Minors Are Able To Consent To Sti Testing In All 50 States
And no state requires that the provider notify guardians about this service.
However, 18 states which you can find listed here allow doctors to inform guardians that a minor sought STI services. Find out what the laws in your state are, and talk with your provider about how your information might be shared.
If you have questions like Do I have or What to do if , the healthcare provider doing the testing is your best bet.
For more general information about STIs, check out:
What Can Happen If Chlamydia Is Not Treated
Untreated chlamydia can cause serious health problems in women, including:
- Pelvic inflammatory disease , an infection of a woman’s reproductive organs. PID can lead to chronic pelvic pain, pregnancy problems, and infertility . Untreated chlamydia is a common cause of PID. It affects about 10% to 15% of women with untreated chlamydia.4
- Increased risk of getting HIV from sexual activity
What Can Be Done To Prevent The Spread Of Chlamydia
- Limit your number of sex partners
- Use a male or female condom
- If you think you are infected or have been exposed, avoid any sexual contact and visit a local sexually transmitted disease clinic, a hospital or your doctor. Either bring your sex partners with you when you are treated or notify them immediately so they can obtain examination and treatment.
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How To Take A Gonorrhea Test At Home
Testing from home is convenient. Now that the gonorrhea test cost is no longer in your way, you can test at any time and from any place without ever stepping foot in a doctors office. No need for waiting rooms, awkward conversations or follow-up appointments. Instead, follow this easy process to get your secure, lab-certified results. Heres how it works:
- Order your STD panel kit online. We even include free shipping!
- Test yourself at any time and from any place using the easy-to-follow instructions. Send your samples back to the lab with the pre-paid return envelope that comes with your kit.
- Get results online in a matter of days. Youll receive an email, after which you can log into a secure portal for your private lab-certified results.
And dont worry if you test positive, you can get advice from real physician in your state via a phone consultation, free of charge. If you live in a state that allows telemedicine, that physician can even prescribe your treatment. Thats right. Weve thought of everything so that you dont have to. Dont stress, just test!
What Happens If Chlamydia Goes Untreated
If a person is not treated for chlamydia, complications may occur. Women frequently develop pelvic inflammatory disease . PID can cause infertility , chronic pelvic pain, tubal pregnancies, and the continued spread of the disease. In men, untreated chlamydia can cause urethral infection and complications such as swollen and tender testicles. Chlamydia infection during pregnancy may result in premature rupture of membranes, preterm delivery and possible tubal pregnancy in a small percent of women. In addition, chlamydia can cause conjunctival and pneumonic infection in the newborn. Persons with a chlamydia infection have an increased chance of getting other infections such as gonorrhea or HIV.
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If You Tested Positive For One Stis
Generally speaking, your game plan will include:
If you tested positive for gonorrhea, chlamydia, or trichomoniasis
Usually your healthcare provider will prescribe a single dose of an antibiotic. The infection should clear up within a week.
You may be asked to return a few weeks after diagnosis for a test of cure to ensure that the antibiotic fully cleared the infection.
If you tested positive for HIV
Youll take a second test to confirm those results.
If your second test is HIV-positive, your healthcare provider will prescribe antiretroviral therapy to help manage the condition.
This combination of meds helps ensure that the infection doesnt develop into AIDS. It also reduces the risk of transmitting the infection to current or future sexual partners.
If you have a partner whos HIV-negative, they may choose to take pre-exposure prophylaxis to help minimize the risk of contraction.
If you tested positive for HPV
There are more than 100 different kinds of HPV. Although theres no current cure for HPV, many strains dont cause complications.
Some cause genital warts, which can be removed.
Some are linked to an increased risk of cancer of the cervix, vagina, vulva, anus, or throat. Next steps may include:
How Much Do At
A test that detects three or four STDs starts at just under $100. That goes up to about $400 for some of the most comprehensive offerings that detect 8 or 9 different STDs.
If the cost is a problem, some regional Planned Parenthood offices are also offering at-home STD testing their services are usually free or low cost, depending on your income level. There are also many free and low-cost clinics that remain open, perhaps with limited hours, for in-person STD and HIV testing.
Below is a list of at-home and lab-based tests available without a doctors visit, with information about costs, how long results take, and which STDs they can test for.
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Overcoming Barriers To Testing
A rapid STD test allows you to get your results in minutes rather than days. If the test is positive , you have the opportunity to get immediate treatment rather than having to come back to fill a prescription.
