‘Tis the season for the common cold and flu! But did you know that your sore throat could be caused by an STI? While most STIs cause genital symptoms, it’s possible to have an infection in your throat and mouth, too. That’s why you should take every symptom seriously and not brush them aside.

Gonorrhea

One of the most common STIs in the United States, gonorrhea can cause various genital symptoms, such as vaginal or penile discharge, dysuria, and abdominal or scrotal pain.

Gonorrhea can occur in the mouth and throat via oral intercourse and can cause a sore throat, throat redness, fever, and swollen lymph nodes in the neck.

Chlamydia

This STI is most common in young adults aged 15-24. Vaginal or penile discharge, dysuria, and pelvic pain are common abdominal symptoms. Oral chlamydia can cause a sore throat; pus might also be present and swallowing is painful.

Syphilis

Syphilis infection has four stages with separate symptoms in each stage. Transmission varies depending on which stage an infected person is in. Oral infection of syphilis can cause a sore throat in stage 2.

Herpes, HPV, and HIV also have their own symptoms for oral infection. Bottom line: don’t ignore a persistent sore throat, and don’t rule out STIs as the cause. Get tested and get back to feeling healthy again.

Private Testing Center is here to help with all your testing needs. We offer affordable and convenient testing in a constant effort to prevent the spread of Herpes, HIV and other STDs. We deliver fast results so any necessary treatment can happen quickly. Same Day appointments are available and with over 1500 locations nationwide, your closest location is only a short drive away. We understand your privacy is of the utmost importance and we assure confidentiality for every one of our customers.

According to a new poll–MyVoice–based at Michigan Medicine – University of Michigan, teens don’t understand the risks of oral sex.

Young adults, especially boys, minimize the risks of unprotected oral sex, primarily the transmission of STIs. While STIs are commonly thought to be a genital infections, they can also be transmitted orally. Herpes, gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, and HIV can be spread through unprotected oral intercourse. Additionally, human papillomavirus (HPV) can lead to cervical, head, and neck cancers.

“It’s not just about sexually transmitted infections, but also the risk for cancer later in life,” said Dr. Tammy Chang, director of the MyVoice poll based at the university.

The poll included over 900 U.S. teens and young adults, with an average age of 19. Participants were asked to rate how risky oral sex is on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being the least risky.

Overall, 60% of participants rated unprotected oral sex at 1, 2, or 3. Young women were twice as likely to rate it as a 4 or 5, while young men were twice as likely to rate it as a 1 or 2.

This poll shows the importance of educating young adults on the risks of oral sex, not only to cut down on infection rates but also to also potentially save lives from cancer.

Private Testing Center is here to help with all your testing needs. We offer affordable and convenient testing in a constant effort to prevent the spread of Herpes, HIV and other STDs. We deliver fast results so any necessary treatment can happen quickly. Same Day appointments are available and with over 1500 locations nationwide, your closest location is only a short drive away. We understand your privacy is of the utmost importance and we assure confidentiality for every one of our customers.

If you’re sexually active, you’ve probably heard about STIs. But many people don’t think STIs could happen to them.

However, STIs are very common. In fact, 1 in 2 Americans will contract an STI before they are 25 years old. 20 million people contract an STI in the United States alone. It’s important to know the signs and symptoms of an STI and know what to do next.

It’s a good idea to get tested for STIs if you:

• had unprotected sex with a new partner (including one-night stands)
• are MSM
• have multiple partners
• notice any symptoms of STIs

It’s best to get tested for the three most common STIs: chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis. If you know your partner had a specific STI, you should also be tested for that same STI. Your physician can also help determine which tests are appropriate for you.

Next, it’s time to test! Tests from Private Testing Center are convenient and easy. Results are timely and accurate so you know what your next step should be. If you don’t have an STI–breathe easy! And if you test positive, then treatment is available at your physician’s office.

