Sexually transmitted infections or STIs has become a major health concern for people worldwide. Regular STI testing is evolving as a crucial part of our regular health check-up. It helps in prevention of infection among individuals through sexual contact. It is the key to maintenance of sexual health in people.
Why is Regular STI testing important?
STIs may occur in individuals without showing prior symptoms. This asymptomatic nature of STIs eventually causes the individuals to be unaware even after their infection. It, therefore, becomes necessary to undertake STI testing services to discover STI infections.
You must consider STI assessments as an essential component of your routine health. Regular STI testing can help you detect your risks of STI early, enacting early medical intervention to the health problem. The prompt treatment automatically reduces your health risks along with improving the prognosis of the health issue. It is also a step towards preventive care for individuals without STIs.
Impact of Different Forms of STIs
You can get to know about the severe complications occurring from STIs and their effective management from this section.
- HIV (Human Deficiency Virus)
HIV infection fosters harmful consequences on the immune system of humans. The invasion of HIV in our body eventually gives rise to Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome or AIDS.
Three main types of STI testing can diagnose your HIV infection:
- You can undertake an antibody test for self assessment or rapid tests to check your HIV infection. It uses your blood or saliva sample to detect HIV antibodies.
- Another antigen/antibody blood test checks the presence of both HIV antibodies and p24 antigens in your blood.
- You can also opt for Nucleic Acid Test for HIV detection. However, this method is not suitable for routine STI assessments due to its high cost.
Sexual health clinics in London recommend HIV testing of teens from 15 years onwards. This is because they become sexually active from this period. Teenagers should also undertake this HIV test once every year after getting first HIV screening.
Private STI testing in London also corresponds to the frequent chances of getting HIV infection for specific groups of individuals. Transgender and males with male sexual partners are more prone to these conditions. Pregnant women must also get an HIV test.
- Chlamydia
Chlamydia is a quite common STI both in males and females. It causes the maximum damage to reproductive organs in females.
- NAAT or Nucleic Acid Amplification Test is the main typical method to diagnose Chlamydia.
- Samples for NAAT may include cotton swabs of the cervix, urethra or vagina. You can also use urine sample, or swabs of the rectum or throat (in case of anal or oral sex) to test for Chlamydia.
Sexual males above 25 years must undertake Chlamydia tests. This is also applicable for males above 13 years who lead a sexually active lifestyle. This test is equally important for prenatal screening of pregnant females.
- Gonorrhoea
Gonorrhoea is mainly common in people between 15 and 24 years of age.
- Just like Chlamydia, you can also use NAAT to diagnose Gonorrhoea.
- Swabs of urethra in males and vagina in females are common samples for this test. Urine sample is also eligible for the screening of Gonorrhoea.
Similar as Chlamydia, test for Gonorrhoea is the most essential for males above 25 years. Also, males over 13 years sexually involved with other males must undertake this NAAT screening to avoid the risks of STIs.
- Syphilis
Syphilis involves easy treatment with basic antibiotics. However, delayed treatment of syphilis may lead to severe health risks.
- Blood test is the most common method for detection of syphilis.
- Fluid from syphilis sore can also be another alternative for detection of syphilis.
Assessment of pregnant women for syphilis is essential. This is because this STI may take the form of congenital syphilis infection in pregnant females. Also, transgender and sexually active males over 13 years should undertake this test.
- PID (Pelvic Inflammatory Disease)
The inflammation of the reproductive organs in females gives rise to PID. PID is basically a secondary effect of some other STI invasion such as gonorrhoea or Chlamydia. However, PID occurs only in females.
The diagnosis of PID is quite tricky. It does not include any specific test. Instead the doctor looks into certain factors for detecting PID:
- Signs and symptoms of any STI
- Medical history of the patient
- Blood and urine testing
- Examination of pelvic swab
- Ultrasound tests of reproductive organs
- HPV (Human Papilloma Virus)
HPV does not bring about any symptoms. In fact, HPV automatically heals in most of the people without any specific treatment. However, if a person is unable to recover from HPV, people develop the tendency to get cervical cancers or genital warts. The minimum age for all males, females or adolescents to undertake an HIV test is 30 years.
- Genital Herpes
Two main viruses, namely, ‘herpes simplex virus type 1’ (HSV-1) and ‘herpes simplex virus type 2’ (HSV-2) are the main factors. They give rise to genital herpes. Herpes outbreak produces blisters and sores on the genitals. Doctor may observe the samples of your sores to detect the presence of HSV antibodies.
Know the Benefits of Private STI Testing
Private STI testing in London fosters a number of benefits:
- A comfortable and discreet environment for STI testing.
- Get quick appointments and end-to-end confidential medical consultations.
- Use of latest tools and technologies for diagnosis.
- Provide the fastest and most accurate and reliable diagnosis results.
- Get access to the most experienced and efficient healthcare specialists.
- Get the most comprehensive and compassionate advice for preventive healthcare.
Summary
The delayed treatment of STIs can lead to serious health complications. It may cause damage of reproductive organs, occurrence of cancer or infertility in individuals. It is, therefore, essential to undertake regular STI tests from private sexual health clinic London. It helps you in early detection and intervention of STIs before they take a severe form. Besides, STI tests also enables you follow preventive measures against risks of STIs.
