Making The Most Of An STI Testing Appointment

Have you been subject to a test with a cotton swab? You might have if someone has swabbed your nose for coronavirus disease or your throat for strep. The reason why we bring up swab testing is that a swab is used to perform many sexually transmitted infection tests. The thing may be useful the next time you go to a free STD and HIV testing location or a similar venue for an STI screening procedure.

It is possible to test for a few common STIs, such as chlamydia and gonorrhea, by drawing the blood or peering at a cup, but those tests cannot say where an STI infection is. This is where oral, genital, and anal swab tests come into the picture.

Which Sexually Transmitted Infection Tests To Have

The person you have sex with and the form of intercourse you have are among the determinants of the tests that you have to get. For instance, when you kiss and have intercourse with one partner, you perhaps should get blood and urine tests one or more times per year.

However, if you have intercourse with multiple people on night outs, it is vital to do oral swab tests regularly. Human papillomavirus and HSV-1 are easy to spread through kissing with open mouths. The same goes for other sexual acts.

Do you have oral sex with one partner, indulge in anal sex with someone else, and enjoy penetrative vaginal sex with one more partner? If so, know that you should undergo a blend of anal, genital, and oral swab tests. Why? Because every single part of your body would get exposed to an entirely different degree of risk.

Swab Testing For STIs

It is easy to administer the test for a sexually transmitted infection. Similar to a coronavirus disease test, it entails inserting a cotton bud into the part and rotating it for 15 seconds or so to get a cell sample.

However, championing these tests is a different story. Swab testing is still not considered standard, so you may have to demand it, especially as you talk to a healthcare service professional or make an appointment.

Some clinicians necessitate clients to further elucidate why they feel that the test is essential and why they want it. If your clinician does not agree to do it, you should find another professional. It does not matter whether you get care at a primary healthcare clinic with free HIV and STD testing services, local healthcare department or elsewhere, your healthcare requirements should be met.