available at a reasonable cost. Yes, they might be just outside the budget of an average working teen, but that teen doesn't need to give up much to buy a condom. One latte alone will pay for 2-3 condoms. One fast food meal will pay for a box of six. Testing may be a little more difficult, but is imperative not only for the health of the infected person who, after testing positive, will be able to receive much-needed treatment, but for the community as a whole. An infected person will hopefully seek treatment, and there are cures for some STDs like chlamydia and syphilis, and be more self-conscious about practicing safe sex. The Centers for Disease Control recommends annual testing for all sexually active individuals or those who have recently, or are considering, a new sexual partner. Where to get tested is an issue for some. A family doctor would be the best option, especially for those who are insured and have a good relationship with their doctor. Family doctors know you and your health history and will be able to prescribe a course of treatment if you test positive. However, some are hesitant to seek testing from their doctor for STD testing, especially if they want to keep their sexual activity from a parent, or a spouse. Clinics such as Planned Parenthood or city-run clinics provide another option. While inexpensive, they are typically not conveniently located for most youth, especially suburban youth. Other clinics can be found in the phone book or on-line. Another option for STD testing is a confidential testing service. Some of these services arrange for testing at a local lab and others will send you an in-home test kit. Some of these in-home test kits provide immediate results, like a pregnancy test, while others, especially those that test for HIV, require you to send a sample to a lab for testing. You simply call a number after a prescribed waiting period for your results. Either way, it's important that you get tested, and get tested today. April, STD Awareness Month, is the perfect time to make that happen. Accurate, Discreet, and Fast. Local & At Home Options. Test Now! Call 888-647-3625. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6990759

STD Facts and Findings

Accurate, Discreet, and Fast. Local & At Home Options. Test Now! Call 888-647-3625 There are a myriad of myths and distorted beliefs circulating with regard to Sexually Transmitted Diseases or STDs. Listed below are a series of facts and findings from health care providers and practitioners as a means of separating fact from fiction. - Sexual abstinence is the only way to guarantee one will avoid STD infection 100 percent. - The risk of acquiring or transmitting an STD is directly associated to sexually active persons who have multiple sex partners. - STDs are acquired or transmitted during intimate sexual activity. - Not all persons infected with an STD show obvious symptoms. - Inanimate objects do not transmit STDs - people transmit STDs during intimate sexual activity. - A person can be infected with one or several different STDs at the same time. - Undetected, untreated and/or inadequately treated STDs can lead to serious health problems that may ultimately result in permanent tissue damage, threaten one's life and/or result in loss of life. - Unlike some other diseases, having an STD once or several times does not provide immunity from "getting" an STD in the future. - Persons who are advised by their health care professional they are infected with an STD should take rapid action to insure their sex partners are advised to seek medical assistance - evaluation. - Persons who are sexually active with multiple sex partners should seek regular medical checkups to facilitate early detection and reduce the risk of medical complications from undetected - untreated infection. - Prevention includes: abstinence; if sexually active, maintaining a mutually exclusive relationship for you and your partner; use of a quality latex prophylactic. - Chlamydia and gonorrhea are bacterial STDs usually localized to the initial site of infection. - Symptoms with gonorrhea are very similar to those of chlamydia for both women and men. - Syphilis is a systemic disease that is spread via the blood and/or lymphatic system and the organism that causes syphilis multiplies itself within the circulatory system. - Syphilis can progress through four stages: Primary, Secondary, Early Latent and Late Latent. - Undetected - untreated STDs can lead to medical complications requiring extended and costly medical care and may involve extended hospital care. - STD infections can seriously impact one's social, educational and/or daily living environment. - Regular testing for sexually transmitted infections is recommended annually for those who engage in unprotected sex and for those that have multiple partners.Accurate, Discreet, and Fast. Local & At Home Options. Test Now! Call 888-647-3625 Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6867488

Accurate, Discreet, and Fast. Local & At Home Options. Test Now! Call 888-647-3625 Illnesses and diseases do not always make their presence known immediately. Most of the developed world has woken up to the significance of getting tests done as soon as they believe something is amiss rather than waiting for one's health to seriously deteriorate. STDs or Sexually transmitted diseases, are one such kind whose presence often goes undetected. It often comes to light only when the symptoms, which can seem harmless at first, tend to become more noticeable and painful. Hence, STD testing for anyone who is sexually active is imperative and even those who have limited sexual conduct should check themselves regularly. Here is a list of some of the most common sexually transmitted diseases: Here are a few diseases regularly checked for using STD testing; These diseases are very common and their remedial medicines and diagnostic tests are available everywhere. 1. Chlamydia 2. Gonorrhea 3. Syphilis 4. Herpes I&II 5. HIV/AIDS 6. Hepatitis B and C If you lead an active sexual lifestyle there is virtually no way to avoid some risks associated with STDs. The best and the most effective course of action would be to take the necessary precautions and commit to doing STD testing as often as possible. These actions are imperative to your own health as well as the health of those you are intimate with. Especially throughout the stages of pregnancy, often gynecologists cannot treat you for sexually transmitted diseases and if left untreated, these diseases can pose severe risks to both the Mother and to the life of the unborn child. It goes back to the old adage, "Better safe than sorry". In such a scenario, if you were to desire to get pregnant with a child, it is always advisable to get STD testing done prior to conception. This will reduce the likelihood of complications that could arise during the course of the pregnancy. At-home STD testing: There are many at-home test kids for STD testing just like the ones that you get for the confirmation of your pregnancy. These are simple kits where one needs just a sample of your urine or a genital swab. However, some of the STD testing kits require both samples for correct and accurate results. The benefit of at-home testing kits is that these tests can be done in the privacy of your home without anyone else being privy to your secrets. The biggest drawback here is that many times, the accuracy of the results is reduced due to improper collection and no medical knowledge about how these specimens are to be taken. It is better by far to go to a professional lab where experienced medical personnel can assist you in selecting tests, conduct proper and sanitary specimen collection, verify test accuracy, and explain laboratory results. Moreover, with the high rate of false positives often incurred with at home testing, you run a high risk of leaving a potentially life threatening situation left untreated. You can only reduce this undeniable risk if you are diligent enough to seek out a medical professional to assist you with STD testing. Preconceived notions tend to make us believe that the only people who need to undergo STD testing are those who have multiple sex partners or lead high-risk lifestyles. But the reality is that all of us must get these tests done regardless of our age, sexual preference, or lifestyle. STD testing can be done at either diagnostic centers or at hospitals. Doctors and medical practitioners advise us to get STD testing done once every two years in order to diagnose the disease as early as possible and start taking the proper precautions against them. Accurate, Discreet, and Fast. Local & At Home Options. Test Now! Call 888-647-3625 Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6833391