With diseases like HIV, this is important since early treatment translates to a lower risk of illness and a longer lifespan.
The newer tests also aim to overcome another factor that keeps many people away: needles and blood. Depending on the disease, a rapid test may only require a swab of body fluid or a urine sample .
Sexually Transmitted Infections Can Lead To Long
The coronavirus pandemic has made getting tested and treated for sexually transmitted infections more difficult. That means more STIs are going undetected and untreated, according to the National Coalition of STD Directors.
Thats not great news, especially considering that 1 in 5 people have an STI, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . And with nearly 30 million people currently without health insurance, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation, theres even more potential for people to miss out on this necessary health care.
It could be a perfect storm. But not today. Weve got the info you need to take care of your sexual health, despite these obstacles.
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How To Clear Chlamydia Without Antibiotics
Chlamydia is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections. While we are unable to recommend any treatment not recommended by the CDC in the treatment of chlamydia there are some who have utilized alternative treatment to reduce infection but does not cure it. These remedies include garlic, turmeric, or dieting.
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What To Do If You Test Positive For An Std
If you test positive for an STD, feeling shame, guilt, and anger is normal. Know that you have done the right thing by getting tested and ensuring you stay healthy. Your next steps are to consider treatment as recommended by your doctor. In addition, you should inform your sexual partners, who also need to be tested and treated if necessary. Below is a sample text you can send to your sexual partners:
âHey, I wanted to let you know that I recently tested positive for a sexually transmitted infection. Since we were recently together, it is probably best for you to get tested as well. I am happy to assist you with this process, so please let me know if you need any help.â
Alternatively, if you wish to remain anonymous, there exist several resources that can help you anonymously notify your recent sexual partners. Outlined below are just a few:
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How Much Does Std Test Cost Without Insurance
According to the 2015 fact sheet of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , there has been a substantial increase in the number of STD cases in the United States.
The highest number of reported cases in 2015 was chlamydia with more than 1.5 million cases a six percent increase since 2014. It was followed by gonorrhea with over 395,000 reported cases of the same year. Primary and secondary syphilis came in third with more than 23,000 reported cases, while congenital syphilis took the fourth spot with 487 reported cases.
In most reported cases, STDs have severely affected a lot of women and young individuals who practice unprotected sex. However, the rise of STD incidents in 2015 was also influenced by the increasing rates of all types of STDs among men.
Although the data can tell how prevalent and alarming STDs are, there is still so many STD cases that have not been reported, making it difficult to provide assistance and medical care to people who are suffering from such diseases.
Many cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis continue to go undiagnosed and unreported, and data on several additional STDs such as human papillomavirus, herpes simplex virus, and trichomoniasis are not routinely reported to CDC, as stated in the CDC Fact Sheet: Reported STDs in the United States. As a result, the annual surveillance report captures only a fraction of the true burden of STDs in America.
How Do I Know If I Have Chlamydia
The best way to know if you have chlamydia is to get tested. Most people will not have symptoms of chlamydia. If you do experience symptoms, the symptoms of chlamydia are a little bit different for men and women.
Women with symptoms may notice:
- An abnormal vaginal discharge
- A burning sensation when urinating
Symptoms in men can include:
- A discharge from their penis
- Pain and swelling in one or both testicles
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When Can I Have Sex Again
You should not have sex again until you and your sex partner have completed treatment. If your doctor prescribes a single dose of medication, you should wait seven days after taking the medicine before having sex. If your doctor prescribes a medicine for you to take for seven days, you should wait until you have taken all the doses before having sex.
The Health Risks Of Chlamydia
For up to 40 percent of infected women, untreated chlamydia can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease . PID effects include abdominal pain, fever, internal abscesses and long-lasting pelvic pain effects also include scarring of the fallopian tubes, which can cause infertility and increase the chance of potentially life-threatening ectopic or tubal pregnancies.
Men can develop scarring of the urethra, making urination difficult and occasionally causing infertility. Although rare, both sexes are at risk of a type of arthritis known as Reiter’s Syndrome that causes inflammation and swelling of the joints.
If a pregnant woman has chlamydia, her baby may be born prematurely, have eye infections or develop pneumonia.
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Std Testing Treatment And Prevention
There are a variety of STD tests, and a MedExpress health care professional can help evaluate your signs and symptoms and decide which one is right for you. Testing can include a physical test, urine test or a blood test. A sample of cells or discharge from the affected area may also be collected depending on the type of test.
