Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) Testing

The first step in treatment is diagnostic testing. Private MD Labs offer a comprehensive panel of tests to aid in the diagnosis of sexually transmitted diseases:

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Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Overview

A sexually transmitted disease (STD) is a disease caused by infecting organisms (e.g., viruses, bacteria, parasites, fungi) that is spread from person to person primarily through intercourse and other sexual contact. STDs can be merely painful and irritating or debilitating and life threatening.

Incidence and Prevalence

Sexually transmitted diseases occur most commonly in sexually active teenagers and young adults, especially those with multiple sex partners.—representing men and women of all economic classes.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, in the United States more than 13 million people are infected each year and more than 65 million have an incurable STD. Generally, STD rates among certain populations, including men who have sex with men, have increased.

Characteristics

Some STDs cause relatively harmless disease, producing few or no symptoms. However, some produce persistent asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic disease (e.g. Chlamydia). Some people carry the disease for days or weeks, while others carry the disease for longer periods, even for life. During this time, an infected individual, or carrier, can spread disease.

In persistent infection, the pathogen evades detection by the immune system and remains fairly inactive, causing no overt disease. However, certain triggers (e.g., stress, immune suppression, injury) can reactivate latent pathogens. In some cases, reactivated disease is asymptomatic (e.g. Chlamydia) in others, overt (e.g., genital herpes); and in still others, severe and possibly fatal (e.g. HIV/AIDS, hepatitis).

Complications of STD infection include pelvic inflammatory disease of the cervix in women, inflammation of the urethra and inflammation of the prostate in men, and fertility and reproductive system problems in both sexes.

Possible consequences to an infant infected while in the womb or during birth, include stillbirth, blindness, and permanent neurological damage.

A person infected with an STD is more likely to become infected with HIV, and a person infected with HIV and another STD is more likely to transmit HIV.

Treatment
Viral STDs, such as genital herpes (HSV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), cannot be cured, but symptoms can be managed with medication. Bacterial STDs, such as gonorrhea and Chlamydia be cured with antibiotics. Early diagnosis and treatment increase the chances for cure.

Prevention
The only sure way to avoid becoming infected with an STD is monogamy with an uninfected partner. It is important for partners to discuss their sexual and STD history before having sex and to consider getting tested. Prevention is possible only if sexually active individuals understand STDs and how they are spread.

The risk for transmission is dramatically reduced with the use of condoms and other safer sex practices.

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