At Home Std Test Herpes

When Should I Talk With A Doctor

Startup delivers STD tests to your home

If you have a primary care doctor who you regularly visit, you can share your results with them to provide better insight into your next steps.

If you dont have a primary care doctor, you can consult with a physician or nurse from the testing site about treatment options.

If youve been treating your symptoms with medication and are still in pain or discomfort, reach out to a healthcare professional.

How Does A Herpes Test Work

A herpes test may require a swab sample, a blood test or both.

Swab tests involve taking a swab sample from an active sore in or around the mouth and/or genitals. A swab sample can either be collected by a healthcare professional or by you in the comfort of your own home using an at home herpes test. Swab tests are often the first port of call when it comes to diagnosing or confirming either oral or genital . If symptoms are present , this will likely be the test used.

Blood tests involve taking a blood sample. The type of herpes blood test used is a virus culture, also known as a PCR test. PCR tests look for pieces of the viruss DNA and are very accurate. A PCR test will be able to diagnose herpes even if you are not experiencing any symptoms. It is a very accurate herpes test. Other blood tests on the market test the blood for antibodies that are produced in reaction to the virus.

The two antibodies that are tested for include IgM and IgG. IgG antibodies appear shortly after you become infected with herpes and stay in the body for life, whereas IgM levels will typically decrease shortly after the initial infection. IgG testing is more accurate than IgM testing.

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How Can I Prevent Transmitting Herpes

Although latex condoms can reduce the risk of transmitting most STIs by 98 percent, condoms dont prevent herpes transmission. This is because not all herpes sores occur in areas that are covered by a condom.

If youre experiencing an active outbreak, you can

avoiding sexual activity until symptoms go away
washing your hands thoroughly and applying medication with cotton swabs to reduce contact with sores

Taking a daily antiviral herpes medication can also help prevent transmission, shorten outbreaks, and manage symptoms.

Can I Get Sti Testing When I Am Pregnant

Yes. STI testing during pregnancy is safe. In fact, it is common for a health care provider to request that an expectant mother get some STI testing done before her delivery, because some STIs can be passed from mother to baby during a vaginal delivery. If you test positive, the health care provider may decide to treat the STI with a medicine or recommend an alternative birthing plan.

How Herpes Testing Works

For the most part, herpes presents very consistently across people and can be diagnosed on sight. However, its important to still get tested and make sure that its herpes and not something else so you can treat it correctly.

The CDC recommends only testing for herpes if you have symptoms or have been recently exposed. This is because studies have shown that testing for herpes when youre asymptomatic doesnt actually change sexual behavior: people are just as likely to engage in risky behavior like not using a condom whether or not they know they have herpes, if they dont have symptoms. If you test when you dont have symptoms and dont know if youve been exposed, itll also be harder to tell if your result is a false positive.

Most at-home herpes tests involve a combination of a finger prick blood test and either a vaginal swab or urine sample . Youll collect your sample and then mail it back to the testing company, which will run it through a partner lab. Both the blood test and swab/sample are similar in design to tests performed in-office by your doctor providing both blood and a genital sample helps to minimize the risk of getting a false result and ensuring you get results in case something happens to one of your samples.

If you go to your primary medical provider, theyll take a look at your symptoms and be able to tell you if its herpes or not. Should they not be able to tell or if youre asymptomatic despite exposure theyll order one of three tests:

Recommended Reading: How To Cover Up Herpes On Lip

Best Subscription For Herpes Test: Letsgetchecked

The LetsGetChecked home kits can test for both HSV-1 and HSV-2. This test kit may be best for people who require regular testing as the companys subscription options can offer significant discounts.

Collection method
nurses available through LetsGetChecked to discuss positive results
Cost
tests for both HSV-1 and HSV-2
Con	does not accept insurance

A person receives a collection kit with all the tools they need to collect their samples at home. This includes needles, a prepaid envelope, alcohol swabs, and a tube. The tests come in discreet packaging so that other people will not know what the person has received.

The person also has access to an instruction video on the company website that explains how they should take their test. LetsGetChecked suggests that people take a blood sample before 9 a.m. and return it to the laboratory on the same day.

The company states that it issues the results within 25 days.

Individuals who receive a positive result can contact a nurse through the company, and they may suggest a treatment plan.

LetsGetChecked offers a one-time purchase for $119. Anyone who requires regular testing can purchase a LetsGetChecked subscription and get discounts on its tests. For instance, a 3-monthly subscription will give a person a 30% saving on the cost of the kits.

