Compare STD testing services and options.

Condoms or any protective measure available in the market are designed not to prevent the transmission of STDs but to minimize the risk of contracting the condition upon contact with an infected surface. Condoms, in particular, are notorious for their inconsistency in protecting patients from contracting the disease due to how limited their coverage is. Considering that transmission may likewise occur from areas not covered by the sheet itself, transmission is still possible. However, the point remains that condoms are necessary to, at the very least, lower the risk of contracting or even transmitting the condition, especially in cases where both are unaware of their underlying infections. While it might not be the prevent-all that many would have expected it to be, wearing none is magnitudes worse than wearing one.

STDs observed concurrently with pregnancy may result in various complications with the patient’s pregnancy and the patient’s health following delivery. From those that are evident right after birth to some that only manifest after years of development, these complications are preferably avoided using prophylactic medications when the pregnant woman tested positive for an STD.

A nucleic acid amplification test is a laboratory procedure that professionals often perform to make detecting a particular nucleic acid or gene being targeted easier and more convenient while still ensuring that the sample being collected is relatively minimal. Nucleic acid amplification tests, or NAATs, are usually the mainstay diagnostic test for most STDs due to their ability to detect the presence of pathogenic nucleic acids and genes in the patient sample with utmost accuracy and speed. NAATs depends on their ability to replicate the target RNA and DNA to create numerous copies – resulting in an increased convenience in the detection of the desired molecules instead of trying to either blindly look for one strand in a minuscule sample or collecting a large sample that could make the patient uncomfortable throughout the process. Although NAATs are often preferred for a more conclusive diagnosis of STDs, certain exceptions such as the availability of resources and instances of intermittent viral shedding could make NAATs less desirable than other tests. Fret not, however, as your physician is knowledgeable regarding these instances and would often request the best diagnostic procedure for your instances.

Essentially, yes. Considering how most STDs are, in fact, asymptomatic for the majority of their life cycle, a particular STD can remain asymptomatic for extended periods – making it harder to diagnose the condition, let alone think about getting tested for that specific condition. Please do note, however, that most STDs are not necessarily self-limiting, meaning that while they are not symptomatic in any way, it does not imply that the pathogen is not proliferating and causing any damages to the structure of the genitalia. Annual routine testing is still recommended to rule out even asymptomatic STD cases.