Testing for sexually transmitted illness is the only way to be sure if you have been infected. But when you are not confident enough to visit a clinic or are too busy, it is best to use a at home STD kit. Testing at home comes with convenience and the highest level of privacy. You don’t need an appointment with a doctor and your sample collection kit will be sent via mail, so there’s no interference to your routine.
Both at home and lab tests for STD are based on reliable methodologies and the outcomes are processed in a certified laboratory. With the proper procedure, the results should be as accurate as lab tests. Thankfully, the testing procedure is easy to follow. Make sure that your test kits are approved by the FDA. How you administer the test will determine the accuracy. In the end, you want a true reflection of your health status.
Before testing for STD at home, understand the window period of the infections you are suspicious of. Without the right information on the window period, the results might confuse you, no matter how accurate they are. Generally, an at-home herpes testing kit is 98% – 99% accurate, whether you have symptoms or not. After exposure, give yourself about 6 weeks before testing.
Gonorrhea and chlamydia tests use the NAAT method. A urine test is also very accurate, and you may have it 2 to 6 days after exposure. It is possible to detect bacteria in urine even if you haven’t shown any symptoms. The technology you’ll be using at home is as precise as the one doctors use in a typical hospital visit, so you have nothing to worry about.
What if You Test Positive for STD
If your results emerge positive, you must not panic since most STIs are treatable. The main aim of testing at home is to identify an infection. It is the first step to attaining reproductive health. You are entitled to a free consultation by the provider of your at home STD kit to discuss the way forward. Most of the providers have connections with the right doctors and are willing to give referrals.
When it comes to trichomoniasis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia, the STD check offers possible medications you can buy from a local pharmacy. The recommendations are geared towards setting you up for the most appropriate treatment plan. Even though the test results are private, you should share them with a healthcare provider so they can do the follow-up.