Confidential STD Testing & Treatment
Educate yourself and get tested
STDs affect over 12 million people in the United States each year. We believe this risk can be reduced if STD testing was done by all partners before sexual activity. For some, ongoing screening every 1 to 3 months (depending on the number of partners and risk factors) is the best choice.
Remember that most STDs do not produce symptoms. Our board-certified nurse practitioners at FamilyCare of Kent, Washington are experienced with identifying and curing STDs and can answer all of your questions.
FamilyCare of Kent has the utmost respect for our patients’ privacy when it comes to sexual health, and sexually transmitted diseases are no exception. Your STD test results will stay completely confidential – no one will know but you and your provider.
For more information, scroll down to read about STD testing , prevention, and treatment.
Common Types of STDs
- Bacterial vaginosis
- Chancroid
- Chlamydia
- Gonorrhea
- Granuloma inguinale
- Hepatitis B
- Hepatitis C
- Herpes
- HIV / AIDS
We also offer PrEP, a prescription medication used to prevent HIV infection in homosexual males. Learn more about PrEP.
Complications Associated with STDs
It is important to be tested and treated for STDs because they are easily passed from individual to individual. If left untreated, STDs can lead to complications such as:
- Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which can damage a woman’s fallopian tubes and lead to pelvic pain and sterility
- Tubal pregnancies (where the pregnancy grows in the fallopian tube instead of the womb), sometimes fatal to the mother and always fatal to the fetus
- Sterility in men and women
- Cancer of the cervix, vagina, penis, anus, and/or throat
- Damage to major organs, such as the heart, kidney, and brain, if left untreated
- Discharge from the vagina, penis, or rectum
- Pain or burning during urination or intercourse
- Pain in the abdomen (women), testicles (men), and buttocks
- Blisters, open sores, warts, rashes, or swelling in the genital, anal, or mouth areas
- Persistent flu-like symptoms – including fever, headache, aching muscles, or swollen glands – which may precede STD symptoms
Listen to this CDC podcast for more information: What are STDs anyway?
- Directed physical examination looking for evidence of infection. This includes oral and genital examinations. When looking for human papilloma virus (also known as HPV, genital warts, or condyloma acuminata) we frequently use magnification and may apply acetic acid (vinegar) to better identify genital warts caused by HPV (clinical exam).
- HIV (AIDS) testing using western blot technology with confirmation of all positives (blood test)
- Syphilis (blood test)
- Chlamydia (cervical, oral, anal, and/or urine sample, depending on circumstances)
- Gonorrhea (cervical, oral, anal, and/or urine sample, depending on circumstances)
- Herpes, both type 2 genital herpes and type 1 nongenital herpes image (blood test and/or culture)
- Human papilloma virus (HPV,) also known as genital warts or condyloma acuminata image (clinical exam with high-risk cervical DNA testing for women 30 and older)
- Pelvic inflammatory disease (cultures and clinical exam)
- Trichomoniasis (DNA hybridization assay, women only)
- Bacterial vaginosis* (DNA hybridization assay, women only)
- Yeast vaginosis* (DNA hybridization assay, women only)
- Molluscum contagiosum (clinical exam)
- Hepatitis B and C (blood test done if never immunized against Hepatitis B)
- Lice and scabies (clinical exam)
- Granuloma inguinale (clinical exam with additional confirmatory testing required if disease is suspected)
- Lymphogranuloma venereum (clinical exam with additional confirmatory testing required if disease is suspected)
- Chancroid (clinical exam with additional confirmatory testing required if disease is suspected)
To reduce your chances of being infected with AIDS or other STDs, you should always use a condom from start to finish. While this is not 100% effective, it does significantly reduce risk.
In monogamous relationships, both partners should have STD testing prior to any sexual activity. In multiple partner situations, anyone joining the relationship should have STD testing done before any sexual activity with current partners. Periodic STD testing should be done every 1 to 12 months depending on a variety of factors. Talk with your nurse practitioner to determine the best schedule for you.
Individuals who engage in sexual activity as a source of income should have at least monthly STD testing. Prevention is critical. It is much easier to prevent sexually transmitted diseases than to treat them after the fact.