What Is The At

Testing herpes on your own is easy. After your test kit has arrived, youll need to provide your sample. This can consist of either a finger-prick blood sample or a vaginal swab/urine sample. Some tests will ask for both, but every test we recommend asks for a finger prick. Youll follow the instructions on the kit, register an account with your information and the kits ID to ensure that your information stays tied to you, and then ship the box back to the parent organization. In a few days, youll have your results privately in your inbox its that easy.

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How Do Std Home Kits Work

Home STD tests work by allowing you to discreetly provide your sample, whether blood, urine or genital swab and then send your samples back in a postage-paid box to be tested. The laboratory process is similar to whats done when you get tested for STDs in other settings, such as doctors offices, but home test kits most often provide you with your results via an online account as opposed to in-person tests in which its common not to see your actual results unless you have tested positive.

How We Chose At

At Home #STD Testing: How Does it Work and Should You Get Tested?

There are a lot of factors to consider when choosing an at-home STD test, which is why we turned to the experts.

To select the best, we polled several doctors, read various research studies, and asked fellow users. We also read dozens of reviews.

Additionally, every product we recommend or brand we work with is thoroughly vetted by our team for medical credibility, good business practices, and social impact.

Also Check: Dr Sebi Products For Herpes

We Are Award Winning Experts In Sexual And Reproductive Health

Working in partnership with the NHS, we provide STI testing, diagnosis and treatment, oral contraception, the morning after pill and specialist remote clinical support.

We put people at the heart of what we do. We design services that are easier to use, access and understand.

We are not-for-profit and passionate about delivering discreet, convenient and clinically safe experiences. Find out more about SH:24.

Our brands include Fettle.health, which offers users the choice of paying for sexual and reproductive health services online.

Which Std Tests Should I Get Tested For And How Often

If youre sexually active, getting tested for STDs is one of the most important things you can do to protect your health, according to the CDC. How often you should get tested varies based on your age, gender, and other factors.

Here are some of the specifics about which STDs you should get tested for and how often, according to the CDC.

Customer reviews

Are Test Results Accurate

Testing is an important step in accurately diagnosing genital and oral herpes, and there are several types of tests that may be used to establish a diagnosis. Although blood antibody testing is appropriate for some patients, its not considered the most accurate way of diagnosing a current HSV infection. Experts have several concerns about using blood testing to diagnose genital and oral herpes:

Accuracy of tests vary: Not all commercially available blood tests that detect antibodies to HSV have the same level of accuracy due to shared characteristics of the different types of herpesviruses. For example, persons who were infected with the chickenpox/shingles virus may have a higher risk of false positive results.
Not all tests describe the type of HSV: Some blood tests cannot tell the difference between antibodies to HSV-1 and antibodies to HSV-2, so they require additional laboratory testing to determine the kind of antibody detected.
Cant tell between genital and oral infections: Unlike tests that require a sample taken during an outbreak, blood antibody tests cannot distinguish between a genital and oral infections because either can be found at both sites, so at-home tests alone cannot diagnose genital or oral herpes.

How To Test For Herpes

If you suspect you have herpes, the first thing you should do is contact your healthcare provider. Your healthcare provider can examine your blisters or sores to check for herpes. If you do have an HSV infection, your healthcare provider may recommend a treatment plan for you.

The Center for Disease Control recommends a genital herpes test if you have symptoms of herpes or a sexual partner who has genital herpes . Note that some people have asymptomatic herpes and donât show symptoms, but the CDC does not recommend asymptomatic screening for herpes .

If you would like an easy at-home option to test for 6 other common STIs, try the Everlywell home STD Test for women or the STD Test for men which checks for chlamydia, gonorrhea, hepatitis C, HIV, syphilis, and trichomoniasis. Once your sample is received and analyzed at the lab, the test results are sent to you quickly and discreetly via our secure, online platform.

How Common Is Genital Herpes

Results of a nationally representative study show that genital herpes infection is common in the United States. Nationwide, at least 45 million people ages 12 and older or one out of five adolescents and adults have genital herpes. Over the past decade, the percentage of Americans with HSV-1 has decreased, however that also means people are more susceptible to contracting genitals herpes from HSV-1.

Genital HSV-2 infection is more common in women than in men . This is because male-to-female transmission is more likely than female-to-male transmission.

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At Home Sexually Transmitted Infection Tests

We offer testing kits you can take at home for a range of sexually transmitted infections including chlamydia, gonorrhoea, trichomonas, syphilis and HIV. Test results are confidential and come back in 3 working days. Well advise you on next steps.

