Over 110 million Americans are infected with STDs every year, which makes STDs a shockingly common health issue among people. Every year, about 20 million new cases of STDs are reported in the United States. The majority of those infected are not aware that they are infected because many STDs show no symptoms. Plus, late diagnosis of STDs can result in delayed treatment. That’s why frequent STD testing is the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones from STDs. For this reason, Equality Health offers secure and accurate STD testing in Shawnee, OK, so that everyone can stay conscious of their sexual health. Contact us today to schedule a test in Shawnee County, OK!
What Is STD Testing, and How Does It Work?
STD testing refers to the test conducted to find out if you have sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) or not. Any person, regardless of age or gender, can contract sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), which are caused by bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Sexual activity, including oral sex, is one of the ways in which sexually transmitted diseases can be transmitted from one person to another. Syphilis, Gonorrhea, and Chlamydia are a few common STDs. Since many sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) don’t show any symptoms, STD testing is the only method to find out if you have STDs or not. You and your partner can take preventive measures to put a stop to the infection spreading if you are aware of your STD status by taking STD tests.
Why is STD Testing Important?
STD testing is very important, especially for sexually active people. Sexually active young people can protect themselves by getting regularly tested for STDs. Since testing is the only way to know whether you have an STD or not, you must test for an STD from time to time to stay on the safe side. Some other reasons why testing for STDs is important are:
- You may face more serious health issues down the road if you don’t treat STDs on time.
- Testing for STDs is very easy and normal.
- Most STDs are highly treatable, and you have nothing to worry about.
Our STD Testing Services in Shawnee Include
Depending on your health and symptoms, we test for STDs in a variety of ways. So, to ensure that the process doesn’t terrify you, it’s important to be ready for each one. The following are a few STD test kinds that Equality Health offers in Shawnee County:
✓ Blood Tests
Blood testing is used to diagnose STDs such as HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis C. It is a very accurate form of testing procedure to determine if you have STDs or not.
✓ Urine Test
Our urine test is also highly accurate in diagnosing STDs like Gonorrhea.
✓ NAAT Test
Nucleic acid amplification tests, or NAATs, are used to diagnose many STIs, such as Chlamydia and gonorrhea. These tests are carried out by detecting DNA and RNA of the bacteria.
✓ Antibody Test
Antibody tests look for particular proteins, or antibodies, in your blood that your immune system produces to protect you against illnesses like HIV and syphilis. Based on the antibodies in your system, these tests help us figure out the most appropriate course of treatment.
✓ Swab Test
Swabs are used to detect Gonorrhea, and Chlamydia.
✓ Rapid Test
If you are seeking immediate and fast results, you should take advantage of our rapid tests. We provide fast testing and timely STD test results. The majority of patients can get their results in less than 20 minutes. The rapid tests that are available are for HIV and Hepatitis C.
Procedure and Preparation for STD Testing
Being ready for an STD test increases your confidence in the process. As a result, we have listed below the STD testing protocols and preparations that our Shawnee STD clinic adheres to:
- Blood Tests: Make sure you hydrate well before your appointment because most of our blood tests don’t require you to fast. During the blood test, we take out a tiny sample of your blood from your arm using a needle.
- Urine Tests: To guarantee a concentrated sample, we usually give you instructions to avoid urinating for one hour before the test. We use a cup to collect a urine sample for the test.
- Swab Tests: Usually, there are no requirements for swab tests before the test. Using a cotton swab and rubbing it against the affected area, we conduct our swab testing. Swab samples can be taken from the cervix or vagina in females. For men, the sample is taken from the urethra or penis.
It’s important to remember that the majority of STD testing is simple and doesn’t involve any planning. For more details, don’t hesitate to call our STD clinic in Shawnee County today!
Cost of STD Testing in Shawnee
STD testing can cost anywhere from $20 to $100, which includes office visits, lab work, and any prescription drugs our patients might require. We bill your insurance for all testing costs for every one of our insurance-covered patients. However, we also have affordable options for STD testing in Shawnee County, OK, for those who are uninsured.
Contact Equality Health for STD Testing in Shawnee County
Equality Health is here for you if you’re thinking about being tested for sexually transmitted diseases. You may easily get in contact with us by calling, and our staff will assist you in choosing the best time for your STD test. You can take better care of your and your partner’s health by getting tested regularly for sexually transmitted diseases. So, allow us to support you while you go through your STD testing. We also provide services for HIV treatment, PrEP for HIV prevention, Hepatitis C testing, Hepatitis C treatment, HIV testing, and STD treatment in Shawnee. So don’t wait and take the initiative to get tested! Call the leading Shawnee County STD clinic today at 405-761-2762.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The window period for STD testing can vary from a few days to 3 months, depending on factors like the specific infection and the test. If you suspect potential exposure after your recent sexual contact or any other form of contact, you should be tested within three weeks and then three months after your contact.
Absolutely! If you want to request specific STD tests for personal reasons, we would be more than happy to assist you through the testing process. But if you are new to STD testing and want us to recommend and assist you with the testing process, we can also offer you comprehensive panels that cover multiple infections.
Yes! All of our STD test results are completely confidential. The test results only stay between us and our patients, as STDs are a very private matter. We highly value confidentiality regarding our patients and all of the tests we carry out at our clinic. So, all the sexually transmitted disease test results are kept confidential.
If you get positive results for your STD tests, our team will guide you towards a treatment plan. Before putting you on the treatment plan, we thoroughly explain your results and our plan to treat your STD. We also advise you to discuss your test results with your sex partners so they can be tested and treated as well.
If you are in a hurry and require same-day or expedited STD testing options, we have rapid STD tests for HIV and Hepatitis C. Our rapid tests can provide results within 20 minutes of getting tested, so you don’t have to wait several days for your results. However, all other test are sent to the lab and can take a day or two. Our team will be at your service to cater to all your concerns and needs regarding all our STD tests, so you don’t have to worry about anything.
