Common Questions About HIV And STDs: Symptoms And Tests
With the rising number of STD cases on-the-daily, STD Panel Testing has become common in routine health check-ups of individuals. More and more people are
Sexual health is a serious matter and Affordable Rapid Testing is here to assist with your testing needs. Whether getting tested for personal or professional reasons, we are here to help. If you have had recent sexual contact with someone or feel ready for a routine exam, come get tested with us for rapid results. We accept walk-ins or you can schedule an appointment online. For any additional questions or information, please call us at (480) 613-4867.
6-Panel STD Testing : Run tests for HIV 1/2, syphilis, hepatitis C, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomonas all at once. Results are delivered within 30-60 minutes of testing.
5-Panel STD Testing : Run tests for HIV 1/2, syphilis, hepatitis C, chlamydia, and gonorrhea all at once. Results are delivered within 30-60 minutes of testing.
5-Panel STD Testing : Run tests for HIV 1/2, syphilis, hepatitis C, chlamydia, and gonorrhea all at once. Results for HIV 1/2, syphilis, and hepatitis C are delivered within 30-60 minutes of testing.
3-Panel STD Testing : Run tests for chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomonas all at once. Results are delivered within 30-60 minutes of testing.
2-Panel STD Testing : Run tests for chlamydia and gonorrhea at once. Results are delivered within 48-72 hours after testing.
3-Panel STD Testing : Run tests for HIV 1/2, syphilis, and hepatitis C all at once. Results are delivered within 30-60 minutes of testing.
Results are delivered within 30-60 minutes after testing,
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STDs can be common among sexually active youth. Our onsite testing services are customized for schools and colleges to ensure classroom and campus safety.
Returning to the office when the pandemic is still looming large means that your employees’ safety is your utmost priority. Ensure the safety of your workplace with our STD testing services for organizations and businesses.
HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is a sexually transmitted disease that affects a person’s immune system. In the United States, approximately 1.3 million people have HIV, which increases the need for HIV testing.
In some cases, HIV can be asymptomatic. HIV primarily exhibits different symptoms at different stages of infection. They are:
First Stage: This is the initial stage where people get symptoms like fever, sore throat, diarrhea, rash, swollen glands, and muscle and joint pains.
Second Stage: In this stage, people mostly start to feel good with almost no symptoms. This stage may last up to 10 years.
Third Stage: This is the final stage in which a person’s immune system gets poorly damaged. Symptoms at this stage include weight loss, severe diarrhea, fever, persistent cough, and mouth and skin infections.
HIV testing at certified STD labs is necessary if any person shows these symptoms.
HIV is common among men and women and does not spread through the air or contact. However, there are multiple reasons why you can get infected with this virus.
An STD screening is necessary if you tick any of the above conditions.
The process of HIV testing requires the use of either blood or saliva. The three methods of testing are:
Antigen/Antibody test: This method of HIV testing involves drawing blood from the vein of the infected person. The window for such a method is 18-45 days.
Nucleic Acid Test (NAT): The detection period for this method is between 10 to 33 days. NAT also involves drawing blood from the vein. The NAT method can detect HIV at its earliest stage.
Home Antibody test: This method of HIV testing is carried out by using either blood or saliva. The detection period for such a method is 23 to 90 days.
Most people who have contracted HIV do not get any symptoms at its early stage. It usually takes 3 to 6 weeks for the symptoms to appear. A person should get tested as soon as the symptoms show up.
No, there is no cure for HIV. However, people diagnosed with HIV can keep the virus under control with proper treatment and lifelong medication, including ART or Antiretroviral therapy, pills, and shots.
Keeping a proper and regular track of sexual health is extremely important for both men and women. Hence, STD testing should be done immediately as soon as symptoms of STD arise. If you think that you have contracted HIV recently, you can get your HIV testing done at Affordable Rapid Testing in Phoenix, AZ. We have the finest doctors working with us to ensure our patients get rapid results at affordable rates. We also accept walk-in appointments. Contact us for further queries and details of the STD screenings done here.
Hepatitis C (HCV) is a viral disease that leads to liver swelling, often causing severe liver damage. Around 2.4 million people in the United States of America are infected with this disease, and the most accurate way of diagnosing it is to go for HCV testing at the earliest.
Hepatitis C can be initially diagnosed by a blood test called the HCV antibody test. This method of HCV testing helps determine whether a person has been infected with the Hepatitis C virus. It detects antibodies to the Hepatitis C virus in the blood. It can take a few days to weeks to get the results once you’ve undergone the test. However, you can also go for rapid testing at any STD/STI Clinic and get the test results in just 20-30 minutes.
