How Can You Prevent Herpes
There are several strategies to help prevent sexually transmitted diseases such as herpes. The following strategies, of which abstinence is considered the most reliable, are all recommended by the CDC:
- Reduce Number of Sex Partners
- Mutual Monogamy
Preventing the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases to others is also important. Knowing your status is an important step in making sure a sexually transmitted disease is not spread to your loved ones.
How Does The Test Work
The genital herpes home test kit conveniently allows you to detect genital herpes without the need to visit your doctor or a sexual health clinic.
Ordering a test kit from Superdrug Online Doctor is easy just follow these simple steps:
- Your test kit will be delivered to an address of your choice
- Follow the instructions in the included leaflet to collect the sample
- Place the sample in the prepaid and addressed envelope and send it to our lab
- Your results will arrive within 2 to 3 days of the sample arriving at the lab
What Does The Test Result Mean
Direct detection of the virus
- A positive HSV DNA test or culture indicates that you have an active herpes infection, and the result may indicate if it is HSV-1 or HSV-2.
- A negative PCR test or culture indicates that the herpes simplex virus was not detected, but this does not definitely rule out an infection. False negatives can occur if there is not enough active virus in the sample. This may happen if the lesion is cultured more than 48 hours after the symptoms appear. If suspicion of herpes remains high, repeat testing may be done.
Antibody blood tests
- A positive HSV-1 or HSV-2 IgG antibody test means antibodies are present in your blood, which means you have had an infection in the past even if you haven’t noticed any symptoms. The type of antibody detected indicates the type of HSV infection.
- Negative HSV antibody results mean that it is unlikely that you have been exposed to HSV or it may mean that your body has not had time to begin producing HSV antibodies.
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Std Tests At Citylife Health Vs A Private Practice
You do not have to go through your primary care provider or a private practice to get tested for an STD. When finding the perfect urgent care facility for your needs and budget, be sure to find a partner in healthcare that you can depend on to deliver quick results, clear answers, as well as a helping hand on getting and staying healthy after dealing with an STD.
At CityLife Health, STD tests are quick and painless! We make it our priority to deliver fast, friendly, and convenient service to ensure that our patients feel supported and involved in decisions regarding their health. Our healthcare professionals are here to listen to your concerns, answer your questions, and provide top-tier care to patients in the Greater Philadelphia area.
Our clinic offers a large array of STD testing and treatment services conducted by highly-trained staff. We keep your best interests at the forefront of every diagnosis that our providers make and every prescription they write. Our goal is to help you feel informed, empowered, and confident about your sexual health, even if you are not experiencing any physical symptoms and are simply looking for routine care.
After the initial exam, your healthcare professional may require you to give a urine and/or blood sample to help pin-point a proper diagnosis. Once the results are back from the lab, your provider will better understand your symptoms and assign a proper diagnosis.
How To Diagnose Herpes
Genital herpes is typically diagnosed through examination by a medical professional and a blood test. If you suspect you have genital herpes , you can take an antibody test.
To test for 6 other common STIs like chlamydia, gonorrhea, hepatitis C, HIV, syphilis, and trichomoniasis, try the Everlywell home STD Test for women or the STD Test for men. After you collect your sample at home, it is received and analyzed at the lab, and the test results are sent to you quickly and discreetly via our secure, online platform.
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How Do Healthcare Providers Test For Herpes
How are you tested for herpes at a clinic or healthcare providerâs office? Healthcare providers will examine the location and severity of any active blisters or sores around the mouth or genital area. They may take a tissue sample of the sores to send to a laboratory for examination. A blood sample will be needed if an antibody test is used to check whether you have been infected with the herpes virus.
Who Will Know I Got Tested
All lab services and clinic medical records are strictly confidential. This information is kept between you and your doctor.
Minors do not need parental consent for STI testing or treatment. STI testing and treatment information will not be shared with parents of minors without the minors permission.
If you have charges for an STI test, they will be transferred to your Student Account within 30 days of the visit. These charges do not give details of your visit and will only appear as Health Center Visit Charges. No one will know from your charges that you received STI testing at the health center.
If you use health insurance to get tested, you should consider who else has access to that information . If you do not want to submit your charge to insurance, please tell the front desk staff member at check-in.
Positive results for some STIs, like HIV or syphilis, may be shared with state or city health departments for tracking purposes, but there are laws preventing health departments from sharing your test results with your family, friends or employer.
Be sure to ask your health care provider who will know that you got tested and your results, especially if you are using insurance. Ask questions and stay informed.
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Can It Lie Dormant
The herpes virus can lie dormant in the body for years before people experience any symptoms.
