When In Arlington, Get Tested For STDs At The Earliest

There is a reason why so much importance is laid on maintaining sexual health and using protection in case of sex with strangers. It is because if one does not do that, they stand a chance of contracting a sexually transmitted infection or disease.

Look at the statistics.

Every year, one in every four teens in the US contracts an STD. What’s more, by the time they reach 25 years of age, almost half of all sexually active people get at least one STD. Isn’t that alarming news?

What are these?

An STI or STD is a sexual infection that passes from one person to another via sexual contact. The most common sexual routes are vaginal, anal and oral. Apart from these, these infections can also spread blood or pass from the mother to her child during delivery.

There are more than 20 types of STIs and STDs. The most commonly prevalent ones are:

·       Chlamydia

·       Gonorrhea

·       Syphilis

·       Trichomoniasis

·       Public lice

·       HIV/AIDS

·       HPV

·       Genital herpes

The main causes behind these are bacteria, viruses, and parasites, and they can affect both men and women.

Basically, you can get it if:

ü  You are sexually active.

ü  You are a man who has sex with men – you are more inclined to catching STIs.

ü  You do not use protection, like condoms.

ü  You change your sexual partners frequently.

How to stay safe

With most of these infections causing quite a bit of physical and mental misery and some of them being deadly, it makes a lot of sense to be careful regarding your sexual activity.

Here are some ways:

Ø  Use protection – always!

Ø  Educate yourself regarding good sexual practices.

Ø  If you feel you are at risk, go in for Arlington full panel STD test. This will help you catch the infection, if any, well in time.

Ø  Try and limit casual sex, and wear a condom every time you are with someone new. Women, ensure your new sexual partner wears protection!

General symptoms

While many STIs and STDs do not show symptoms immediately and there are some that do not have any symptoms at all.

Here are a few common ones:

o   Sores or warts in the genital region

o   Unusual discharge from the vagina/penis

o   Fever

o   Abdominal pain

o   Painful urination

o   Itchiness in the anal region

o   Itchiness and redness in the genital region

Hardly pleasant, any of them!

You will be glad to know that some of these infections and diseases are completely curable, such as chlamydia, syphilis, gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis.

You must speak with a physician if you fear you have contracted an STI/STD. do not feel embarrassed about this and do not ever delay getting a test done. STDs caused due to viruses cannot be cured but medication can keep your symptoms under control and prevent the infection from spreading to the others.

If You Suspect You Have an STD, Get Tested Without Fail

Sex and openness on this topic have changed a lot over the past few decades.

Yet, research has found that there is still a knowledge gap among American adults when it comes to sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

It is no wonder this country is seeing spikes in gonorrhea, chlamydia and syphilis. Decline in condom use is one reason, and perhaps fewer people are receiving care due to budget cuts.

A study conducted by an online agency has found that the average score to answers to their sex questionnaire was awfully poor.

Talking about sexual health is still taboo as people feel it is a personal and sensitive issue.

And that is why there is a lot of misinformation going around.

At the same time people who fear they have indulged in risky behavior are keen to get tested. After all, it is a question of their health and also that of their loved ones.

But people want to get tested as discreetly as possible.

How do men get tested for STDs in Arlington?

Frankly this question is applicable to women too.

There is no need to worry. You have private and confidential options.

Visit your primary care doctor

There are several good reasons why you must do so. For one, doctors are familiar with sexually transmitted infections. Some are simple bacterial infections that can be easily treated with antibiotics. You must also keep in mind that doctors are bound by confidentiality tenets to keep their patients’ privacy.

You can visit a nearby walk-in clinic

In Arlington you can visit an urgent care facility that is open all seven days. No appointment is needed and an added bonus is that same day STD treatment is available. This Arlington quick STD test clinic is worth considering.

Visit Planned Parenthood

This is a national body with more than 700 centers across the country. It offers confidential testing and treatment. Planned Parenthood is a good option if you are worried about insurance or do not want to see your family doctor.

Home test kit

This is a good option. These are self-collection types you can order online.

Every purchase comes with guidelines, the materials for sample collection and prepaid shipping both ways.

Many insurance plans cover the cost of at-home test kits.

Walk-in clinics, your primary care physicians and online doctors can provide you with vital information that help you to know the symptoms and consequences of sexually transmitted infections.

