Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)

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Tests and diagnosis

By Mayo Clinic staff

If your sexual history and current signs and symptoms suggest that you have an STI, laboratory tests can identify the cause and detect coinfections you might also have contracted.

  • Blood tests. Blood tests can confirm the diagnosis of HIV or later stages of syphilis.
  • Urine samples. Some STIs can be confirmed with a urine sample.
  • Fluid samples. If you have active genital sores, testing fluid and samples from the sores may be done to diagnose the type of infection. Laboratory tests of material from a genital sore or discharge are used to diagnose the most common bacterial and some viral STIs at an early stage.

Screening
Testing for a disease in someone who doesn't have symptoms is called screening. Most of the time, STI screening is not a routine part of health care, but there are exceptions:

  • Everyone. The one STI screening test suggested for everyone ages 13 to 64 is a blood or saliva test for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the virus that causes AIDS. Most health care settings in the United States offer a rapid HIV test with same-day results.
  • Pregnant women. Screening for HIV, hepatitis B, chlamydia and syphilis generally takes place at the first prenatal visit for all pregnant women. Gonorrhea and hepatitis C screening tests are recommended at least once during pregnancy for women at high risk of these infections.
  • Women age 21 and older. The Pap test screens for cervical abnormalities, including inflammation, precancerous changes and cancer, which is often caused by certain strains of human papillomavirus (HPV). Experts recommend that, starting at age 21, women should have a Pap test at least every three years. Some experts also advise that women who start having sex before age 21 should have a Pap test within three years of first intercourse.
  • Women under age 25 who are sexually active. All sexually active women under age 25 should be tested for chlamydia infection. The chlamydia test uses a sample of urine or vaginal fluid you can collect yourself. Some experts recommend repeating the chlamydia test three months after you've had a positive test and been treated. The second test is needed to confirm that the infection is cured, as reinfection by an untreated or undertreated partner is common. A bout of chlamydia doesn't protect you from future exposures. You can catch the infection again and again, so you should get retested if you have a new partner. Screening for gonorrhea is also recommended in sexually active women under age 25.
  • Men who have sex with men. Compared with other groups, men who have sex with men run a higher risk of acquiring STIs. Many public health groups recommend annual or more frequent STI screening for these men. Regular tests for HIV, syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhea are particularly important. Evaluation for herpes and hepatitis B also may be recommended.
  • People with HIV. If you have HIV, it dramatically raises your risk of catching other STIs. Experts recommend frequent syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia and herpes tests for people with HIV. Women with HIV may develop aggressive cervical cancer, so they should have Pap tests twice a year to screen for HPV. Some experts also recommend regular HPV screening of HIV-infected men who risk anal cancer from HPV contracted anally.
Complications Preparing for your appointment
References
  1. Sexually transmitted infections: Overview. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women's Health. http://womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/sexually-transmitted-infections.cfm. Accessed Nov. 23, 2012.
  2. Sexually transmitted infections. World Health Organization. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs110/en/index.html. Accessed Nov. 23, 2012.
  3. Fortenberry JD. Sexually transmitted diseases: Overview of issues specific to adolescents. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed Nov. 23, 2012.
  4. A Guide to Drinking Water Treatment and Sanitation for Backcountry & Travel Use. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/drinking/travel/backcountry_water_treatment.html. Accessed Nov. 23, 2012.
  5. Swygard H, et al. Screening for sexually transmitted infections. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed Nov. 23, 2012.
  6. STD trends in the United States: 2010 national data for gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/std/stats10/trends.htm. Accessed Nov. 23, 2012.
  7. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, et al. Revised Recommendations for HIV Testing of Adults, Adolescents, and Pregnant Women in Health-Care Settings. MMWR. 2006; 55;1. http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5514a1.htm. Accessed Nov. 25, 2012.
  8. Screening tests for women. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women's Health. http://www.womenshealth.gov/screening-tests-and-vaccines/screening-tests-for-women/index.html. Accessed Nov. 25, 2012.
  9. CDC fact sheet: Genital HPV infection. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/std/HPV/STDFact-HPV.htm. Accessed Nov. 25, 2012.
  10.  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, et al. Sexually transmitted diseases treatment guidelines, 2010. MMWR. 2010;59:1. http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5912a1.htm. Accessed Nov. 25, 2012.
  11. CDC fact sheet: Genital herpes. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/std/Herpes/STDFact-Herpes.htm. Accessed Nov. 25, 2012.
  12. Guidelines for the use of antiretroviral agents in HIV-1-infected adults and adolescents. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. http://aidsinfo.nih.gov/guidelines/html/1/adult-and-adolescent-arv-guidelines/0/. Accessed Nov. 25, 2012.
  13. Partner services FAQs. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/nchhstp/partners/faq-public.html. Accessed Nov. 25, 2012.
  14. Truvada approved to reduce the risk of sexually transmitted HIV in people who are not infected with the virus. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/forconsumers/byaudience/forpatientadvocates/hivandaidsactivities/ucm312264.htm. Accessed Nov. 25, 2012.
  15. Condoms and STDs: Fact sheet for public health personnel. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/condomeffectiveness/latex.htm. Accessed Nov. 25, 2012.
  16. Steckelberg JM (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Dec. 3, 2012.
  17. Rizza SA (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Dec. 4, 2012.
DS01123 Feb. 23, 2013

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