Private Testing Center is here to help with all your testing needs. We offer affordable and convenient testing in a constant effort to prevent the spread of Herpes, HIV and other STDs. We deliver fast results so any necessary treatment can happen quickly. Same Day appointments are available and with over 1500 locations nationwide, your closest location is only a short drive away. We understand your privacy is of the utmost importance and we assure confidentiality for every one of our customers.

If you’re sexually active, you may have heard that it’s important to get tested regularly for STIs. But why?

It might be confusing to test for STIs when they usually don’t come with side effects. In fact, you might not even know you have an STI because symptoms aren’t present or they can be attributed to something else (like an ingrown hair or last night’s dinner). However, just because you don’t have symptoms of an STI doesn’t mean that it isn’t wreaking havoc in your body.

In addition to other symptoms, untreated STIs can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, birth complications and illnesses, and certain cancers.

There are even further reasons to get regularly tested: if you have an STI, you can pass it along to your next partner. This perpetuates disease, leading to poorer health for the overall population, higher health costs, and strained health resources.

Additionally, more infected people who need antibiotics to overcome an STI can lead to antibiotic-resistant forms of STI bacteria and viruses. This means that while most STIs are currently treatable, they could become resistant to treatment in the future.

Getting regularly tested for STIs is a simple way to ensure your own health and reproductive future, protect your sexual partners, and help prevent STIs from becoming resistant to antibiotics.

Private Testing Center is here to help with all your testing needs. We offer affordable and convenient testing in a constant effort to prevent the spread of Herpes, HIV and other STDs. We deliver fast results so any necessary treatment can happen quickly. Same Day appointments are available and with over 1500 locations nationwide, your closest location is only a short drive away. We understand your privacy is of the utmost importance and we assure confidentiality for every one of our customers.

STDs can come with common symptoms, such as:

• “Unusual discharge from the penis or vagina
• Sores or warts on the genital area
• Painful or frequent urination
• Itching and redness in the genital area
• Blisters or sores in or around the mouth
• Abnormal vaginal odor
• Anal itching, soreness, or bleeding
• Abdominal pain
• Fever”

However, there is another symptom that is rarely discussed as a symptom of STDs: your vision.

Vision problems are usually associated with gonorrhea, herpes, chlamydia, and syphilis. These STDs attack other body organs, as well, but vision changes may be an early indication you have one of these STDs.

It’s imperative to speak with your doctor about getting a panel of STD testing if you develop any of the following conditions:

• Severe redness
• Inflammation
• Optic nerve disease
• Sensitivity to light
• Pain around the eyes
• Thick discharge – green or yellow-colored

These vision problems will only get worse and could result in partial or full blindness, not to mention the damage these infections are causing in other organs of your body.

Of course, it’s best to avoid getting an STD and causing and damage to your body or passing on the infection to another partner. The most effective measure against contracting an STD is to use a condom during intercourse. Additionally, you can use oral sex barriers to prevent transmission.

If you have unprotected intercourse with a new partner, it’s best to get tested!

Private Testing Center is here to help with all your testing needs. We offer affordable and convenient testing in a constant effort to prevent the spread of Herpes, HIV and other STDs. We deliver fast results so any necessary treatment can happen quickly. Same Day appointments are available and with over 1500 locations nationwide, your closest location is only a short drive away. We understand your privacy is of the utmost importance and we assure confidentiality for every one of our customers.

All across the nation, cases of syphilis have been on the rise. However, in San Antonio, Texas, doctors are reporting an alarming spike in syphilis.

Syphilis is a tricky STD. It’s known as “The Great Pretender” because its symptoms can be caused by a gamut of factors. For this reason, many women don’t get tested for syphilis and can live with it for years before knowing what’s going on in her body.

Syphilis is divided into four stages: primary, secondary, latent, and tertiary. During the primary stage, the only symptom is one or multiple small, red, painless sores (where syphilis entered the body). A rash can develop in the secondary stage, along with typical cold symptoms such as fatigue, headaches, sore throat, and swollen glands.

