At-Home STD Testing
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as many as 20 million new sexually transmitted disease (STD) infections occur annually in the United States. Since many STDs are undetectable in their early stages, those who are infected can unknowingly transmit the infection, while also risking their own health. Most STDs are treatable or curable, but only if caught in the early stages of infection. Therefore, it’s important that sexually active individuals get tested regularly.
The timing and frequency for STD testing varies by the type of infection and individual factors. The CDC has recommendations for how often individuals should be tested based on their gender, age, sexual orientation, and sexual behavior.
At-home STD testing is a convenient and discreet way to check for common STDs. A customer orders the test they want from the company’s website, and it is shipped to them in discreet packaging. The kit includes everything required to safely and sterilely collect samples, which may include blood, urine, and oral, vaginal or rectal swabs. Correct sample collection and timing can affect the accuracy of at-home STD tests, so it is important to follow all the instructions provided with the kit. Results are usually available in about 5 days and can be viewed by the customer via a secure online patient portal.
A comprehensive and helpful guide that includes an overview of the screening process, recommendations on who should get tested and how often, and reviews and recommendations for the best at-home STD testing kits can be found at https://www.testing.com/at-home-std-testing/ .
Terry Pfau DO, HMD