These are Covid-19 times and you may be in isolation. You may desist from visiting a doctor. Using online resources to get information is the best option at this time.

An online medical professional offers personalized, confidential advice to anyone who needs it.

Just because you are in lockdown does not mean you must compromise on your sexual or reproductive health. Any laxity on your part can leave you with long-lasting complications or even infertility.

Get to know how men get tested for STDs in Arlington. You will be surprised that there are many options available. 

What to Expect When Talking About STD Testing With a Doctor

Never got tested for STDs? Then you may feel a bit awkward. Some feel scared. However, as doctors say, you have no reason to feel scared. STD tests are just like any other test. They are painless procedures intended to confirm your sexual health. 

You may feel awkward because the world is not yet open to talking about sexually transmitted diseases. But, if you walk into your nearest STD clinic, you would realize there isn’t a reason to feel awkward. 

Remember, STD testing does not form a part of your annual health checkup. You must ask your doctor to conduct this test. If you feel shy about asking your family doctor, you can walk into the STD clinic and undergo a test discreetly. 

But I don’t have symptoms!

STDs are often asymptomatic. So, do not rely on the presence of symptoms, say doctors. They may or may not show up. If you are sexually active, you have all the reason to undergo a test. And if you have multiple partners or have a new partner, you cannot miss getting tested. 

How is a test done?

Walk in STD testing facility near Arlington, VA, conducts testing for commonest STDs. The doctor usually takes a swab sample, urine sample, or blood sample for the test. 

What to expect when you walk into the clinic?

You will be ushered into the doctor’s chamber immediately. If there is already a patient inside, you must wait, but this takes just a few minutes. 

Be prepared to answer questions about your sexual life. Be honest. Nobody will judge you here. Being honest is for your own good. The doctor will determine your risk level and the tests you must undergo on the basis of your sexual life and history, and symptoms, if any. 

They may also ask whether you ever had sex with a sex worker or if you inject drugs. If you are a man, the doctor may also want to know if you ever had sex with a man. These questions may seem offensive to many, but they are not. These are factors that determine your level of risk of contracting STDs. 

Do you know men having sex with men is a high-risk sexual behavior? It puts you at high risk for contracting dangerous infections like HIV. 

Taking drugs through injection is a high risk factor, as HIV can be transmitted through sharing needles. 

When you walk into an STD clinic in Arlington, keep an open mind and focus on your sexual health. This is for your own good and the good of your whole family. If you are infected and do not seek treatment, you would infect your partner and, eventually, your baby. 

That’s why it is important for couples to confirm their sexual health because it is not limited to themselves. Being ignorant about your infection can make you breed a generation of infected people. 

Consider STD testing as taking charge of your health, not as a shame. We are already in 2022, folks. Do we still need to feel embarrassed talking about our sexual health?

Why You Must Not Leave Syphilis Infection Untreated

Syphilis is a common sexually transmitted disease. It is completely curable; but if you let it just be in your body, it can wreak havoc inside. It can even make you blind, damage your heart, blood vessels, and brain, and render you infertile. 

Such horrible consequences of letting an absolutely curable disease go untreated! 

Why people do not undergo testing

Most of the time, it is people’s ignorance of the symptoms, or maybe they don’t know that syphilis can turn into such a health catastrophe when left untreated. 

Other times, it could be plain procrastination. 

It could also be embarrassment. 

However, with the advent of STD clinic located at easily accessible places, you must neither procrastinate nor feel embarrassed. You must simply walk into the clinic to get tested for syphilis infection in Arlington, VA. Talk to the doctor to clear your doubts about syphilis or any STD. He or she will recommend the best course of action, depending on your sexual behavior, history, current symptoms, age, and overall health. 

What happens when you leave syphilis untreated?

According to doctors, you must not let a simple, curable disease enter into its last stage and create irreparable damage to your body, even death. Doctors at STD clinic can help you decipher signs of syphilis in men and women in VA. 

Here’s what can happen when syphilis is left untreated: 

Neurosyphilis

Syphilis is caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum. When you let this bacterium stay inside your body for a long time, it multiplies and may reach the nervous system. 

You may experience symptoms like:

•        Headache
•       Seizures
•        Dementia
•        Abnormal gait
•        Concentration troubles
•        Numbness in extremities
•        Weakness
•        Confusion
•       Loss of vision or problem in vision 

Congenital syphilis

Congenital syphilis happens in fetuses or newborns. This is a life-threatening condition. The bacterium can easily get transmitted from an infected pregnant woman to her developing fetus or newborn through vaginal delivery. 

