STI stands for Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs used to be called STDs). A person can have an STI but never show any signs or symptoms. An infected person can carry the infection to others, even if they never feel sick or have any symptoms.
Even infections with “no symptoms” can damage your reproductive system, be passed on during childbirth, and affect your relationships.
A sexually transmitted infection develops in your body when bacteria, a virus, or a parasite passes to you through sexual contact with a person who has an STI. It can also happen with skin-to-skin touching.
There are three kinds of STIs:
- Bacterial STIs: Gonorrhea and chlamydia are curable by medication.
- Viral STIs: Herpes and HIV are incurable, but the symptoms are treatable.
- Parasite STIs: Scabies or pubic lice is curable with skin creams.
Chlamydia & Gonorrhea often have “no symptoms” and can be easily tested and treated with medication. If not caught early enough, these STIs can lead to PID (pelvic inflammatory disease) and infertility. Also, abortion procedures performed when an STI is present can increase the risk for pelvic inflammatory disease and the potential for other complications.
Caring Hearts offers urine testing for Chlamydia & Gonorrhea, which are the two most common infections in Arkansas. Testing is performed through a simple urine collection and sent to a lab. On the day of your testing, our staff will set a follow-up appointment for you to come back for your test results to see if treatment is needed.
STIs take time to develop. Even if you are in a hurry to get tested, you may have to wait a bit after sexual contact before you get an accurate test result. To schedule an appointment for a urine STI test forChlamydia & Gonorrhea, contact us now.
*If you have symptoms such as increased discharge, painful urination, lesions, ulcers, enlarged lymph nodes, body aches, or fever – please contact a physician immediately.