Due to Royal Mail strike action, we cant guarantee our usual delivery, postage and result timeframe. So there may be delays to test kit deliveries, the time they take getting back to lab and how quickly you get your results.

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Test Results For Herpes

If the results of your herpes tests are positive you will may to begin a course of genital herpes treatment. You may wish to visit a sexual health clinic and discuss the next steps with a health professional.

Alternatively, contact your online or high street pharmacy. At Chemist Click, we have a medical team that you can talk to about your next steps after a positive test result, and answer any questions you may have. We can prescribe herpes treatments online, and send them via our discreet courier service. This includes treatments such as aciclovir tablets and valaciclovir tablets. However, because there is no cure for herpes, treatments only diminish and ease the symptoms as well as reduce the number of outbreaks therefore your symptoms may come and go in the form of flare-ups. You should use treatment at the first sign of an outbreak. If you are experiencing outbreaks on a regular basis, you should discuss the option of taking treatment on a long term basis, which can help to reduce the number of outbreaks you experience.

It is important to inform any recent sexual partners of your diagnosis so that they can get tested.

While herpes is a lifetime condition, you are most contagious when experiencing an outbreak. You should avoid sexual contact while experiencing an outbreak, and for up to one week after. If you do engage in sexual activity, you should use barrier methods such as condoms or dams to cover the genitals.

Are You Always Contagious With Herpes

Home #STD Testing: Why Get Tested & How It Works

Although the chance of spreading disease is greatest when sores are present, people who have had genital herpes may always be contagious to some degree, even if they have received medical treatment. The virus can become active and be transmitted to a sexual partner even when the skin appears completely normal.

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Tested Positive For Hsv

Like many others I got a full std panel done despite having no major symptoms and tested positive for HSV-II at 2.93 H on the IGG blood test. I know theres a chance its a false positive. This was my first time having casual sex after my sole partner of 5 years. The casual partner showed me negative results from a standard std screening that doesnt test for herpes and she sort of convinced me to not use a condom .

The timeline:

Day 1: Last possible day of exposure .

Day 7: Slight discomfort when I pee near the exit of my urethra. Ive read its possible to have internal outbreaks. I may have had a pimple on my testicles but nothing open and that happens to me from time to time.

Day 11: Discomfort peeing went away.

1 Month: STD screening and tested positive for HSV-II at 2.93.

I notified the casual partner and they said theyve never experienced symptoms but will get tested. I cant imagine I got it from my 5 year partner as weve only had sex with each other. Depending on the results of the casual partner I think Ill have a good idea if its a false positive or not, but am planning to get the Western Blot in a month.

How Often To Test For Stds

The frequency of necessary STD testing really varies based on how sexually active you are and if youÃ¢re currently outside of a monogamous relationship. The Centers for Disease Control recommends every 3-12 months depending on risk category, but most medical professionals would agree that a yearly STD test is the minimum responsible frequency and testing should be done more ifÃ¢and whenÃ¢you engage in unprotected sex with a new partner. Preventing the spread of STIs and STDs is everybodyÃ¢s responsibility and knowing your status is a great way to do your part while also keeping yourself and your partner healthy.

Our STD Test suite is taken in the privacy of your own home and covers many common sexually transmitted diseases including:

Human immunodeficiency virus

This Everlywell at-home STD Test requires two samplesÃ¢blood spot and vaginal swab. All necessary components are included inside the kit. We provide easy-to-read instructions, as well as helpful digital videos on the process, and the collection process is quick. Simply follow a few steps and return your at-sample to our lab for processing.

Also Check: How To Get Rid Of Genital Herpes Naturally

A Very Discreet Private Std Clinic

We offer same day or next day appointments and allow you to book your appointments online
We now offer Instant HIV Testing! Negative Results in 20 Minutes!
We test and treat, while others only test
Appointments available
Multiple locations with some open on Saturdays.
Just tell the receptionists that you are here for testing
Private consultation rooms to discuss what testing you want
Most test results are available in 48 hours
Private consultation with Clinician before or after testing available
We offer early detection HIV testing
All testing done with a simple blood sample, urine sample and/or oral tests that are done by collecting a sample from the back of the throat.
Testing results are available in our cloud based patient portal, or you may them e-mailed to you or pick them up in-office with your photo ID.
Clinician will call you and review all positive results.
Your credit card statement will discreetly show payment to e7 Health
We do not accept insurance, however, we do put all the insurance codes on your invoice so you can submit it to your insurance for full/partial reimbursement if it is a covered benefit.