After people have the first outbreak of herpes, the virus then lies dormant in the nervous system. Any further outbreaks are due to the virus reactivating, which causes symptoms to appear.
Symptoms are usually less severe during repeat outbreaks. Sores also clear up more quickly, often within 37 days. This is due to the antibodies the body produces to fight the first outbreak of herpes. The body can then use these antibodies to respond more quickly to future outbreaks.
There is currently no cure for herpes. Even if a person stops experiencing symptoms, the virus will remain inside their body.
It is also important to point out that herpes is transmissible even when no sores or other symptoms are present. For this reason, early prevention is advisable.
To help reduce the chance of this happening, people can use condoms or dental dams during sex.
Condoms and dental dams do not offer complete protection against the herpes virus, as herpes can live on areas around the genitals. However, these methods do reduce the likelihood of contracting the infection or passing it on.
Both people can then take additional steps to reduce the likelihood of transmission. These steps may include:
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Which Stis Should I Get Tested For
STIs are not like allergies you cant do a massive test for all STIs. These tests are specific to each infection. Talk to your doctor about which STI tests you need. Certain STIs are more common than others, so your provider may suggest you get tested regularly for them.
Remember to be honest and open with your provider about your sexual history. They are there to help, not judge you. What you share will help your doctor choose the most appropriate tests for your circumstances so that your testing will not cost more than necessary. Your individual risk factors will determine exactly which tests are most important for you.
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Can I Get The Hpv Vaccine
In the United States, the HPV vaccination recommendation is for:
- All preteens at age 11 or 12 years
- Everyone through age 26 years, if not vaccinated already.
Vaccination is not recommended for everyone older than age 26 years. However, some adults age 27 through 45 years who are not already vaccinated may decide to get the HPV vaccine after speaking with their healthcare provider about their risk for new HPV infections and the possible benefits of vaccination.
HPV vaccination for ages 27 through 45 provides less benefit. Most sexually active adults have already been exposed to HPV, although vaccination does not target all HPV types.
At any age, having a new sex partner is a risk factor for getting a new HPV infection. People who are already in a long-term, mutually monogamous relationship are not likely to get a new HPV infection.
Learn more about who should get an HPV vaccine.
Reasons Not To Get A Herpes Test
Should you take a herpes test if you have no symptoms of this STI? Heres what experts advise.
If you think you have genital herpes because you have a sore on or near your genitals, a doctor or nurse can test the sore and diagnose you. But how do you test for herpes if you have no symptoms and are simply worried youve been exposed to the virus? There is a blood test available, but experts disagree about whether its worth the trouble. Here are a few arguments for not bothering with the herpes test.
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What If I Test Positive For Herpes
Since the virus stays in the nerves surrounding the infected area permanently, there is no cure to eliminate the virus from the body. However, there are many treatments which are very effective at reducing both the severity and frequency of any outbreaks.
Creams and medications are available to manage the symptoms and keep outbreaks under control. If you test positive for Herpes, your Better2Know doctor will be able to prescribe the right treatment for you. You are most likely to pass the virus on when you have symptoms, so you should abstain or practice safe sex with a condom during this time.
There are also organisations who can support you such as The STI Project which provides an online forum for people to share their stories.
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Are There Other Types Of Herpes Viruses Besides Hsv
Yes. There are over 25 viruses in the herpes family and at least 8 types that infect humans. These include herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 discussed in this article as well as varicella zoster virus , associated with chickenpox and shingles, Epstein Barr virus , which can cause infectious mononucleosis, cytomegalovirus , human herpes virus 6 and human herpes virus 7 , both associated with roseola in young children, and human herpes virus 8 , which has been found in tumors in people with Kaposi’s sarcoma . KS primarily affects people with weakened immune systems, such as those with HIV/AIDS and organ transplant recipients.
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What Happens At A Sexual Health Clinic
The doctor or nurse at the sexual health clinic will:
- ask about your symptoms and your sexual partners
- use a small cotton bud to take some fluid from 1 of your blisters or sores for testing
The test cannot:
- be done if you do not have visible blisters or sores
- tell you how long you have had herpes or who you got it from
Symptoms might not appear for weeks or even years after you’re infected with the herpes virus.
How To Prevent Stds
Make sure you communicate with your partner about practicing safe sex. While the best way to prevent getting a sexually transmitted infection is by abstaining from sex, here are some other tips for preventative care:
- If you are sexually active, you should stay with one uninfected partner.
- Before you and your partner have sex, you should both get tested to ensure neither of you is suffering from an STI.
