STI testing

STI’S and What To Expect With Testing

Getting tested for STD’s can be a little nerve racking. Especially if you haven’t been tested before, or you’re getting tested because you are having some kind of symptom. Whatever your reason, or level of concern, it can be helpful to know a little about what to expect when you come to Hope Resource Center for your appointment.

STD’s And STI’s- What’s The Difference?

A lot of people ask “what’s the difference between STD and STI?” The answer is there isn’t. The two terms are used pretty interchangeably. STD stands for Sexually Transmitted Disease. STI stands for Sexually Transmitted Infection. STD’s or STI’s are bacterial, viral or parasitic infections that are spread either through body fluids or intimate skin to skin contact during sex or other types of sexual encounters.

If you are concerned about a recent sexual exposure and you are not having symptoms, it’s best to wait 2 weeks after that contact to be screened. It takes about that long for gonorrhea and Chlamydia to be able to be identified. Other infections such as Syphilis and HIV can take from 2-4 months to be detected, and while you shouldn’t put your appointment off that long, you may need to be tested again in 4-6 months.  

If you are having symptoms, you should schedule an appointment for testing as soon as possible for evaluation, particularly if you are experiencing painful blisters or bumps and are concerned about genital herpes. It is best to evaluate those symptoms in the first 48-72 hours if at all possible. Make sure to let the person scheduling your appointment know if you are having these symptoms when you call. 

Vaginal bleeding can interfere with testing, so make sure you consider when you are due for your next period when you are setting up your STD appointment. 

In addition to a urine pregnancy test, which is routinely done at each appointment, you will be screened for HIV, Syphilis, gonorrhea, and Chlamydia. Based on your history or symptoms, your nurse practitioner may also test or evaluate for Hepatitis, Trichomoniasis (or “trich”), yeast, bacterial vaginitis (or BV), Herpes, and genital warts. Although HPV (or Human Papilloma Virus) is only tested for when you get a Pap screening, genital warts, which are caused by low risk HPV, can usually be clearly identified with a clinical exam. 

You will be seen by one of Hope Resource Center’s licensed nurse practitioners. Each one is skilled, knowledgeable, and kind. Don’t worry, you’ll be in good hands. Your provider will take an extensive medical and sexual history to get to know you, determine your risk, and decide what testing you may need. You will provide a urine sample, your provider will draw a blood sample and will likely do a vaginal exam. Once the testing is complete, the nurse practitioner will provide you with an overview of STD and reproductive information, answer all of your questions, and go over ways to reduce your risk if anything is identified.  

There is a lot to cover, so plan to be here for an hour to an hour and a half when you come for testing. 

Your provider may be able to identify the cause of some symptoms on the day of your appointment, but it takes about a week to get most of the results back. Generally results can be given over the phone, but there may be some situations where you would be asked to come in for results. The nurse practitioner can prescribe medication or refer you to another provider for treatment if needed. 

Know that if you are treated for an STD, your partner will need to be treated also and you will have to abstain from sex for at least 7 days after treatment. In addition, anytime you are treated for an STD you should be rechecked about 3 months later. Although Hope Resource Center is a women’s healthcare facility, in some situations partners of our female patients can come for testing and treatment. Ask your nurse about this when you come if you want your partner to get tested at Hope Resource Center.  

Do I Really Need To Be Tested?

If you are having any kind of symptoms, or you have had a recent “unprotected”, or even “protected” sexual exposure that you’re concerned about, you probably need very little encouragement to get tested for STD’s. However, remember that most STD’s are “asymptomatic” or symptom free, but can still do a lot of damage to the body and reproductive system. If it has been more than a year or you have had a new partner since the last time you were tested, make a healthy choice and schedule your appointment for STD testing today.

Call 865-525-4673 to request a cost-free appointment at Hope Resource Center today.