Gonorrhea And Chlamydia Test Cost

Cons Of Testing At A Doctors Office:

• You may need to schedule an appointment months in advance.
• Wait time for an appointment can be long.
• In addition to paying for lab tests, you also pay the doctors fees.
• If you use your health insurance, your records become available to them and any of their affiliate insurance providers which may impact future insurance costs.
• You have to go into a physical location to get tested.
• Results are rarely available online and may take 2+ weeks to process.
• Testing results show up on your permanent health record.
• If tested positive, an additional copay cost will be needed to get a prescription.
• You may not feel comfortable discussing your sexual history or asking your doctor for an STD test.

How To Prevent Stds

Different STDs spread in different ways, but here are a few rules to follow: Always use protection, such as condoms and dental dams, when engaging in vaginal, oral, or anal intercourse unless you are in a committed relationship in which both partners have been tested. Protected sex is not risk-free, but will greatly reduce the risk of transmission of infection. Avoid dangerous sexual behavior, such as having unprotected sex with multiple partners, having unprotected sex with someone you dont know well, or engaging in sexual practices that may result in bleeding. If you or your partner experiences symptoms of an STI, avoid intercourse until youve both been tested.

Sexually Transmitted Infections Are On The Rise In The Us

Most recent data available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed that chlamydia and gonorrhea were on the rise for the sixth year.1 With many patients being unwilling to admit to being sexually active,2 many chlamydia and gonorrhea infections remain undiagnosed and untreated. As many as 10-20% of untreated chlamydia or gonorrhea infections progress to pelvic inflammatory disease .3

An estimated one in five people in the U.S. has an STI.2 In 2019, there were 68 million new cases of STIs in the U.S.up from 26 million in 2018almost half of which were among youth aged between 15 and 24.2 Nearly $962 million in direct medical cost has been attributed to both chlamydia and gonorrhea.2

Recommended Reading: How Quickly Can Chlamydia Be Passed On

Iii Std Testing Options In Boston Ma

Choose the STD testing option youre most comfortable with:

• Private clinic: Your primary care physician or OB-GYN can order STD tests.
• Local lab: Some labs offer direct testing without a doctors orders.
• Community clinic: A community clinic, such as city or county clinics, or nonprofit organizations may offer STD testing. Some offer STD tests for free or low cost.

At home: You can test for STDs at home using a kit and send your sample to a lab for analysis.

Faq On Chlamydia Booking Through Our Partner Labs

• Will insurance cover my Chlamydia test cost?No. Generally, providers do not accept insurance in order to ensure your privacy. However, they will provide you a receipt for insurance reimbursement purposes.

• How should I book my appointment for Chlamydia testing?You can choose the most suitable provider from above and make an appointment by following the instructions mentioned by them.

• Can I cancel my lab test order?Yes, you can cancel your lab test order anytime before your testing. The refund will be initiated after deducting the cancellation fee. However, cancellation is at the discretion of the provider.

• Do the providers offer result interpretations?Yes, a few providers may provide doctor consultation who will take you through the results and provide clarification if needed.

• How do I receive my report?In order to ensure your privacy, the test report will be mailed to you by the provider.

Recommended Reading: The Difference Between Gonorrhea And Chlamydia

Std Testing With Insurance

Although the ACA helps cover preventive STD screening tests for many, coverage does depend on the STD being screened for, in addition to age, sex, and other factors like pregnancy status.

The ACA does require insurance companies to cover HIV screening for those ages 15 to 65. Those who are younger than 15 or older than 65 and who are considered to have an increased risk are covered as well. Individuals may face increased risk if:

• They have unprotected sex
• They have multiple or anonymous sexual partners
• They have tested positive for another STD
• They’re a man who has sex with men

The ACA also requires insurance companies to cover syphilis screening for all adults and for adolescents who are at increased risk.

Screening coverage for other STDs depends on different factors.

For chlamydia and gonorrhea screenings, all sexually active females who are 24 years and younger, or older than 24 and are at increased risk, are covered under the ACA. Sexually active boys and young men between 11 and 21 years who are at increased risk for infection are also covered.

How To Test For Chlamydia

• Register your kit online. Use the unique ID included inside your kit and go to www.everlywell.com/register. Write your date of birth and the sample collection date on the transport tube provided by the kit.
• Collect your sample by urinating into the specimen collection cup thatâs included with the kit.
• Use the pipette to place the sample into a transport tube, and put the tube into the biohazard bag .
• Place the bag into the shipping envelope , apply the prepaid shipping label, and place your envelope in the mail. Your sample will then arrive at a laboratory, where it will be analyzed for chlamydia and gonorrhea.
• Just days later, youâll be notified that your results are ready. You can privately view your results online on our secure platform.