- Whether having sex orally, vaginally or anally, it is crucial that you use condoms consistently and correctly.
- You should also avoid excessive use of drugs and alcohol. When youre under the influence, you are at a greater risk of participating in unprotected sex.
You should also remember that, while condoms do minimize your risk if getting an STI, you may still be at risk of human papillomavirus or herpes .
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What Do The Results Mean
Your HSV test results will be given as negative, also called normal, or positive, also called abnormal.
Negative/Normal. The herpes virus was not found. You may still have an HSV infection if your results were normal. It may mean the sample didn’t have enough of the virus to be detected. If you still have symptoms of herpes, you may need to get tested again.
Positive/Abnormal. HSV was found in your sample. It may mean you have an active infection , or were infected in the past .
If you tested positive for HSV, talk to your health care provider. While there is no cure for herpes, it hardly ever causes serious health problems. Some people may only have one outbreak of sores their whole lives, while others break out more often. If you want to reduce the severity and number of your outbreaks, your provider may prescribe a medicine that can help.
Learn more about laboratory tests, reference ranges, and understanding results.
Local Planned Parenthood Health Center
Planned Parenthood health centers also offer STI testing. They receive government reimbursements and grants from public programs, such as Medicaid and Title X, which means people can get STI testing and treatment for free or at a very low cost, depending on their income, demographics, and eligibility.
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Is That Spot A Pimple Or A Cold Sore
Acne is the most common skin condition in teens and young adults in the United States, and its increasingly common among women in their thirties, forties, and fifties. It can cause a range of blemishes variously known as blackheads, whiteheads, papules, pustules , cysts, and nodules, according to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.
Acne is sometimes confused with oral herpes because of the way a breakout looks. Although oral herpes sores usually appear as small, clear blisters filled with fluid, in some instances they can look more like the reddened skin and pimples associated with acne. However, herpes is typically associated with more itchiness and pain than acne.
And whereas oral herpes sores are usually found on the mouth, lips, chin, cheeks, or nose, acne can break out on any area of the face as well as on the neck, chest, back, and shoulders.
Acne is caused by excess skin oil, clogged pores, and bacteria not the herpes virus. Hormones, stress, certain medicines, and sometimes diet can trigger or worsen acne outbreaks. While a single pimple may clear up in a few days, a larger acne outbreak may last for weeks to months.
Acne is not contagious, and topical and oral medication can help heal pimples, stop new pimples from forming, and prevent scars. To avoid scarring, don’t squeeze or pop pimples.
Treatment For Genital Herpes
There is no cure for genital herpes. Treatment is aimed at alleviating symptoms and prevention of frequent symptom recurrence or outbreaks. Medications such as acyclovir, valacyclovir, and famciclovir are available for the treatment of symptomatic genital herpes including blisters and sores. Medications are available to decrease the frequency of genital herpes outbreaks and to decrease the risk of transmission of herpes to sexual partners.
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Does Afc Urgent Care Offer Std Testing
AFC Urgent Care of South Charlotte, NC offers testing for sexually transmitted diseases , as well as treatment.
Although some people are hesitant to discuss their sexual health, STD testing is a very important part of any sexually active persons medical care, said Dr. Todd Rudolph, Medical Director at AFC Urgent Care & Family Care. At AFC Urgent Care, privacy and respect are the cornerstones of our care. Together, we can determine what types of tests are appropriate for you.
If you would like to learn more about STD testing, or would like to be tested, please visit AFC Urgent Care of South Charlotte, NC or call us today at 247-6578.
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What About Chlamydia The Most Common Std
Chlamydia is caused by bacteria, whereas herpes is caused by a virus. This is why chlamydia is easily treated and cured with antibiotics. However, many people have chlamydia and dont know it because they don’t have any symptoms. That’s why people who are at higher risk of chlamydia, including sexually active young women and men who have sex with other men, are advised to get a test for chlamydia every year.
If you don’t treat chlamydia, it can increase the chances of both men and women getting or giving HIV and AIDS, according to Medline Plus. Untreated chlamydia can also cause serious pelvic inflammatory disease in women, which can lead to infertility, and in men it can spread to the testicles and the tube that carries sperm, causing inflammation.
Screening for chlamydia is usually done by taking a urine sample or a swab from your genitals. Results of these tests are usually found quickly. Different testing methods are used for infections of the rectum and throat, and these take more time.
While the only way to completely avoid getting chlamydia or herpes is to not have sex, you can reduce your chances of getting both by being in a long-term, mutually monogamous relationship with a partner who is not infected with an STD and by using latex condoms every time you have sex.
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