MeetPositives is a dating site that gives people who have been diagnosed with STDs like HIV and herpes a chance to fall in love again. Now, the site has developed an At Home STD Test kit, which allows its users the option to test for certain STDs in the comfort and privacy of their home.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates there are two million new cases of STDs each year, and the majority of infected individuals don’t know they are infected the first place, as they show no symptoms. This is why it’s important to get tested regularly.
With an at-home STD test kit, people can avoid the embarrassment or stigma that comes with the STD testing process.
There are several test kits available that can test for various infection. For example, the HPV home test is designed to detect a person with human papillomavirus, which can cause warts and other infections. Some HPV strains can also lead to the development of cancer. With an HPV home test kit, users can find out if they have the virus and seek treatment before complications occur.
The company also has a specialized home test kit for hepatitis C, which affects the liver and can cause liver cancer. It can live within the human body for years before symptoms begin to appear. For that reason, it’s difficult to treat hepatitis C, but with a home test kit, a person can learn if they have it or no, and get treatment if they are positive.
The widely-known STD infection is HIV (or human immunodeficiency virus) targets the immune system and hinders it from fighting off other infections. A person with this virus must take medication to fight off other infection. While there is no current cure, the disease is well-managed and, in a number of cases, undetectable. In its early stages, there are no symptoms. Therefore, getting tested is the only way to know for sure if a person is HIV-positive. An at-home HIV test kit can help people find out early on if they need treatment.
Both gonorrhea and chlamydia are bacterial infections that can lead to health problems if they are not treated. They show no outward symptoms at the beginning, which makes it prudent to get tested. MeetPositives also a testing kit for these diseases.
The site also has a home testing kit for both syphilis and trichomoniasis. Trichomoniasis is an infection caused by a parasite that hardly shows symptoms, which makes it imperative to get tested for it. Syphilis can cause rashes, fever and sores and is very dangerous to pregnant women and unborn babies.
The company also has a Herpes home test kit, testing for either strain of the herpes virus – herpes simplex virus 1 or herpes simplex virus 2. Depending on the body part, it could be genital or oral herpes. This disease is incurable, but treatments can reduce the number of outbreaks and alleviate symptoms of the disease.
Thanks to MeetPositives, its members can find out if they have an STD, and if positive, seek treatment. The test is also useful in taking preventative measures in getting the disease altogether. With an at-home STD testing kit, it’s never been easier to get tested and not feel embarrassed about it.
Written by Mark Riegel, MD
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