Conventionally, women get blood tests when a doctor recommends them but in the case for STD tests for women, it may be a more private matter. Ordering a STD tests for women usually happens at the conclusion of an office visit. Nowadays however, people have begun deciding for themselves which lab tests to get and when to get them. With the increase in our sexual inhibitions, riskier sex has increased the amount of STD testing.
People have different reasons for making such independent decisions to have STD testing performed especially Std tests for women. The most widely understood reason for STD testing is due to the unknown about a questionable sex partner. Direct Access Testing or what can be known as direct to consumer lab testing websites have made it very easy for consumers to utilize std testing without having to see a physician and endure the embarrassment of telling their doctor about unprotected sex. Two of the most common ordered STD tests for women are Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae.
Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae are the most frequently reported sexually-transmitted diseases in the US and the most ordered STD tests for women. In 2002, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published guidelines for laboratory testing that emphasized the use of nucleic acid amplification tests in screening for Chlamydia trachomatis and also for Neisseria gonorrhoeae when conditions of transport could compromise viability of the organism. Other guidelines have recommended Chlamydia screening for all women, ages 15 to 25, as well as testing pregnant women during their first trimester for both Chlamydia and Neisseria. In some settings, the fact that both Neisseria and Chlamydia testing can be performed on the same specimen, testing for both can be an effective strategy.
Chlamydia trachomatis is recognized as a leading agent of bacterial sexually-transmitted disease worldwide. The asymptomatic nature of a large proportion of Chlamydia infections leads to under diagnosis and consequent health problems. Approximately 75% of infections in females and 50% of male infections are asymptomatic. Women are the most severely affected due to the correlation between untreated Chlamydia infection and ectopic pregnancy and infertility. Rapid detection and diagnosis of Chlamydia infection is critical in controlling not only the spread of disease but also the devastating sequelae. Partner evaluation to prevent reinfection is also an important aspect of controlling spread of the disease.
Gonorrhea manifests as acute urethritis in males and as cervicitis in females. Gonorrhoeae can be detected from asymptomatic females. Detection and treatment of these individuals is critical because if left untreated, gonorrhea can result in serious complications, including pelvic inflammatory disease, sterility, and ectopic pregnancy. It is very important to control the spread of this disease between sexual partners; thus, the use of a quick reliable test system is essential.
The most common STD tests for women that are ordered are:
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Chlamydia/Gonorrhea Test (NAA) Urine
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Hepatitis B Surface Antigen
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Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Antibody
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Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) Type 1-Specific Antibodies, IgG
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Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) Type 2-Specific Antibodies, IgG
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Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) Types 1 and 2, IgG
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Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV), Types 1 and 2, IgM
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Syphilis Test (RPR)
It’s important to know that consumers can utilize direct to consumer testing by ordering std tests for women through various online websites that offer this service. These Web-based companies permit consumers to order STD tests for women online. They contract with national laboratories like Quest or LabCorp to draw the blood and run the test. The web based companies usually have staff physicians that sign orders for tests without ever seeing patients. They also help patients or what they refer to as online consumers to interpret the laboratory results, for example by emailing them with recommendations to see a doctor if their results fall outside normal ranges and by phoning anyone whose results suggest a serious abnormality. With Std tests for women, physicians usually place phone calls to consumers to review any positive results. With STD testing, we are dealing with either a bacterial infection or a viral infection. Bacterial infections are much easier to identify when compared to viruses. In most cases, virus testing is usually looking at the antibodies or antigens that your body produces against the virus. With both the physical symptoms and the virus antibody/antigen testing performed, physicians can better determine ones STD status. With Std tests for women, it’s always wise to review your lab testing results with a licensed physician.