Mostly, people who contract this infection don’t show any symptoms at the early stage. After 2-5 weeks of infection, a person may show symptoms like poor appetite, fever, fatigue, bleeding, bruising, itchy skin, weight loss, drowsiness, and more. Both women and men should take this test as soon as they show symptoms.
Every chronic hepatitis C infection has an acute phase. Acute hepatitis C mostly remains undiagnosed as it doesn’t show any symptoms. In some cases, symptoms like fatigue, jaundice, muscle aches, and fever can be seen. Acute symptoms appear only after one to three months of being infected.
An acute hepatitis C infection doesn’t need to become chronic. Many people get rid of HCV from their bodies just after the acute phase with an after-effect called spontaneous virus clearance. Several studies on people infected with acute HCV show that a variation of 15% to 25% can be seen in spontaneous viral clearance rates. Acute hepatitis C can also be treated by antiviral therapy.
The causative agent of Hepatitis C infection is the hepatitis C virus (HCV), which spreads when the contaminated blood enters the bloodstream of any healthy person. HCV has its existence worldwide in different forms or genotypes. As of now, seven different kinds of HCV genotypes and over 67 subtypes have already been identified. Type 1 is the most prevalent form of HCV in the United States.
Though chronic hepatitis follows a similar pattern, irrespective of the form of HCV, the treatment recommendations may differ based on HCV genotype.
You can prevent an HCV infection by following these preventive measures:-
Practice safe sex: Never involve in unprotected sex with multiple partners or someone who has an uncertain health condition. Sexual transmission is common among monogamous couples but with lower risk.
Be careful about tattooing and body piercing: If you’re getting a tattoo or a body piercing, ensure it’s from a reputed place. Ask questions before you get their service. Inquire about their equipment and hygiene concerns.
Don’t inject illegal drugs: Avoid using illicit drugs, and never inject them into your body.
Sexual health is paramount, and Affordable Rapid Testing ensures 100% safety and reliability in all your testing needs. Whether you’re getting tested for professional or personal reasons, we are here to help. We offer many testing facilities, including mobile testing, on-site testing, on-site testing for colleges and schools, and business and organization testing. For more information on HCV testing or any other STD screening, contact us over the phone or by email.
In the United States, gonorrhea is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Gonorrhea testing searches for signs of gonorrhea infection.
There are two circumstances in which a gonorrhea test is performed:
Screening: To identify diseases earlier, screening tests look for infections in people who aren’t exhibiting any symptoms. Doctors may also screen for other STDs when performing gonorrhea screenings.
Diagnosis: While gonorrhea infections do not always cause symptoms, some people experience warning signs like pain and burning while urinating. An individual’s symptoms may be caused by gonorrhea, which can be diagnosed or ruled out by gonorrhea testing. Doctors frequently test for both gonorrhea and chlamydia at the same time because the two STDs share symptoms.
For the gonorrhea test, we use a small urine sample. The Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT) is the suggested gonorrhea testing technique that we follow. Neisseria gonorrhoeae, the bacteria responsible for gonorrhea, is detected during the test.
We only need a small amount of urine for each of our STD tests. You don’t have to undress or swab uncomfortably for any STD testing done at Affordable Rapid Testing. You have to submit your urine sample at one of our certified testing centers that are nearest to your location. After being transported to a lab, this sample is subjected to Nucleic Acid Amplification testing. The Neisseria gonorrhoeae bacteria, which is specific to urine, is what the test is looking for.
Numerous health organizations advise routine gonorrhea screening for certain teenagers and adults between the ages of 15 and 65 because many gonorrhea infected people do not exhibit any observable symptoms, including:
If you fear that you have symptoms, get tested right away! Gonorrhea can be detected in tests as early as 2 – 6 days after exposure. However, because everyone is different and it is common not to experience symptoms, it is strongly advised to test after every potential exposure. At Affordable Rapid Testing, our doctors recommend waiting two weeks after potential sexual exposure to get tested to ensure more accurate results.
Antibiotics are effective in treating gonorrhea. After a phone consultation, our doctors can prescribe antibiotics if you test positive. Make sure to finish the entire course of antibiotics and refrain from any sexual activity for at least one week afterward. It is also advised to be retested after the prescribed treatment has been completed to ensure that the infection has been eradicated. Keep in mind that it is possible to re-infect with gonorrhea after treatment.
All we need from you is a urine sample for accurate chlamydia testing. Because no preparation is required, there is no need to fast or do anything else beforehand. There is no exam requirement, so there is no need to undress or swab. We use your sample to run an FDA-approved Nucleic Acid Amplification test (NAAT), which is the most dependable method of testing for chlamydia. It will look for Chlamydia trachomatis bacteria in your urine and give us a positive or negative result.