Read Also: Can Gonorrhea Or Chlamydia Go Away On Its Own

How Is Gonorrhea Testing Done

For gonorrhea testing, you only need to provide a urine sample. The method used is the nucleic acid amplification test . The aim of this investigation is to detect the presence of bacteria that triggers gonorrhea. If the bacteria are detected in the sample, you would test positive and have an option of discussing treatment with the doctor in the clinic.

With gonorrhea, its important to start treatment fast.

If you allow yourself to go too long undiagnosed, treating the disease becomes far more complicated.

Simply walk in to STD Express Clinic and get tested. Same day treatment option also available at an additional cost of $50.

Std Tests: Questions You Can Ask

We dont give medical advice but we can offer a few tips.

With any testing option, do your homework and shop around. Be careful of what youre buying and who youre buying it from. Weve learned that it pays to find out what specific STD youve been exposed to, and to make a few phone calls to clinics.

When you call a clinic, you can:

Ask to speak to a counselor.

Ask: How much does each test cost individually?

Ask: How much for a complete set of tests?

Ask: Is a complete set of tests necessary, if I know what STD I was exposed to?

Ask: Who will be seeing me? What are his/her credentials?.

Ask: Will I have another checkup to be sure that Im completely healthy?

If youre using an online service, you can ask the same series of questions, but its likely to be harder to get answers. Many of the online services operate on chat bots or order forms, and theres not a lot of information about how accurate they are.

These questions can help you save money and settle your mind.

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How Are Stds And Stis Diagnosed

If you want to be tested for Chlamydia and other STIs, there are four options you that you can choose from. These are through medical facilities, STD/STI testing centers, Planned Parenthood, and rapid testing kits. It depends on your choice or preference which revolves around the want of privacy, convenience, cost-efficiency and proximity.

If your sexual history and you are currently having signs and symptoms, different laboratory tests can detect infections through blood tests, urine samples, and fluid samples from genital sores if you have them.

Can I Be Allergic To Treatment

If someone has a penicillin allergy, there is potential to have an adverse reaction to the antibiotic treatment for gonorrhea. Depending on personal health history, a physician will be able to prescribe an effective alternative for treating anyone with a penicillin allergy or who has a history of gonorrhea infection.

In general, side effects from gonorrhea treatment can include temporary itching, rash or redness, and pain or discomfort at the injection site , upset stomach, and yeast infections. If symptoms persist for longer than the treatment period, contact your physician immediately.

Also Check: If My Partner Has Chlamydia Will I Get It

Engage In Oral Or Anal Sex

We Recommend: Extragenital Three Site Test

This three-site test allows you to screen for Chlamydia and Gonorrhea not only in the genital region, but also in the mouth and rectum. Many people dont realize that the standard tests for these infections only test the genitals. This is true even for tests at your local clinic or doctors office. These two infections, however, can also spread to the mouth and rectum due to oral and anal sex. An Extragenital test screens for all three of these areas that can potentially be at risk.

Cdc Updated Sti Treatment Guidelines

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention periodically releases treatment guidelines for STDs. The most recent, published July 2021, include updated information about tests that are most appropriate for different groups of people. This includes pregnant women, men who have sex with men, and other groups with relative risk factors.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends HIV screening at least once for all individuals aged 15 to 65 years. The CDC also recommends that individuals ages 13 to 64 get tested for HIV at least once. Those who face increased risk for HIV should get screened at least once per year.

Women who are sexually active and either under age 25 or 25 and older with risk factors, such as multiple or new sex partners, should be tested for gonorrhea and chlamydia at least once every year.

MSM should be tested for syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea at least once every year but in intervals of three to six months if they have multiple or anonymous partners.

Your healthcare provider will likely give you additional guidance on how often you should get tested. If you are insured, your plan provider can give you the exact details on how often you’re covered for all types of STD tests.

Also Check: How Long Does It Take To Know You Have Chlamydia

Each Year There Are Approximately 15 Million Cases Of Chlamydia And 350000 Cases Of Gonorrhea Reported To The Centers For Disease Control And Prevention

However this may not accurately reflect the total number of infected individuals, as most people with these infections have no symptoms and go untested. These bacterial infections are spread through sexual intercourse . This test will not be able to tell you the specific site of the infection, but will detect the infection if present.

Pregnant women with an active gonorrhea or chlamydia infection at the time of vaginal delivery can spread the infection directly to their children during birth. All sexually active women under age 25 and women over age 25 with risk factors for contracting chlamydia or gonorrhea should get tested every year: risk factors include unprotected sex, new sexual partners, or multiple sexual partners. Men at risk for chlamydia or gonorrhea should get tested each year, and more often as needed: risk factors include having sex with a partner who has chlamydia or gonorrhea, men who have sex with men, unprotected sexual intercourse, and multiple sex partners.

