To start with, STI testing isn’t perfect.
You also need to account for the fact that not all STI tests work in the same way.
Some tests look directly for the presence of a disease-causing virus or microorganism (pathogen).
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Others look for your body’s immune response to the infection.
That’s because pathogens are there from the start of the infection.
However, these tests often require samples from an infected location on the body to work.
That’s not always easy to come by.
For example,herpesswabs are notoriously sensitive to timing.
New tools have allowed healthcare providers to develop reliableurine testingfor chlamydia and gonorrhea.
In contrast,blood teststhat look for antibodies don’t require a healthcare provider to know where to sample.
What they do require is time to turn positive.
Different types of antibodies peak at different times after infection.
It’s a difficult question even from a research standpoint.
(They could, and should, go even sooner if they have symptoms.)
At a month out, some tests for chlamydia and gonorrhea would be reasonably accurate.
It just tells you when you might want to go back to a standard screening schedule.
Getting Results
Once you get tested, you have to wait for results.
However, not every clinic stocks rapid tests, and they’re not available for every STI.
If you’re interested in rapid tests, your best bet is anSTI clinic.
you’re able to call in advance to ask what rapid testing is available.
Without that option, STI test results may come back anywhere between 48 hoursand two weeks.
No matter if the question is modified by “What if we only had oral sex?”
or “What if it didn’t last long?”
the answer is usually the same: Yes.
These are discussions that everybody should be having before they have sex.
Most people don’t come to sexual relationships completely inexperienced.
Therefore, talks about testing and safer sex aren’t just appropriate but smart.
Still, sometimes the discussion can be difficult.
Condoms may not be perfect, but latex ones still offerprotection against STIs.
People may use STI transmission as a tool of manipulation.
Moving on and dating with STIs may not always be easy.
However, it’s better than staying with a partner who is emotionally or physically abusive.
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