Do Not Hesitate – The Only Way To Know Your STD Status Is To Get Tested

Sex and health education has transformed over the years.

It is still debated whether the change is for the good.

Whatever the change, it can have everlasting implications as children and teens get older.

While the Centres for Disease Control & Prevention is reporting continuous rise in  STD cases in the United States, studies have concurrently found that adults are having a startling knowledge gap when it comes to sexually transmitted diseases.

The United States is seeing steep rises in cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis.

The reasons can be attributed to

• Budget cuts resulting in fewer people receiving care

• Decline in condom use 

• High risk sexual behaviors due to substance use. Risky behaviors can be the result of exchange of money for sex or drugs, or sex with partners who inject drugs.  

“Sex education is not standardized”, says a doctor who does STD checkup in Arlington VA.

“Talking about sex is still taboo as it is a personal and a sensitive issue”.

The doctor is right. The more frank we are about our sexual health, the better informed we all will be.

If you are sexually active you must get tested. It is vital for your sexual well-being.

But accessibility can be an issue. Restrictive opening hours and long queues deter people.

If people refrain, symptoms can worsen and the infection can spread further.

“Delayed care can lead to invasive treatments that can have a negative impact on fertility”, says a MD based doctor.

Fortunately walk-in centers are providing crucial services.

The walk in STD testing near Arlington VA can provide you useful information on the symptoms and consequences of STD.

However, during this Covid-19 pandemic going to a doctor may not be advised.

If the testing centers are offering telehealth services you must go for it.    

According to the CDC, telehealth services can be used for delivering the following assistance

• Screening patients who may have corona virus symptoms and refer them as appropriate

• Provide care for non-Covid conditions 

Thankfully with vaccination underway and new corona virus cases on the decline, many STD testing sites are slowly getting back to their regular schedule.

In addition to urgent care centers, you also have other options such as

• Planned parenthood locations

• Local health departments 

• Nonprofit health organizations 

Most healthcare centers have put in place protocols to safeguard patients, doctors and staff.

If you have any questions you can visit the testing center’s website or give them a call and get to know if they have any clinic specific protocols. 

You have another option – At-home STD testing

It is a convenient alternative to making an appointment, visiting a testing facility and having in-person consultations. 

Here is how the system works 

• You order a STI testing kit online for home delivery. The kit will have everything needed to collect your samples.

• You follow instructions and collect your samples 

• Mail the samples to a lab and wait for the results. 

According to a doctor who performs STD checkup in Arlington VA, “At home tests are fairly reliable provided you follow instructions correctly”.   

STD Express Clinic offers quick and confidential private testing for any sexually transmitted disease. This clinic’s lab is open seven days a week. Patients can walk in and get tested. There is no any need for a prior appointment.  

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