The purpose of a sexual test is to check for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), also known as STIs (sexually transmitted infections). Some of the dozen STIs that exist elicit symptoms, while others do not. As a result, it’s critical to recognize them early on in order to cure them and, in some cases, avoid significant problems.
If you’re trying to avoid the hassle and cost associated with going to the doctor, there are a few STD test kits you can do from the comfort of your own home to determine whether or not you have the disease you’re looking for. worry. . Or, if you’re not experiencing symptoms but want to make sure you’re not carrying anything that you could potentially pass on to your partner, home STD test kits are useful for that sexual test too.
What you will learn
The 6 best sexual test at-home
You do not know where to start? Here are some STD test kit recommendations looking for the most common ones, where to find them, how to use them, how much they will cost and more.
EVERLYWELL
While visiting your doctor is usually a surefire bet, EverlyWell is making great strides in offering home STD tests that give you results in no time. “All of our tests have been fully validated against the highest laboratory standards in the United States, namely CLIA and CAP (College of American Pathologists),” says Dr. Marra Francis, Chief Medical Officer of EverlyWell. “Validation studies include precision, accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, reproducibility, stability, interferences, cross-reactivity, feasibility and clinical studies. The test kit itself has an overall accuracy of 99% considering all tests combined. Each specific test has its own sensitivity and specificity, all of which are close to or well above 95%. Your results are independently validated by a physician in your state to ensure their validity and reliability.
If you want to test for STDs that require a blood sample like Herpes, EverlyWell’s Complete Home Sexual Health Kit for Gonorrhea, Syphilis, Hepatitis C, HIV, Herpes (HSV-2 ), chlamydia and trichomoniasis. “For women, a blood sample is taken using a finger-prick lancet, along with a vaginal sample,” Francis notes. “For men, a blood sample and a urine sample will be required. Once collected, you will simply prepare them for shipment to one of our CLIA-certified laboratory partners, and once received by them, you will receive your results within five working days from the day the samples are received.
Although these more accurate results will cost you more, they are covered by some insurance plans. “The full kits for men and women are both priced at $239 and are usually covered by HSA or FSA accounts,” she adds. However, the kit includes free shipping wherever you are (as long as it’s within the United States).
MYLAB
A relative newcomer to home STD testing, myLAB has competitive test rates for simple STDs, but their full screen will cost you considerably. A test for chlamydia and gonorrhea will cost you $79, HIV tests start at $73, and testing for trichomoniasis alone (one of the most common STDs) costs $79. If you’re looking to screen for more than the above, their 8-panel ‘love box’ which tests for HIV (I & II), Hepatitis C, Herpes (HSV-1), Syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea and trichomoniasis costs you $499, with their 13-panel test kit that tests for HIV, hepatitis C, herpes (HSV-1), syphilis, 3-site chlamydia, gonorrhea 3 sites, trichomoniasis, HPV (human papilloma virus), mycoplasma and ureaplasma will set you back $399.
To get your kit, you can order directly on their website with free delivery. All tests take about five minutes to complete at home. From there, you will send the test to your local lab and receive your results within 2-5 business days. The accuracy of these tests ranges from 98% to 99.2% in specificity.
STDcheck.com
STDcheck.com’s goal is to make testing for sexually transmitted infections as painless and judgment-free as possible (STIs). The service will send you a test kit to take to a participating testing center for review. There is no need for an appointment.
Individual tests and a 10-test panel are available on the Internet, which cover several of the most common STIs. Getting tested can aid in the early detection of a STI, allowing for treatment and the avoidance of problems. Even if you don’t have symptoms, being aware of a STI might help you take precautions to avoid spreading it.
Priority STD Testing
Priority STD Testing is a national STD testing company established in Missouri. Priority STD testing is available in over 4,000 locations across the United States. Customers may get fast, non-invasive STD testing in half an hour or less, with results available in 24-72 hours, thanks to a simple three-step process. All of the tests are approved by the FDA and performed in CLIA-certified laboratories.
HealthLabs.com
Since 2015, HealthLabs.com has provided clients with low-cost lab tests through the internet. The online lab testing provider works with thousands of trusted CLIA-certified lab locations across the United States, making affordable laboratory testing a convenient option for those without insurance, those with high deductibles, those who want confidentiality, and/or those whose doctors won’t prescribe the lab testing they want.
Personalabs
Personalabs offers online medical services as well as the opportunity to request low-cost laboratory blood tests in a secure and confidential manner — the same tests that patients would get from their own doctor, but at a cheaper cost and with less fuss. Customers may have their blood taken or submit their samples at one of more than 4,000 Quest Diagnostics and LabCorp testing centers nationwide, which are conveniently located near their home or business.
What is sexual test （STD）?
Sexual test consists of screening for different STDs (sexually transmitted diseases), now called STIs (sexually transmitted infections). It is a set of conditions caused by viruses, bacteria or parasites that can be transmitted during sexual intercourse, with penetration or for some, without.
There are different STIs:
- HIV infection or the AIDS virus;
- hepatitis B;
- syphilis (“pox”);
- chlamydiosis, caused by the germ Chlamydiae trachomatis;
- lymphogranulomatosis venereum (LGV) due to certain particularly aggressive varieties of
- Chlamydia thrachomatis;
- genital herpes;
- papillomavirus (HPV) infection;
- gonorrhea (commonly called “hot piss”) caused by a highly contagious bacterium, Neisseria gonorrhoeae (gonococcus);
- vaginitis caused by Trichomonas vaginalis (or trichonomasis);
- mycoplasma infections, due to different bacteria: Mycoplasma genitalium (MG), Mycoplasma hominis, Mycoplasma urealyticum;
some vulvovaginal yeast infections can be transmitted during sexual intercourse, but it is also possible to have a yeast infection without any sexual intercourse.