Immunization against HPV (the cervical cancer vaccine) is strongly recommended for all prior to sexual activity or as soon as possible after the start of sexual activity of any sort. Gardasil® provides protection against HPV types 6, 11, 16, and 18. Cervarix® protects against HPV types 16 and 18. Both are indicated for use from ages 9 to 26 years old.
There is a patient assistance program available for Gardasil, and our staff will work with eligible patients to help in the application process. Both males and females can get the HPV vaccine.
For both males and females, HPV type 16 has been shown to cause cancer in other areas, including the mouth and throat. The HPV vaccine can be given to males just like it is given to females. More research is needed to see if protection is provided against throat and other cancers.
AIDS/HIV: (treatable) Requires multiple medications on a daily basis and care by a specialty team.
Listen to Ida’s story about having HIV (CDC podcast).
Bacterial vaginosis: (curable) Typically a course of treatment with a specific antibiotic will cure this infection.
Chancroid: (curable) Typically a course of treatment with a specific antibiotic will cure this infection.
Chlamydia: (curable) Typically a single dose of a specific antibiotic taken once will cure this infection. A test of cure is recommended 8-12 weeks after treatment. All sexual partners you have had contact with in the past 6 months should also be treated.
Gonorrhea: (curable) Typically a single dose of a specific antibiotic taken once will cure this infection. A test of cure is recommended 8-12 weeks after treatment. All sexual partners you have had contact with in the past 6 months should also be treated. Anyone treated for gonorrhea should also be treated for chlamydia.
Granuloma inguinale: (curable) Antibiotic treatment for several weeks.
Hepatitis B: (vaccine preventable) Acute illness usually goes away without treatment. Chronic infection requires long-term treatment by a specialist with medication.
Hepatitis C: (curable) Long-term treatment by specialist with medication
Herpes: (treatable) There are 2 types of herpes: type 1, which causes 15% of genital herpes cases, and type 2, which causes 85% of genital herpes. If you have an outbreak, both types of herpes can be treated. If you have frequent outbreaks, there is medication for both types of herpes to prevent outbreaks.
If you have type 2 herpes and your partner does not, then you can take a daily antiviral medication to reduce the risk of your partner getting infected. If both of you have tested positive for herpes type 2, then there is no need to treat one partner to reduce the risk of spreading herpes.
If you have herpes type 2, you are unlikely to get infected with herpes type 1; however, having herpes type 1 will not protect you from becoming infected with herpes type 2.
Human papilloma virus also known as HPV, genital warts, or condyloma acuminata: (treatable) While treatable, this very common infection is frequently self-limiting and may resolve on its own within 2 years. Treatment options vary, but a combination of freezing of the warts, followed by treatment with a cream applied to the area, is most commonly used in our practice. We apply an anesthetic cream to the infected area first to minimize the discomfort of freezing.
Lice and scabies: (curable) Typically a short course of treatment will cure these infections.
Lymphogranuloma venereum: (curable) Antibiotic treatment for several weeks
Molluscum contagiosum: (curable) Treated by freezing, removal, or with medication
Pelvic inflammatory disease: (curable) Typically a course of treatment with multiple antibiotics will cure this infection. Partner testing is strongly recommended as well.
Syphilis: (curable in early stages) Typically a course of treatment with a specific antibiotic will cure this infection. Partner testing is strongly recommended with a repeat test for partners 3 months after last exposure or diagnosis of partner.
Trichomoniasis: (curable) Typically a course of treatment with a specific antibiotic will cure this infection.
Yeast vaginosis: (curable) Typically a course of treatment with a specific antifungal agent will cure this infection.
Some STDs never go away, even with treatment. Think about it. Do you, for the rest of your life, want to tell every one of your sexual partners that you have an STD? It’s not fun, but absolutely necessary if you get an STD. If you can’t imagine telling someone that you have an STD, take every step you can to avoid getting one.
If you live or work near Kent, Washington and are concerned about an STD, please contact us right away for an appointment. Use our online appointment request form or dial (253) 859-2273 (CARE).
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