5 Common Symptoms Before STD Testing

Accurate, Discreet, and Fast. Local & At Home Options. Test Now! Call 888-647-3625 Whether you are a sexually active adult or teen, you have to participate in regular STD testing. When it comes to your total health, you want to have healthy options on your side with early detection. Testing and treatment in the beginning stages of any illness is the best time to get the best results from any doctor recommended treatment. It is downright scary to hear, as a teen or young adult, that nearly half of all sexually active young people will have an STD before he or she reaches their mid-twenties. The greatest concern is that many will ignore symptoms and allow an STD to ravage their immune systems, physical appearance and reproductive abilities for their future. The belief is that many people whether they are teens or adults experience embarrassment and try to self medicate or ignore symptoms and never receive treatment. Some symptoms are barely noticeable to some men and women who are dealing with other health concerns concurrently, so they don't pay attention to the possibility of illness until it's too late. But no one can afford to post-pone treatment for the sexually transmitted infections or diseases like Chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, herpes, trichomoniasis, HPV, genital warts, chancroid, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV and AIDS. The top five symptoms for many of these illnesses can be caught and managed if the carrier suspects a change in bodily function or appearance. First, one of the most obvious symptoms is warts, bumps or blisters on the public or genital area. There is no reason to panic at the appearance of any and all bumps but they should definitely be medically determined to either be benign or infectious. Second, any painful urination with an acute burning sensation can be confused with a urinary tract or kidney infection but it may also be gonorrhea or Chlamydia. Regardless of what it turns out to be he or she will require medical attention and medication in order to properly treat the condition. Third, an emission of fluid from the genitals is also a sign of gonorrhea or Chlamydia. Fourth, if spots appear on the body out of nowhere it may be second stage syphilis. Lastly, deeply colored and pungent urine can also be mistaken for a kidney infection or an STD. But the main objective with any health threat is to determine the best method of treatment and management thereafter. When one in five people in this country have a sexually transmitted disease STD testing should be an automatic activity if you are active in any way. Accurate, Discreet, and Fast. Local & At Home Options. Test Now! Call 888-647-3625 Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7070478

What Can You Expect From Doing STD Tests?

Accurate, Discreet, and Fast. Local & At Home Options. Test Now! Call 888-647-3625 You should speak with your doctor about STD tests because some sexually transmitted disorders may have no symptoms for years. You should not be scared about doing STD tests because your doctor will guide you through it. It is better to answer uncomfortable questions and provide some samples or give blood for test than to be infected without knowing about it at all. Doing std tests every year means being in control of your health, that's why you should talk to your doctor about them today. Before a test you usually are asked some questions about your sexual partners and regularity of your sex life. In addition, your doctor might ask you about your sexual practices and your protection methods. You must be very honest with him or her, because the accuracy of your results depends on your answers. If you have any symptoms, make sure you mentioned them as well. It will help the doctor determine which std tests should be taken. You might have such symptoms as unusual discharge or genital sores. Also, tell your doctor if you have fever or abdominal pain, because you might have such signs due to pelvic-inflammatory disease. After talking to the doctor, you will be asked either to give blood or to provide urine or swab sample. You will do a blood test if you test for HIV, Syphilis, hepatitis A and B. You might be asked to give blood to test for Herpes too; although scraping tissue can be more accurate for Herpes testing. Besides blood tests, you might be asked to give a urine sample. Urine sample is used for chlamydia and gonorrhea testing. You will be given a plastic cup for collecting urine, so this is the most painless test you can do. However, collecting urine is very common for chlamydia and gonorrhea tests, a swab may be taken instead of it. A swab may be taken from men and women who need to be tested for syphilis or herpes likewise. In order to do syphilis testing a swab from genital sore is taken. Moreover, in order to do herpes test a swab is taken from any ulcers or blisters formed on genitals area. Therefore, this is how you do std tests. If you are about to start a relationship and you don't want to be worried about sexual transmitted diseases or to have some strange symptoms, do std tests as a part of you annual check-up, because your life can depend on them. Accurate, Discreet, and Fast. Local & At Home Options. Test Now! Call 888-647-3625 Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7062739