While many STDs are treatable with medications, most viral STDs, like herpes and HIV, can be only managed, not completely cured. Treatment of an STD will depend on the specific diagnosis. Most of the time, youll be prescribed an antibiotic or an antiviral . Its important to take these medications exactly as prescribed by your health care professional, and make sure to ask how long after treatment you should get retested.
Abstinence is the best way to prevent the spread of STDs, but there are other steps you can take to stay safe. If youre sexually active, always use latex condoms. While not completely effective in preventing pregnancy or the spread of STDs, condoms are very effective if used correctly. Hormonal birth control methods like the pill, shot, patch or ring are not effective in preventing STDs. Finally, get tested regularly at least once a year or more depending on your level of sexual activity.
At MedExpress, you can trust us with your STD testing and treatment needs. Just walk in at a time thats right for you, and you can expect to receive fast, compassionate care from our friendly medical team.
References
The Most Common Sexually Transmitted Diseases
It is crucial to get tested for STDs regularly â especially if you are sexually active. STDs do not always cause symptoms and may be dormant in your body, so having an STD without knowing it is possible. If this is the case, the STD may cause long-term damage to your body if left untreated.
Outlined below are some of the most common sexually transmitted infections in the United States:
- Bacterial Vaginosis
- Syphilis
- Trichomoniasis
Each of these STDs is passed differently. Some are carried in bodily fluids such as semen and blood, while others can be passed from skin-to-skin contact.
Therefore, one of the best ways to treat STIs is to prevent them in the first place. If you are having sex, using protective barriers, such as condoms and dental dams, are among the best safe sex practices to protect you from STD transmission.
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What If I Don’t Get Treated
The initial damage that chlamydia causes often goes unnoticed. However, chlamydia can lead to serious health problems.
If you are a woman, untreated chlamydia can spread to your uterus and fallopian tubes . This can cause pelvic inflammatory disease . PID often has no symptoms, however some women may have abdominal and pelvic pain. Even if it doesn’t cause symptoms initially, PID can cause permanent damage to your reproductive system and can lead to long-term pelvic pain, inability to get pregnant, and potentially deadly pregnancy outside the uterus.
Men rarely have health problems linked to chlamydia. Infection sometimes spreads to the tube that carries sperm from the testicles, causing pain and fever. Rarely, chlamydia can prevent a man from fathering children. Untreated chlamydia may also increase your chances of getting or giving HIV – the virus that causes AIDS.
Be Aware Of The Incubation Period Of Gonorrhea
Gonorrhea takes 2-6 days to incubate. You should test at home after this short incubation period to be 100% sure that the infection will be detectable. Treatment for gonorrhea is not as scary as you might think, take a simple course of antibiotics and retest yourself two weeks after finishing treatment.
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Services For Pregnant Women Or Women Who May Become Pregnant
How Is Chlamydia Treated
Your doctor or nurse will prescribe antibiotics to treat chlamydia. Antibiotics can cure chlamydia. But they cannot fix any permanent damage done to your body, including scarring of your reproductive organs. For this reason, you should get tested and take the antibiotics as soon as possible.
For the antibiotics to work, you must finish all of the antibiotics that your doctor gives you, even if the symptoms go away. Do not share your antibiotics for chlamydia with anyone. If symptoms do not go away after treatment, see your doctor or nurse.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant. Your doctor can give you antibiotics that are safe to take during pregnancy.
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Im Not Sure I Have Chlamydia What Should I Do
If you have chlamydia symptoms but havent gotten tested, you should book an appointment with a PlushCare doctor and request STD testing. The doctor will write you a lab order and direct you to a lab close to you where you can get tested. Your results will be sent back to the PlushCare doctor who can then begin treatment.
Urgent Care Service Area
In addition to our walk-in clinics in Silver Spring and Kensington, we also provide urgent care services for people who live and work in the following Maryland areas: Adelphi, Ashton, Aspen Hill, Beltsville, Bethesda, Brookeville, Burtonsville, Cabin John, Calverton , Chevy Chase, Cloverly, Colesville, College Park, Gaithersburg, Garrett Park, Germantown, Glen Echo, Glenmont, Hillandale, Hyattsville, Kemp Mill, Kensington, Langley Park, Laurel, Layhill, Norbeck, North Bethesda, North Potomac, Norwood, Olney, Potomac, Rockville, Sandy Spring, Scaggsville, Silver Spring, Spencerville, Takoma Park, and Wheaton. We also provide urgent care services in the Washington, DC area.
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