Why Getting an STD Panel is Important Even If You Feel Healthy

Many people do not get an STD panel because they have not had any symptoms of an STD and therefore assume that they are healthy. This is not always the case however, and you may still be infected with certain infections and diseases despite not noticing any signs that anything is wrong.HIV/AIDSUnprotected vaginal, anal or oral sex means that you may be at risk from HIV, which you may not always detect. Sharing needles or syringes will also leave you at risk of contracting the virus. With minor symptoms that pass within a week or a month such as headaches, rashes, fatigue, sore throat and swollen lymph glands, many people who have contracted HIV have put the symptoms down to other illnesses, general tiredness or simply feeling as though they are ‘run down’. Symptoms which are more obvious or persistent may not show themselves for around ten years, in which time you may have passed the virus to others. Although incurable, if untreated you may pass HIV on to other people and are also at risk of it progressing to AIDS, which is a life-threatening disease. By getting an STD panel, you can find out whether you have HIV and be advised and treated accordingly.ChlamydiaKnown as the ‘silent disease’, chlamydia often shows no symptoms, especially in women and in the early stages of contracting it. Chlamydia can be passed through unprotected sex, whether it is vaginal, anal or oral. Although it rarely shows any symptoms and is not life-threatening, it is still a disease which, if left untreated, can cause infertility in women. Cured with a simple course of antibiotics, it is better to catch chlamydia with an STD panel sooner rather than later before you pass it on to other partners.Genital HerpesGenital herpes sometimes has no symptoms, making it hard to spot. Symptoms that do arise include itching, pain during urination, and open sores, bumps or blisters on the vagina or penis. This disease is incurable and can be passed through vaginal or anal intercourse, and oral sex can result in oral herpes. By finding out whether you have genital herpes by taking an STD panel, you can ensure that you do not pass on this disease to others, and medicine can be given to you in order to lower severity of symptoms if they do arise.GonorrheaGonorrhea is a disease that can be caught through unprotected vaginal, anal or oral sex and can sometimes go undetected, especially in men. It can cause bloody discharge from the penis or vagina, and infertility or increased risk of ectopic pregnancy in women. With up to ten percent of women becoming infertile from gonorrhea, it is important to get an STD panel as soon as possible, since the disease can be cured simply with antibiotics.Hepatitis BAround thirty percent of people who have contracted Hepatitis B will have no symptoms whatsoever. This disease causes liver damage in the people that contract it and is incurable. However medicine to help the liver fight the disease is given if you find that you have Hepatitis B. With STD panels able to pick this disease up, it is important that you have one in order to reduce the chance of liver damage.Spotting the Signs of Infections and Diseases as Soon as PossibleWith many of the diseases showing only mild symptoms or none at all, finding out about them sooner rather than later will decrease your chances of longer-lasting problems. In some cases it may even save your life, as well as the lives of others. This is why having an STD panel is very important and you should take one whenever you have a possibility of being at risk.

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3 Common Types of STDs: HPV, Herpes and Chlamydia

Currently millions are afflicted by sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Luckily for some, their infections virtually do nothing at all. Unfortunately for many, their STDs terrify them physically, psychologically and socially. Among the various embarrassing and pain-inflicting STDs, there are three that you must be very cautious of.HPVHuman papilloma virus (HPV) infects the skin and mucous membranes. HPV is known to cause much more damage on women than men. Although the majority of HPV types don’t produce significant damage to their hosts, some types induce wart formation and a few are cancerous. Actually, almost all incidences of cervical cancer are attributed to HPV. HPV is also known to potentially cause oropharyngeal, vaginal, penile and anal cancers. HPV infections typically last from one to two years. In rare cases of long-term HPV infection, it takes around 10 to 15 years for the victim to develop cancer. Even before cancer develops, burdensome lesions may develop and in the majority of cases these lesions endanger fertility. It’s good news that the modern STD test can detect HPV before the virus does permanent damage.Contact with the skin of the genital region is the primary cause of HPV transmission. HPV can be effectively detected through Pap smears. These permit early remediation of the disease before cancer develops. To prevent cancers, present sores are removed surgically. People frequently engaged in sex are encouraged to routinely take an STD test for HPV once every six months. This STD test is a much greater necessity for women.HerpesHerpes is caused by herpes simplex virus (HSV). The virus generally resides in the genitals and the cervix. Herpes is a long-term condition but most HSV carriers don’t exhibit any symptom and therefore don’t suffer from the virus. Genital blisters and oral sores are the most easily recognizable symptoms of herpes. In many cases, it will take months or years after infection before these symptoms get obvious. Painful urination, vaginal discharge and fever typically accompany sores and blisters during herpes outbreak or primary infection. Herpes is a recurring disease and recurrent infection symptoms include red blisters in genitals, thighs and rectum.Herpes can be transmitted through oral, anal or vaginal sex. While not exhibiting any symptom, a HSV carrier may still pass on herpes. Because herpes take long before visible symptoms appear, it is very advisable to use STD test kit once every six months to apply immediate medication if found positive. Currently, there is no known drug that can completely free the body from HSV. Doctors in genital health prescribe acyclovir or other anti-viral drugs to control HSV population or speed up the clearing of an outbreak. To avoid any costly complication, faithfully purchase an STD test kit and undergo an STD home test for herpes.ChlamydiaChlamydia infection is one of the most frequently reported bacterial infections. Most cases of Chlamydia infection lack any symptom and perform no apparent harm. However when left untreated, the infection may lead to pelvic inflammatory disease and later on infertility. Chlamydia-infected females may manifest vaginal bleeding, abdominal pain, fever and frequent or painful urination. Symptoms for males include urethral inflammation, burning urination, penile discharge, swollen testicles and fever. Aside from infecting the genital, Chlamydia may also infect the eyes.Chlamydia infection can be passed on by vaginal, anal or oral sex. An infected mother can also pass on the disease to her newborn baby. Antibiotics, such as erythromycin and ofloxacin, can cure the infection. To permit early treatment, those who frequently engage in sex with multiple partners are highly encouraged to undergo an STD home test for Chlamydia. At-home STD test kit permits the detection of Chlamydia way before visible symptoms manifest. There are also several other trustworthy STD home test kits easily available to the general public.

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