As per a study, around 70 per cent of infected women are likely to infect their babies during pregnancy or delivery. 

Giving birth while having syphilis infection can make terrible things happen to your newborn, such as:

•        Saddle nose (nose without bridge)
•        Low birth weight
•        Fetal or neonatal death
•       Pre-term birth
•        Fever
•        Watery nasal fluid
•        Rash in the anus, genitals, or mouth
•       Tiny blisters on hands and feet that become a copper-colored flat or bumpy rash later which may spread to the face
•        Trouble gaining weight 

Young kids may suffer from:

•        Loss of vision
•        Loss of hearing
•        Pain in bones
•        Swelling in joints
•        Hutchinson teeth (peg-shaped, abnormal teeth)
•        Saber shines (this is a bone disorder in lower legs)
•        Gray patches around anus and vagina
•        Scars on skin around anus, genitals, and mouth

It is wise for pregnant women to undergo syphilis test during their first pre-natal visit to save their baby from such terrible outcomes. 

When it comes to STDs, avoid playing the guessing game. Instead, be sure about your sexual health status. Be more alert about syphilis infection; visit the Arlington, VA, STD clinic today.

STD Checkup In Arlington VA – Perfect Solution For Comprehensive STD Testing

An appalling number of people worldwide test positive for STDs (sexually transmitted diseases). The scenario is actually just the tip of the iceberg because there are many more infected people out there who are unaware that they are infected because they never got tested. These infected people inadvertently go around spreading the disease to their unsuspecting partners. Going in for STD tests is the only way to break this vicious cycle of infections and their spread. 

Why do people evade testing?

Although there are plenty of facilities for STD testing, people are extremely hesitant to go in for screening due to the embarrassment attached to sexual diseases. Another reason is the time delay involved in going in for a test, waiting to provide testing samples, and then the long and anxious wait for the results. Rather than undergo all this stress, most people prefer to assume that all is well. 

Positive trends in STD testing

Thankfully, the advent of urgent care clinics has proven to be a neat solution for all these issues. Firstly, patients are assured of total confidentiality thanks to the stringent privacy policies followed by these clinics. None of your personal details or test results will be shared with anyone.  In other words, the entire procedure during STD checkup in Arlington VA will be discreet, and every attempt will be made to ensure you are comfortable with the proceedings.

Secondly, unlike regular clinics where you need to fix appointments and wait for your turn, STD checkup in Arlington VA offers you the convenience of simply walking in, requesting an STD test, and getting tested in a matter of minutes. Most test results are available on the same day so that you can decide on the next step at the earliest. 

The result? A growing number of people now walk in for STD tests at these urgent care clinics. Walk in STD clinic Arlington being open on weekends and most holidays is another plus that people find convenient. Now they no longer need to take time off from work or important chores to go in for an STD testing. 

Prompt attention, precise results, reliable treatment

No matter what time of the day or night you walk in, there will always be qualified doctors and experienced health professionals to help you in these urgent care clinics. These clinics offer excellent testing facilities for syphilis, gonorrhea, herpes, HIV, chlamydia, and many more. You will be pleased to learn that these tests are affordably priced so that you can undergo comprehensive tests without running up a huge bill.

If you suspect you have an STD but are unsure what it may be, it is best to consult a specialist at the clinic. After collecting necessary information about your medical history and conducting a physical examination (if necessary), the doctor will offer you the right guidance regarding which tests you will need to take. 

STD checkup in Arlington VA cannot get any easier than this. For completely confidential and incredibly fast testing, simply walk into the nearest clinic and get tested today. 

Get Tested For STDs In Minutes At Your Nearest Walk In Clinic

You can contract an STD (Sexually Transmitted Disease) such as syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia or even HIV when you least expect it. If you are young and sexually active, the chances of getting infected with an STD are high. If you suspect such an infection, remember that getting tested for STDs is easier and faster than you expect.  

Although the symptoms of STDs vary, there is one common factor about individuals who suspect they have contracted an STD – they are embarrassed about it and hesitant to seek medical help or treatment. However, it is important to understand that an STD is just like any other medical condition. If tested and diagnosed early, most STDs are completely curable. 