In the latent stage, syphilis symptoms seemingly disappear, but the disease continues to replicate. The tertiary stage can happen 10-30 years after infection and attacks the major organs of the body, which can result in death.

Syphilis is particularly concerning for women in the childbearing years, as syphilis can be passed to their newborn babies. Untreated syphilis can result in death; in fact, 40% of babies with untreated syphilis die. Syphilis is easily treated with antibiotics, but you must be tested first!

Private Testing Center is here to help with all your testing needs. We offer affordable and convenient testing in a constant effort to prevent the spread of Herpes, HIV and other STDs. We deliver fast results so any necessary treatment can happen quickly. Same Day appointments are available and with over 1500 locations nationwide, your closest location is only a short drive away. We understand your privacy is of the utmost importance and we assure confidentiality for every one of our customers.

We’ve been told to always use protection, especially with a new partner or one-night stand. While these recommendations may seem annoying and reduce the pleasure of intercourse, they serve a very important purpose.

“Figures suggest that donovanosis – which was previously thought to be restricted to places including India, Brazil and New Guinea – is becoming more common on these shores,” said Dr. Shree Datta from London’s MyHealthCare Clinic “As well as the awful symptoms, it’s important people are aware that it’s a known risk factor for the transmission of HIV.”

Donovanosis is spread through sexual intercourse with an infected person, or by coming in contact with the infected ulcer. Donovanosis causes the spread of ulcerative lesions on the genitals and perineum. Infected individuals can also have infections in their pelvic, organs, bones, or mouth.

While donovanosis is not technically a flesh-eating bacteria, it gets the name from the ulcer’s beefy red appearance on the skin.

If you have unprotected intercourse with a new partner, it’s best to get tested!

Private Testing Center is here to help with all your testing needs. We offer affordable and convenient testing in a constant effort to prevent the spread of Herpes, HIV and other STDs. We deliver fast results so any necessary treatment can happen quickly. Same Day appointments are available and with over 1500 locations nationwide, your closest location is only a short drive away. We understand your privacy is of the utmost importance and we assure confidentiality for every one of our customers.

A recent survey from Testing.com provides insight to America’s current STD crisis.

Some key findings include:

• 33% of women did not disclose their STD status to their partner, while only 20% of men kept their STD status a secret
• Those in the oldest age bracket (55+ years of age) were the least likely to disclose their STD status. 35% of those 55 and older didn’t tell their partner of a positive STD test.
• 82% of Americans aged 35-44 reported that they informed their partner of a positive STD test
• Disclosure rates were very similar amongst those aged 18-24 (70%), 25-34 (70%), and 45-54 (68%)

Additionally, 91% of individuals with a postgraduate education informed their partner of a positive STD result, while only 66% of those with high school education disclosed their STD status to the partner. 92% of those who earn $150,000 or more informed their partner of a positive STD test.

Testing.com offered some important advice for talking with your partner about STDs:

• Have the conversation before foreplay starts
• Begin by asking your partner what they like, don’t like, and anything they want you to know about their sexuality. Use this to transition into a conversation about STD status and protection
• If your partner discloses that they have an STD, find out how they are treating it, and what steps both of you can take to lower transmission risk. If you have an STD, inform your partner of your course of treatment, and agree to safety measures to lower transmission risk
• If you and/or your partner has not been tested for STDs recently, suggest getting tested together by using a home testing kit, or visiting an STD testing clinic
• Be respectful and non-judgmental

Private Testing Center is here to help with all your testing needs. We offer affordable and convenient testing in a constant effort to prevent the spread of Herpes, HIV and other STDs. We deliver fast results so any necessary treatment can happen quickly. Same Day appointments are available and with over 1500 locations nationwide, your closest location is only a short drive away. We understand your privacy is of the utmost importance and we assure confidentiality for every one of our customers.

STIs are more common than you might think. In fact, the CDC estimates that one in five Americans have an STI. Unfortunately, there is still a huge stigma surrounding STIs that can keep those with an STI from sharing their sexual infection status.