Our chlamydia test only takes a few minutes to complete, and results are available in 1-2 days. All of our laboratory STD tests have a specificity and sensitivity rate that is measured. This test has a 99.3% specificity and a 99.8% sensitivity.
Finding out if you have a chlamydia infection is the goal of the test.
Doctors rely on screening tests to find the majority of infections because most chlamydia patients don’t exhibit any symptoms. Before you notice symptoms, screening tests try to identify health conditions. Unlike STD screening, which frequently involves testing for multiple STDs at once, doctors may perform chlamydia screening on its own.
Diagnostic testing is used to confirm or rule out chlamydia as the cause of your symptoms when chlamydia symptoms are present. If you exhibit symptoms of chlamydia, your doctor will probably also check you for gonorrhea, another common STD, because the two conditions can share symptoms.
Before your chlamydia test, you must hold off on urinating for at least an hour. First-catch urine must make up the sample. Urine from the first catch should be the only component of the sample as anything else could dilute it. Female test-takers are advised not to clean their labial area before giving a sample. There is no need to fast. Other preparations are also not required.
Our doctors advise waiting at least 1–5 days post-exposure to be tested if you recently had an experience that you think may have put you at risk for chlamydia. You should at the very least wait 24 hours after a possible chlamydia exposure. You should get tested two weeks after a potential exposure to get the most accurate results possible. To ensure that the bacterium has been eradicated if you have undergone chlamydia treatment, you should be tested again 21 to 28 days after treatment is finished. You should get tested for chlamydia if you have tested positive for gonorrhea. The symptoms of these infections are very similar and frequently coincide.
Antibiotics are completely effective in curing chlamydia. If your test results are positive, you are entitled to a telephone consultation with one of our physicians, who will be able to discuss your treatment options with you. Antibiotics can, if necessary, be ordered and picked up at your neighborhood pharmacy.
If you think you may have recently been exposed to chlamydia, our individual chlamydia STD screening is ideal for you. If you are not particularly concerned about any other sexually transmitted diseases, such as gonorrhea, syphilis, or HIV, this option is a great one because it is one of the most prevalent STDs. Your regular sexual health routines should include an annual chlamydia test, especially if you have engaged in unprotected sex and are concerned. Chlamydia spreads quickly from one person to another and frequently causes no symptoms in the victim. We advise waiting at least a week after exposure because it can take up to 7–10 days to detect chlamydia bacteria in the urine. At Affordable Rapid Testing, we take pride in always providing our patients with professional, reliable care.
Trichomonas is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by a protozoan parasite. In the United States, about 30% of individuals develop symptoms of this disease which calls for trichomonas testing of affected persons at the earliest.
The trichomonas test is done by collecting a swab sample from the vaginal fluid of a woman. For men, the procedure is a tad bit different. The test is done when the swab is taken from inside the penis, precisely the urethra. The samples are then placed under a microscope to identify the parasite. No further tests are needed if the parasite is seen under the microscope.
Many people who have contracted trichomonas do not get symptoms at an early stage. The symptoms generally appear within 5 to 28 days of infection. Both men and women should get tested at the earliest after the appearance of the first symptoms.
Trichomonas exhibits different symptoms among men and women.
Women: Women generally get a green, grey, or yellow vaginal discharge. It is often foamy and has a fishy smell. Vaginal itching and irritation are also common. You might also face painful urination and discomfort during sexual intercourse.
Men: Men often experience abnormal white discharge from the penis alongside itching and irritation. A burning sensation might be present during urination or after sexual intercourse. One can also experience a burning sensation after ejaculation.
Trichomonas is common among men and women, and there are multiple reasons one can get this disease. These include:
An STD testing should be done if you tick the above list.
Yes, trichomoniasis is curable if the trichomonas test is done at the correct time. It is cured with the medication prescribed by a doctor. The medicines are safe for pregnant women as well. However, trichomonas infections may recur. To prevent that, ensure that you and your sexual partners undergo an STD screening. If diagnosed with trichomonas, the disease should be cured at its advent.
After the treatment, you should wait for a week or two until your symptoms disappear. Get rechecked if the symptoms arise.
Pregnant women are prone to trichomonas. It can cause several complications, including:
Sexual wellness is concerning, and tests should be done when the symptoms arise. Affordable Rapid Testing in Phoenix, AZ, caters to those needs within a budget. Affordable Rapid Testing provides complete privacy and rapid results, even if it is a routine examination. We even accept walk-in appointments. Some of the finest doctors look after your sexual wellness by ensuring accurate results. Visit us for Trichomonas tests and other STD screenings.
