There are several reasons why you need to get tested for STDs. Any New Yorker who is sexually active needs regular STD testing. It does not need to be a big deal, you can have a test done during your annual check-up, or stop in any time you have a few minutes. Our office is one of the STD clinics in NYC, with an in-house phlebotomy section that can do the blood draws, and have them analyzed on-site. We understand the need for discretion; your private information will never leave our office.
Stay Safe with STD Testing in NYC
The high rate of sexually transmitted diseases in New York City makes it important that you be tested to avoid spreading the disease further. If your test comes back positive, we will help you talk with your sexual partners to explain the situation. Everything will be handled with the utmost respect and confidentiality.
Should I Get Tested Even if There are No Symptoms?
If you have been with more than one person, sexually, in the last six months, then yes, you should be tested. The most severe diseases do not always show any symptoms for years. A test for HIV may not show positive for more than six months after you have been exposed and are carrying the virus. You could have been with someone who had a disease and did not know it at the time. Once the disease was found, he or she may feel it was after being with you. Getting tested does not hurt, it is a simple needle prick, but it could save you from
Why Do You Need to Get Tested for STD?
New Strains of Viruses
Many people do not understand that there are new strains of common STDs. The more people become infected with a certain strain, and get treated, the strain alters and becomes resistant to the antibiotics used to kill it. This means that you cannot take the medication given to a friend or sex partner and get the same result. You need to go to one of the New York STD testing clinics to find out which strain it is you have and receive the proper prescription to get rid of it.
Common STDs Tested and Their Symptoms at Our NYC Clinic
These common STDs in NYC are prevalent in everyone who has had multiple sexual partners. These diseases are not choosy. College students, business professionals, rich, poor, and people from all races are infected every day. While it may take a while for any symptoms to show, you should never dismiss them. At the first sign of any symptom, come into our clinic for STD testing in Manhattan.
Chlamydia Symptoms
Chlamydia is often overlooked as an STD, but it is also very common. The symptoms can take up to three weeks to start and include:
- Pain in the lower abdominal region
- Vaginal discharge
- Testicular pain
- Painful intercourse
- Painful urination
- Discharge from the penis
It is important to keep in mind that the symptoms may be very mild, and may come and go over time. However, you still have the infection and can pass it on to others. Get tested to be sure you are not carrying the disease.
Gonorrhea Symptoms
While most people will experience the symptoms of gonorrhea within 10 days of unprotected sex, others will not show any signs of the disease for a month. Any time you notice any of these symptoms, you need to be tested at our STD clinic.
- Pain or burning during urination
- Thick, opaque discharge from the vagina or pens; this may be bloody too
- Pain in the testicles
- Pain during bowel movements
- Abnormal menstruation
- Anal irritation and itching
Over time, the symptoms will become worse, and the infection can travel to other parts of your body, affecting your overall health.
Syphilis Symptoms
Syphilis is a disease that progresses in stages; each stage is more serious that the one before. You will notice the first symptom any time between three weeks and three months of being infected. Finding the infection and having it treated is the only way to make sure you are not carrying it and infecting others with it for years. The first symptom will be a painless sore on your genitals, anus, mouth, or rectum. It may heal on its own after a few weeks, but you are still infected, and still able to pass it on to others.
HIV Symptoms
Unfortunately, HIV is not only the most life-threatening of the STDs, but it is also the one that takes the longest for symptoms to appear. You could be infected for years before ever exhibiting any symptoms at all. It is for this reason that you need to undergo regular STD testing if you have had sexual relations with more than one person since your last test. If you find yourself getting sick more frequently, or unable to fight off a cold or other common illness, it could be due to HIV.
Staying disease free, by using condoms and dental dams, is a good start. Having only one sexual partner, who you know is not sleeping with someone else, makes things even safer for you. However, no one has the right to judge you or make you feel uncomfortable about your sexual activities. At our NYC STD clinic, the only reason we ask about your sexual partners is to make sure that everyone stays safe and healthy. We know you do not want to have an STD, and that you do not want to pass it on to others. It is our job to help you stay healthy and responsible.