A new poll from Testing.com revealed that:

• 26% of individuals with an STI didn’t notify their sexual partner before intercourse
• 24% of sexually active individuals had never been tested for an STI
• 49% of individuals with an STI didn’t inform their partner before a one-night stand
• 40% of individuals with a casual sex partner did not disclose their STI status

Due to the stigma surrounding STIs, the primary reason for nondisclosure was the “shame or embarrassment” of their STI status. While this is understandable, and discussing STIs before casual sex or a one-night stand can kill the mood, it’s still supremely important to reduce the spread of disease.

Additionally, if you have a casual sex partner, one-night stands, or multiple partners, it’s imperative to have routine screening for STIs. It’s very likely that your partner is not disclosing their current STI status to you before sex. Testing helps maintain your optimal health and reduce the spread of STIs.

Private Testing Center is here to help with all your testing needs. We offer affordable and convenient testing in a constant effort to prevent the spread of Herpes, HIV and other STDs. We deliver fast results so any necessary treatment can happen quickly. Same Day appointments are available and with over 1500 locations nationwide, your closest location is only a short drive away. We understand your privacy is of the utmost importance and we assure confidentiality for every one of our customers.

When it comes to screening for gonorrhea and chlamydia, The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends all sexually active women under 24 and those aged 25 and above who are at increased risk for infection be tested. However, there is not the same testing requirement for men.

According to The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, there was “insufficient evidence to assess the benefits and harms” of chlamydia and gonorrhea screening in men.

Perhaps one reason for this is men who have contracted gonorrhea or chlamydia tend to have symptoms and would know to get tested. Women, on the other hand, are typically asymptomatic carriers.

People don’t stop having sex, even in a pandemic. Even with climbing STD rates, there are many reasons someone might not get tested and treated for an STD during the pandemic.

“People might have been too afraid to go out to get condoms. Or they would have gone to their primary care doc and gotten tested if they had a new partner, but they didn’t because offices were closed and we were doing telehealth,” says Portland, Oregon OB-GYN Jennifer Lincoln. And while there are many benefits to telehealth appointments, “you can’t collect a urine swab or a vaginal swab over the phone.”

Private Testing Center is here to help with all your testing needs. We offer affordable and convenient testing in a constant effort to prevent the spread of Herpes, HIV and other STDs. We deliver fast results so any necessary treatment can happen quickly. Same Day appointments are available and with over 1500 locations nationwide, your closest location is only a short drive away. We understand your privacy is of the utmost importance and we assure confidentiality for every one of our customers.

STDs are very common, in fact, the Center for Disease Control reports over 2.5 million cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis reported in 2019 alone. Even though STDs affect millions of Americans, there’s still a lot of stigma surrounding them. Do you know these STD facts?

Women have a higher risk of contracting an STD

Women have a higher risk of contracting an STD because the vaginal surface area is much larger than the surface area of male genitalia. Vaginal tissue is also more susceptible to STDs.

STDs can be spread through any sexual activity

STDs tend to be associated with the act of sexual intercourse, but this isn’t the case. Any type of sexual activity can spread STDs, so it’s vital to use condoms any time clothes are removed.

Certain STDs are asymptomatic

STDs like to cause damage under a cloak of camouflage. Symptoms, if present at all, are usually mild and easily attributed to something else like stress or a virus. This is why it’s crucial to have routine STD testing and be tested if you have a new sexual partner.

Untreated STDs can cause infertility

If an STD is left untreated (which is common if the STD is asymptomatic), certain STDs can leave you infertile. While this happens more commonly in women, men can also become sterile from untreated STDs.

Private Testing Center is here to help with all your testing needs. We offer affordable and convenient testing in a constant effort to prevent the spread of Herpes, HIV and other STDs. We deliver fast results so any necessary treatment can happen quickly. Same Day appointments are available and with over 1500 locations nationwide, your closest location is only a short drive away. We understand your privacy is of the utmost importance and we assure confidentiality for every one of our customers.