With the rising number of STD cases on-the-daily, STD Panel Testing has become common in routine health check-ups of individuals. More and more people are
The answer to whether one will contract an STD immediately after sleeping with an infected individual is variable depending on various factors like immunity and
If you’re sexually active and engage in risky sexual endeavors like unprotected sex, you have a high chance of contracting an STD. You may have
STD stands for Sexually Transmitted Disease, which is a disease that is spread through sexual behavior like vaginal intercourse, oral sex, anal sex or sometimes intimate skin-to-skin contact. Some types of STDs are Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Syphilis, Herpes, HPV and HIV.
Many STDs may have no symptoms at all or the signs are so mild that you may not notice. Different STDs have different symptoms. For instance, Syphilis and Herpes victims can experience rashes or open sores in their genital regions. Some STDs like Gonorrhea and Chlamydia can show symptoms like genital discharge and painful urination. Some may not show symptoms at all. However, if you have any of the symptoms described below, you should seek care right away because they may be signs that you have an STD.
STD stands for “sexually transmitted disease,” and STI stands for “sexually transmitted infection.” Essentially, the difference is between a disease and an infection. Not all diseases begin with infections, but many do. Sexually transmitted disease first begin as sexually transmitted infections.
There is no way to know for sure without being tested. Many STDs don’t have obvious symptoms. Being sexually active can include vaginal intercourse, anal and/or oral sex. When doctors or nurses ask this question, they are really asking if you’ve done anything since your last check up that might have exposed you to an STD or pregnancy. STD tests should be part of your regular check-up. But, if you have any concerns at all that you may have been exposed to an STD, see a doctor and ask to be tested.
Anyone who has had vaginal, anal or oral sex with a new partner should be tested. Everyone who is sexually active should be tested during regular check-ups. Pregnant women should be tested.
Either pre-book your appointment online or simply drive up during business hours without an appointment for a safe, contactless check-in and payment experience. Just be sure to verify business hours for your location if you do not make an appointment.
More than 20 million cases of STDs are reported every year as per the CDC reports. The easiest answer is about 1 in 4 young adults have an STD. It could be even more because many people who are infected don’t realize it.
Most STDs are easily curable with antibiotics or other medications. However, if left untreated, STDs like Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Syphilis and the like can lead to life-threatening issues. There is no cure for HIV or Hepatitis yet.
There are many things you can do to reduce your chances of getting an STD.
If you are experiencing symptoms that are exclusive to a particular STD consider getting a test. An STD test is a surefire way to know that you have contracted an STD.
While condoms are one of the most effective methods of preventing STDs, they are not entirely foolproof against them.
Different STDs have different symptoms. For instance, Syphilis and Herpes victims can experience rashes or open sores in their genital regions. Some STDs like Gonorrhea and Chlamydia can show symptoms like genital discharge and painful urination. Some may not show symptoms at all.
Yes. It is entirely possible to contract STDs from oral sex.
Chlamydia in men can result in inflammation of the urethra resulting in odd penile discharge as well as painful urination.
It is possible to contract both Chlamydia and Gonorrhea at the same time.
HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus which is a pathogen that progresses to AIDS or Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome which is an ailment that is caused if left untreated for years.
The top common STDs in women are Chlamydia, Gonorrhea and Syphilis
A woman afflicted with an STD can experience the following symptoms:-
The most common STD that men are reported to have are HPV and Chlamydia.
There are numerous common STDs that have been a menacing issue in the lives of millions. Some of them include:-
Chlamydia is caused by a bacteria called Chlamydia Trachomatis whereas Gonorrhea is caused by the bacteria called Neisseria Gonorrhoeae.
Chlamydia does not remain once you have been successfully cured. However, treatment won’t give you immunity because you can contract it once again.
It is impossible to tell if someone has Chlamydia just by looking at them because the symptoms are generally internal issues like painful urination, and odd genital discharge.
If your Chlamydia test result is rendered positive, visit a doctor and begin antibiotic treatment immediately.
Most individuals suffering from Gonorrhea do not show symptoms. However, when it comes to visual identification if symptoms do show, it is impossible to tell if someone has the STD.
Gonorrhea symptoms usually show up within two weeks after being infected.
Untreated gonococcal infection in pregnant mothers can lead to issues like miscarriages, low birth weight, premature birth, chorioamnionitis and sometimes even premature rupture of membranes.
Yes, it is possible to contract an STD while one is pregnant.