Condoms protect against most STIs, but not all. Simple skin-to-skin contact can be enough to transmit chlamydia, for example.
Screening for STDs is therefore extremely important. Often silent, they can cause various complications:
- general with other locations of the disease: damage to the eyes, brain, nerves, heart for syphilis; cirrhosis or liver cancer for hepatitis B; evolution towards AIDS for HIV;
- a risk of progression to a precancerous or cancerous lesion for certain HPVs;
- tubal, ovarian or pelvic involvement which may lead to tubal sterility (following salpingitis) or ectopic pregnancies (chlamydia, gonococcus);
- maternal-fetal transmission with neonatal involvement (chlamydia, gonococcus, HPV, hepatitis, HIV).
Finally, note that all STIs weaken the mucous membranes and considerably increase the risk of contamination by the AIDS virus.
How is Sexual test (STD testing) done?
The clinical examination can direct towards certain STIs, but the diagnosis requires biological examinations: serology via a blood test or bacteriological sampling according to the STIs.
HIV screening is done by blood test, at least 3 months after the report at risk if necessary. The combined ELISA test is used. It consists of a search for antibodies produced in the presence of HIV, as well as a search for a particle of the virus, the p24 antigen, detectable earlier than the antibodies. If this test is positive, a second test called Western-Blot must be done to find out if the virus is really present. Only this confirmation test can tell if a person is really HIV-positive.
- Note that there is now an orientation self-test on sale without a prescription in pharmacies. It is performed on a small drop of blood. A positive result must be confirmed by a second laboratory test;
- Gonococcal gonorrhea is detected using a swab at the entrance to the vagina for women, at the tip of the penis for men. A urinalysis may suffice;
- the diagnosis of chlamydiosis is based on a local sample at the entrance to the vagina in women, and in men, a collection of urine or a sample at the entrance to the urethra;
- screening for hepatitis B requires a blood test in order to perform serology;
- the diagnosis of herpes is made by clinical examination of the typical lesions; to confirm
- the diagnosis, cell samples from the lesions can be cultured in the laboratory;
- papillomaviruses (HPV) can be detected on clinical examination (in the presence of warts) or during a smear. In case of an abnormal smear (ASC-US type for “squamous cell abnormalities of unknown significance”), an HPV test may be ordered. If it is positive, a colposcopy (examination of the cervix using a large magnifying glass) is recommended with a biopsy sample if an anomaly is identified;
- trichomonas vaginitis is diagnosed quite easily on gynecological examination in the face of various suggestive symptoms (sensation of vulvar burning, itching, pain during intercourse) and the characteristic appearance of vaginal discharge (abundant, malodorous, greenish and frothy) . If in doubt, a vaginal swab can be taken;
- the diagnosis of lymphogranulomatosis venereum requires a sample from the lesions;
Mycoplasma infections can be detected using a local swab.
The treating doctor or specialist may order one or more of these biological tests (gynecologist, urologist). There are other designated locations, such as the CeGIDD (Free Center for Information, Screening, and Diagnosis), that are permitted to do hepatitis B and C and STI screening. Free screening is also available in Maternal and Child Planning Centers (PMI), Family Planning and Education Centers (CPEF), and Family Planning or Planning Centers.
The different types of STD/STI test prescription
All preceded by an interrogation in order to describe your symptoms, if this is the reason why you wish to be screened, there are different types of examinations which guide the screening of STDs/STIs:
- clinical examination of the genitals;
- urine analysis or local sample;
- blood test.
If you need to be tested for STIs such as hepatitis B in the laboratory, the doctor will give you a prescription to take a blood test, but for HIV you will not need it because it can be done without a prescription. You can carry out other serology tests on prescription in the laboratory, but also in a free STI screening centre. To detect STIs such as gonococcus or chlamydia, the doctor will issue you a prescription for a urine analysis or a local sample (vagina, anus, urethra, throat, etc.).
Good to know: Women must regularly be screened for STDs/STIs, in particular via a gynecological examination, and can receive a prescription for this from their general practitioner or gynecologist. Men should also visit regularly to receive a prescription for STI screening. Indeed, they can transmit certain diseases which are invisible at home to their partner (in particular Chlamydiae trachomatis).
When should an sexual test be performed after intercourse?
The best time to get tested is determined by the type of STI being tested for. If your spouse has a certain ailment, you can be tested only for that one. Otherwise, your doctor may arrange a comprehensive physical examination. Depending on the disease sought, the following deadlines must be met following a hazardous report:
Gonorrhea: 1 week
Hepatitis B: 4 to 8 weeks
Hepatitis C: 8 weeks
Chlamydia infection: 2 weeks
Syphilis: 4 weeks
Trichomoniasis: 4 weeks
HIV (AIDS virus): 6 weeks for the ELISA test and 12 weeks for the TROD test (rapid diagnostic orientation test). The TROD test is available in associations, at CegiDD, from certain doctors (general practitioners, gastroenterologists, infectiologists) and in pharmacies in the form of self-tests.
Good to know: there is no need to be fasting before taking your blood test for HIV-type STIs.
Where to get STD testing?All you should to know about STD testing online & offline