Fast, easy and confidential testing

With Arlington free STD testing and treatment available at walk-in clinics, it is easier than ever before to manage any kind of STD. Open 24 hours a day, these clinics offer STD testing facilities without prior appointment. You can simply walk in, consult a specialist and undergo tests. Thanks to the advanced lab facilities in these clinics, you will have a result within minutes. 

Regardless of your age or gender, you may avail Arlington free STD testing and treatment at an after hours clinic. Your name and contact details provided at the clinic will remain confidential and will not be shared with your GP unless you permit it.  

Testing procedures at the clinic

You will be guided to a doctor who will require information about your sex life to arrive at a diagnosis. You may be asked when you last had sex, if you have multiple partners and what symptoms you have been experiencing. After the preliminary examination, the doctor may suggest certain tests and explain why you need to take them. To conduct these tests, the clinic may require a sample of your urine or blood. A urine sample will suffice if testing for gonorrhea or chlamydia. A blood sample is required for tests related to syphilis or HIV. 

You may also be asked to provide a swab of the urethra or vagina. Most clinics explain the swab procedure and let you do it on your own so that you are comfortable with it. A physical examination of the affected parts may sometimes be necessary. If you are a female and prefer to consult a female doctor, the clinic will connect you to one if available. The same applies to males as well. 

If you test positive after the Arlington walk in STD testing, you will be started on medications and your doctor will suggest that your partner/s go in for STD testing so they can start treatment if necessary.

The moment you walk in to a clinic, you will forget your anxieties about whether you will be judged by the fact that you are there for Arlington free STD testing and treatment. This is all in a day’s work for the friendly staff at the clinic and they will ensure that you are comfortable at all times. 

5 Types of Herpes Virus& Those Cold Sores Aren’t What You Think!

Cold sores are not a big deal, right? You hop into a store and get a lip balm meant to treat it. Simple. But do you know why you got a cold sore? No, it’s not an allergic reaction.

Cold sores are caused by Herpes Simplex Virus 1 (HSV 1), which is a sexually transmitted disease! 

We know you have straightened up on your desk now and are staring at the sentence unbelievingly. 

Types of herpes 

HSV that causes cold sores also causes genital herpes and belongs to bigger family of viruses, called herpesviridae. According to National Institutes of Health (NIH), eight viruses from this family are known to the medical world. As per a report by NIH, they “commonly infect humans, and close to 100 percent of the adult population is infected with at least one.”

Among the eight, five types of herpes viruses are of major concern to the medical community. They are:

1. Herpes Simplex Virus 1 (HSV 1): 

HSV 1 is also called Herpes labialis. It causes cold sores. It spreads chiefly through oral contact. However, as per a recent NIH report, doctors have documented increasing cases of genital herpes caused by this virus. Doctors believe this to be due to an increase in oral sex activities among people. 

2. Herpes Simplex Virus 2 (HSV 2): 

HSV 2 is linked to blisters on the mucosal membrane of genitals. In rare cases, this virus is found to cause blisters in or around the mouth. 

HSV 1 and HSV 2 testing in Arlington, VA, are available at the nearest STD clinic. You can walk in without an appointment any day of the week and request a discreet test. 

3. Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV): 

People usually contract this virus in their childhood. The commonest way of spread is through bodily fluids. This virus strain causes infectious mononucleosis or mono. 

4. Cytomegalovirus (CMV): 

CMV is asymptomatic. According to medical reports, this infection is so common that around 50-80 per cent of American adults are infected by this virus atleast by the age of 40. 

5. Varicella zoster virus (VZV):

This virus causes what is popularly known as shingles in adults and chickenpox in kids. In both conditions, the patient develops a highly itchy and/or painful rash on the body. 

How to know what virus has infected you?

According to doctors, you cannot determine what type of herpes virus has infected a person through appearance of symptoms. The only way to determine is through a blood or serological testing. In case you have symptoms, the doctor, while conducting HSV 1 and HSV 2 testing in Arlington, VA, clinic would take a swab sample of the sore. 

The American Sexual Health Association recommends taking a culture within 48 hours of the first outbreak of herpes. This gives the most accurate results. If you take a culture after this period, chances of getting a false negative are higher. 

So, if you have a cold sore, instead of hopping into a store for a lip balm, please walk in your nearest STD clinic in Arlington for HSV 2 treatment.