STD Testing For Women

Sexual health is a vital part of any woman’s life. It’s important to know whether or not you are healthy and if you have been exposed to any sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). STDs can make it more difficult for women to get pregnant, cause serious health problems and even lead to death. STD Check offers testing at one of our partner labs nearest you for safe, private testing. 

What is an STD?

STD is an infection that is transmitted by sexual contact. It can be caused by bacteria, viruses or parasites. Some STDs are transmitted through skin-to-skin contact, sharing sex toys and oral sex.

There are more than 30 types of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in the United States. Some of these diseases can cause serious complications if not treated properly.

How can STDs be prevented in women?

Here’s how to have safe sex:

• Use a condom. Condoms are the only way to protect yourself from STDs during sex. They also help prevent pregnancy, so if you don’t want to get pregnant or pass an STD on to your partner, using condoms is key.
• Avoid multiple sexual partners. Having multiple sexual partners increases your risk of contracting an STD because you’re exposed to more people who may have an STD or could contract one from someone else and then spread it to you.
• Don’t have sex with someone who has an STD until they’ve been treated for it and can prove that they’re no longer contagious (this is called “safer sex,” which is anything we do to prevent an std not only for ourselves, but for the other person as well). If you do choose this method of protection against STDs, make sure that any new partners let you know when they’ve last tested negative for any STDs including HIV before having unprotected sex with them again—and go together! This way there’s no question as to whether or not either party needs treatment at any time after having unprotected intercourse together.”

Who should get STD tested?

If you are sexually active, it’s important to get tested regularly. Your doctor will provide you with a recommendation of how often you should get tested, but here are some general guidelines:

• Women who have multiple sexual partners should be tested at least every three months.
• Women who have a new sexual partner should get tested before having sex with that person for the first time. This also applies if it has been more than six months since your last STD test and/or there has been any new sexual activity since then.
• If you had unprotected sex with someone who may have an STD (e.g., if they don’t know their status or if they have symptoms), talk to your doctor about getting tested for STDs as soon as possible (ideally one week after exposure). While this is less likely to result in transmission than having unprotected vaginal or anal intercourse, the risk is still present—so go ahead and take precautions!

What should a woman expect when getting tested for STDs?

When you go to the doctor to get tested for STDs, you will be asked some questions about your sexual history. These questions might seem embarrassing at first, but they are an essential part of the process. Please do not be afraid to answer these questions honestly—your health is more important than any discomfort or embarrassment you might feel.

After answering these questions, you will have an exam that includes a breast check and pelvic exam (for women). The doctor will also perform a Pap smear if necessary and may take samples from different parts of your body including blood work.

STD Test for Women

How often should women get tested for an STD?

Women should get tested for STDs at least once a year. If you have multiple partners or if you have new sexual partners every few months, it’s recommended that you get tested more often than once a year.

If you are sexually active and think that there is a chance that your partner might have an STD, then it’s best to be tested before engaging in intercourse. If they do have an STD, then the sooner they can start treatment the better off everyone will be.

The best way to know if someone has an STD (including HIV) is through testing!

How far back can STDs be detected?

There are two primary forms of STD testing, and they both have different detection windows. Blood tests can detect HIV earlier than urine or saliva tests, but the latter are more convenient since they can be completed at home.

The most common blood test takes anywhere from three weeks to three months to show a positive result; however, some infections like genital warts may take longer to show up in your blood than others (such as chlamydia). The window for urine is about one week (for chlamydia) and for oral swabs about two weeks (for HSV-2).

What are the signs or symptoms of STDs in women?

Here’s what to look for in women when it comes to spotting an STD or STI:

• Unusual discharge (watery, yellow or green, thick)
• Sores on the skin of the vulva, vagina and cervix
• Itching of the vagina or vulva (including painless itching during urination)

In women, STD symptoms can be mild or severe. Some STDs cause no obvious signs at all. For example, some women with chlamydia do not have any abnormal discharge or other symptoms. In other cases such as syphilis and gonorrhea, symptoms may be present but so mild that they go unnoticed by the patient until they get worse over time.

Getting tested regularly is important to maintaining sexual health.

Regular STD testing is important to maintaining sexual health.

• Women should get tested for STD every three months, regardless of whether they are sexually active.
• Women should get tested if they have been exposed to a new sexual partner or activity within the last three months.

Conclusion

If you are sexually active and/or planning to have a baby, it is important to get tested for STDs. You can have an STD without showing any symptoms. It is recommended that you get tested every year or two at the minimum, but three months at best. We are the female std test experts. Please reach out if you have any questions about our STD testing options for women.