The problem with STIs (sexually transmitted infections) is that if you don’t have any symptoms, you won’t know you’re infected. Ola Onabanjo, APRN, and her colleagues at Rightplace Family Clinic in Ellicott City, Maryland, offer STI testing for people with symptoms and screening to ensure you’re free of disease. If you’re sexually active or you believe you’ve been exposed to an STI, call Rightplace Family Clinic today. You can also use the online booking form to request a consultation.
STIs (sexually transmitted infections) are diseases you might catch from an infected person when you’re sexually intimate. Common STIs include:
You can also contract hepatitis through sexual activity.
Some STIs are curable, while others aren’t. Untreated STIs can cause long-term complications, including infertility and cancer. Certain conditions, like syphilis and AIDS, can be fatal without the proper treatment.
Preventing STIs is best. Always use condoms during sexual intercourse to limit the spread of infection and avoid risky activities, such as sleeping with many partners. HIV prophylaxis (PrEP) treatment is availble to patient over age of 18 years. Although this treatment requires repeat test every 3 months.
You can visit Rightplace Family Clinic for STI testing if you have symptoms of an infection. These include:
Some STIs cause symptoms like fever, excessive sweating, weight loss, aches and pains, and jaundice (yellowed skin). However, many other medical conditions could cause these problems as well.
Very often, STIs don’t cause any symptoms at all. Therefore, it’s important to schedule regular STI screening if you’re sexually active.
STI testing is easy and typically painless. No single test can identify all STIs, so you might need several tests to ensure you don’t miss anything.
Rightplace Family Clinic primarily uses blood and urine tests for routine STI screening. If you have STI symptoms, your provider might order STI tests per signs and symptoms you present with. Some tests are performed on-site in our CLIA waived lab with even faster results.
Testing for chlamydia involves taking cells from the cervix or urethra. HPV testing also uses a cervical swab. A routine Pap smear (which often forms part of a well-woman exam) can detect the presence of HPV (the primary cause of cervical cancer).
Some STIs, like gonorrhea, are bacterial infections that require antibiotic treatment. Others, like HIV, need long-term treatment with antiviral medications.
If you have a positive test result, you need to tell anyone you’ve been intimate with in the last few months so they can get a test.
Rightplace Family Clinic offers same-day onsite STI testing and treatment for fast results.
To arrange your STI sameday test or screening, call Rightplace Family Clinic today or book an appointment online.