What is an STD?

An STD is an infectious disease passed from person to person through sexual activity, including vaginal, anal, and oral sex. The infection may be caused by bacteria, a virus, or a parasite.

Common STDs include:

• Human papillomavirus (HPV)
• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
• Syphilis
• Herpes
• Gonorrhea
• Chlamydia
• Trichomoniasis
• Herpes

STDs are serious conditions that require treatment to prevent further health complications, especially for women. While STDs affect both men and women, they can be more detrimental to women and lead to infertility.

Do STDs cause symptoms?

Most STDs don’t usually cause symptoms, and the only way to know if you’re infected is to get tested. Additionally, symptoms differ depending on the type of infection you have.

Symptoms that indicate an STD include:

• Foul-smelling genital discharge
• Genital itching
• Pain during urination
• Pain during intercourse
• Development of a genital rash, warts, or sores
• Fever
• Pelvic pain

If you experience these symptoms, call Seven Hills Medical Center right away to schedule testing. The sooner you know, the sooner you can get treatment to prevent further health complications.

How can I get tested for STDs?

Dr. Venkatesh specializes in STD testing and management and conducts comprehensive STD testing at his office. He determines the type of test you need based on any symptoms, your sexual history, and your medical history. Testing may include blood work or urinalysis. Dr. Venkatesh may also swab your genital discharge to confirm or rule out an STD.

How long it takes to get the results of your STD test varies and depends on what you’re being tested for. For example, Dr. Venkatesh offers a rapid HIV test that provides you results in 30 minutes or less. Other tests take longer. Dr. Venkatesh reviews the wait times with you and provides the results as soon as they come in.

What happens after my STD test?

After your STD testing, Dr. Venkatesh reviews the results with you. If your STD testing is negative, Dr. Venkatesh may review safe sex guidelines to protect yourself from contracting an STD.

If you test positive for an STD, he provides a treatment plan to help clear up the infection or manage the symptoms. While antibiotics can effectively treat bacterial and parasitic STDs, there are currently no cures for viral STDs.

STDs are common, and you can protect yourself and your sexual partner by getting tested. Call Seven Hills Medical Center today or schedule an appointment online.