Probability And Cost Estimates

Primary data, unpublished state and local data, and published literature were used to estimate probabilities and costs for the decision analysis. Sensitivities of the vaginal, urine, and endocervical AC2 tests were derived from 324 women attending Baltimore STD clinics between April 5, 2004 and February 3, 2005. All positive tests were confirmed by retesting the sample using GenProbes FDA cleared Aptima C. trachomatis , which has different target sequences than the AC2. Classification as a positive case required at least 1 of the samples to test positive with confirmation. Each woman had all 3 samples collected. Following sample collection, women were asked to rate the 3 sample techniques in order of their preferred method. Written informed consent was obtained from all participants. The study was approved by the Western IRB, Seattle, WA, and the Baltimore City Health Department.

The prevalence of Chlamydia among these women, the proportion of infections that were symptomatic, the proportion of infections that were treated, and the proportion of women who required a Pap smear were all derived from this sample. The sensitivity of the DNA probe1320 and the estimated proportion of women with untreated Chlamydia cervicitis who would develop PID3,2123 and its sequelae2427 were derived from the literature. See Table 1 for additional probability estimates.

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Blood In The Urine: Signs And Symptoms In Men And Women

Blood in the urine can be seen with the naked eye or identified with a microscopic study of the urine, as previously described. Blood in the urine can be a sign of a variety of problems. Depending on the etiology, it can appear on its own or in combination with other symptoms and signs in men, women, and children.

Urinary tract infections can cause painful urination, the need to urinate frequently or urgently, and pus in the urine. Kidney stones can cause excruciating pain in the flanks or abdomen. Blood in the urine in children can be caused by a variety of illnesses that have no other symptoms.

What If My Chlamydia And Gonorrhea Test Result Is Not Normal

Test results are only one part of a larger picture that takes into account your medical history and current health. Sometimes a GC Chlamydia STD test needs to be repeated to check the first result. Talk to your health care provider about your result and ask questions.

If your test result is positive, ask your health care provider:

• If you need additional tests
• Any questions you have about your treatment
• When you need to be tested again
• When it is safe to have sex again
• How to protect yourself against reinfection

If you have a positive urine chlamydia and gonorrhea lab test result, you should tell your sexual partner. Follow your health care providers advice about when it is safe to start having sex again. Use latex or polyurethane condoms every time you have sex to prevent another infection.

Read Also: Whats The Best Antibiotic For Chlamydia

Also Check: What Medicine Do They Prescribe For Chlamydia

Std Testing Options: Where Can I Go To Get Tested

You can get tested for STDs in a number of different ways, including:

• Doctors office
• Rapid testing kits
• At-home testing kits

All STD tests are not created equal. First and foremost, you want to make sure that the testing service you choose is reliable and accurate.

If a testing service or product does not advertise validated accuracy results, we recommend looking elsewhere. The best test for you may also depend on how frequently you need to get tested for a specific concern about STD exposure.

STD testing can be expensive or cheap, but its important to look at the pros and cons of the various STD testing options to make the decision that is right for you. Lets take a look at the differences between the most common testing options.

Planned Parenthood Of Greater Boston Health Center

The Greater Boston Health Center is operated by Planned Parenthood and offers a range of services, including LGBTQ health needs, birth control, mens health services, and STD resources. Treatment, testing, and vaccines for the most common STDs are available, as are 30-minute rapid exams using mouth swabs. A range of STD prevention options are also available, including male and female condoms, HPV vaccines, dental dams, and educational services. The hours are Monday through Thursday 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday through Saturday 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

1055 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA 02215, 617-616-1617

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What Treats Chlamydia

If you or a partner have been exposed to chlamydia, it is important to get treated immediately. Most persons with chlamydia may have no symptoms. To treat chlamydia, there are two antibiotics most recommended by the CDC, azithromycin, and doxycycline. While both medications are equally effective, azithromycin is administered in a single dose while doxycycline is offered as a 7-day treatment. Most common side effects of either treatment is nausea, upset stomach, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. Additionally, some may have an adverse effect such as rash or hives with doxycycline.

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How Accurate Are At

Most at-home tests are processed at certified laboratories, so as long as your sample was collected and preserved correctly until it was processed and then analysed at a CLIA-certified laboratory, your at-home test results should be comparable to what you would receive otherwise.

A 2015 review looked at 2,100 studies comparing the sensitivity and specificity of at-home vs. physician ordered chlamydia and gonorrhea tests. Sensitivity refers to a test’s ability to determine a positive result and specificity refers to the tests ability to determine a negative result. The study determined that the tests had sufficient sensitivity and specificity.

The quality of the lab results depend mainly on the quality of sample collection. The likelihood of a contaminated or unusable sample is higher in home-collection compared to physician collected samples.

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