STD Testing
-
- Tweet
Emilio Gutierrez MD
Family Medicine located in Austin, TX
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are very common among sexually active adults. If you’re sexually active or you’re experiencing symptoms of an STD, stop into the office of Emilio Gutierrez, MD, in Austin, Texas, for STD testing today. STD testing is an important element of preventive care that helps keep you healthy and thriving. For same day or next day appointments, call Dr. Gutierrez’s office, or use the online booking tool.
STD Testing Q & A
What is an STD?
An STD is a sexually transmitted disease. Throughout the world, there are countless STDs, though they vary in occurrence. You can contract STDs through any act of intercourse, including:
- Vaginal
- Oral
- Anal
You can also contract an STD by exchanging bodily fluids other ways, such as sharing needles.
STDs present with a variety of symptoms, and some are more serious than others. For example, some STDs just cause discomfort and itching, while others can lead to infertility or cancer.
Among the most common STDs are:
- Chlamydia
- Genital herpes
- Gonorrhea
- Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
- Human papillomavirus (HPV)
- Syphilis
Various types of hepatitis (A, B, and C) are also common.
How can I prevent STDs?
To keep yourself free of STDs, you need to be responsible, and you need to be proactive in getting regular checkups.
Some people are more likely to contract an STD than others. These include:
- Sexually active women under the age of 25
- Sexually active LGBTQ men
- People with multiple sex partners
If you’ve had an STD in the past, you’re at a higher risk for contracting one again.
Curtail your likelihood of contracting an STD by:
- Always using condoms during sex, especially if you have numerous sex partners
- Avoiding alcohol and illicit drug use, which can lead to poor decision-making
- Never using dirty needles, and seeking treatment for drug addiction
STDs can sneak up on you; sometimes, their symptoms aren’t clear or present until your infection becomes advanced. That’s why you need to schedule regular STD testing.
What happens during STD testing?
When you see Dr. Gutierrez for STD testing, he kicks things off by going over:
- Your STD history
- Your symptoms
- Your birth control method
- Whether or not you use protection, such as condoms, against transmission
- How many sex partners you have
- Your sexual preferences (men, women, or both)
- Your STD history
Next, Dr. Gutierrez performs the appropriate tests and sends them off to a lab. Results can take several days to come back. While you’re waiting to hear back, abstain from sexual contact, so that you don’t potentially spread disease.
A positive STD testing result isn’t the end of the world. With medication, you can treat or cure STDs, and go on to live a healthy life. The key to this, though, is catching the disease before it advances.
This process can be awkward and anxiety-inducing, but your health and the health of your partners are worth it. Prioritize your sexual health today by booking an appointment for STD testing with Dr. Gutierrez online or over the phone.
