What To Do If You Test Positive During STD Testing

When you're sexually active, it's vital to be knowledgeable about STDs as part of maintaining a healthy sex life. Some of the advice you receive from many medical practitioners is to practice safe sex, especially if you engage with multiple partners.

Doing so is necessary as an individual can possess an STD (Sexually Transmitted Disease) without knowing it. Many Sexually Transmitted diseases go undetected because they lack signs and symptoms. Some can live in the body for years and later have adverse effects. This is where STD Testing comes into play.

If you just went for STD Testing and tested positive, you may wonder what to do next. Instead of going into panic mode, you can seek treatment. STDs are a common and regular part of life; you can manage or cure them with treatment and follow-up care.

When and How to Conduct STD Testing

If you suspect you have an STD or simply trying to protect your partner and lead a healthy sex life, conducting an STD check is the best way to get the answers you're seeking. When you contract an STD, you may not know immediately because different STDs have different incubation periods. Your body takes time to identify it and release antibodies.

If you conduct testing too soon before the incubation period is over, you may get negative results. However, some STDs can take months or years to produce symptoms even after the incubation period. It is therefore essential to test for STDs you may have encountered even without the signs.

You can schedule a test with rapidstdtesting.com anytime.

Steps to Take After Testing Positive for an STD

Seek treatment

Even though you fail to experience an STD like Chlamydia and Gonorrhea, you still need treatment; an untreated infection can cause severe and permanent problems. However, with the right medicine from a medical physician, you can be cured.

Visit a hospital after taking an STD check and talk to a physician about your problem. Talking to a physician enables you to answer any questions you may have and access or advice on resources that provide you with more support.

Also, you get to discuss your sexual history, partner/s, and how to break information about getting them tested and treated. Show your doctor the results and wait for an explanation as well as treatment options.

Most STDs are cured using antibiotics, but for some, like HIV, it is managed with antiviral medication to keep its count low in the blood.

Inform your partner and people you've engaged with sexually

If you test positive for an STD, your partner is likely to be infected as well. You must inform them to get an STD check and receive treatment. When left untreated, you risk experiencing severe health issues like infertility, ectopic pregnancy, PID, and your partner can also pass the STD back to you. Similarly, inform partners you have engaged with in the past.

Although contacting previous partners or informing your current one can be emotionally uncomfortable, this information allows them to seek treatment and lead a healthy sex life together with their future or current partners.

One of the issues that arise after testing positive is questioning trust and playing the blame game among partners. However, it is essential to understand that they are familiar, lack symptoms, and may have been contracted during previous relationships. Tell your partner as soon as you get your results, be honest and straightforward about it.

For earlier partners, you can contact them or leave their information with a clinician or nurse to connect with them.

Start treatment

Once you and your partner seek professional help, start on your treatment. Some of the things you need to adhere to for full recovery include:

• Stick to and complete the doctor's prescription.
• Avoid anal, oral, or vaginal sex until after completion of medication by you and your partner/s.
• Consult with your physician if you miss pills or engage in sexual activities to determine if you require further treatment.

Get retested

STDs can recur, but this is a common occurrence even after following up with medication. Therefore, it is advisable for you and your partner to get a second STD Testing in the next three months after completing treatment. You can set a reminder on your email or phone or request that your physician reminds you.

STD Preventive Measures

Yearly, over 20 million people contract STDs in the United States. Many go undetected and cause serious health consequences in the long run. Whether you have tested positive or negative, here are ways you can prevent contracting STDs.

Vaccination

Getting a vaccination for STDs like HPV and Hepatitis B is effective, recommended, and a safe preventive method. However, the HPV vaccination is recommended for individuals from the age of 11 all through to 26.

However, some adults from ages 27 to 45 can seek vaccination if they risk acquiring new infections.

Abstain

Practicing abstinence (not having sex) is the easiest and most reliable way to prevent contracting an STD. Although not many people observe this, you can wait until you settle with one partner.

However, ensure you still get an STD check before indulging.

Practice safe sex

You can practice safe sex in various ways, including:

• Condom use- Using a latex condom with your partner/s whenever you indulge in sexual relations, whether oral, anal, or vaginal, can prevent STDs by reducing skin-to-skin contact.
• Mutual monogamy- If you're in a long-term relationship with only one uninfected partner, you can avoid contracting an STD.

What to do if you Test Positive During STD Testing

STDs are a common occurrence, and anyone can contact them. However, prevention is better than cure. All the same, if you test positive, seek treatment promptly and inform your partners to protect their health as well as yours. Lead a healthy sex life by practicing safe sex, abstaining, or getting vaccinated.

For STD Testing, you can order tests privately online, visit one of our local laboratories, and get fast results within a day or two.