Genital Warts & Human Papilloma Virus—from A-Z Combating America’s Most Prolific STD

When is the correct time to discuss genital warts? Uhm… “never” comes to mind, but that’s taking the easy way out. Unfortunately, there are many problems that can arise if one is having sexual intercourse. One of those problems is genital warts. They are very common, believe it or not. Currently there are over twenty five separate medical issues that are classified as a sexually transmitted disease or a sexually transmitted infection. Each one comes with a unique set of symptoms and treatment options.

In this article we shall discuss genital warts. For sure, it doesn’t paint an agreeable picture in the mind’s eye, does it? Yet they are out there, waiting to strike, in abundance. In this article we shall discuss what exactly a genital wart is, what type of symptoms to be on the lookout for, and what type of treatment is available for genital warts. Let us begin at the beginning…

What are genital warts? Many times, genital warts are the symptom of a larger medical issue called human papillomavirus (or HPV for short). This virus is the most common sexually transmitted disease in the United States of America. To make matters even worse, there are over forty variations on HPV. HPV can cause devastating effects in untreated individuals including cervical cancer and infertility in women. Therefore, anyone with genital warts should be tested for the human papillomavirus at a certified STD clinic as soon as they can be.

As with other viruses, once you test positive for it there is no getting rid of it. It can only be treated and kept under control. This includes a minimizing or a disappearance of all symptoms—including genital warts. HPV is so common it is believed that if a person is sexually active for their entire lives at some point they will become infected. This is a daunting fact, but it is reality. No one ever said that something that feels so good (sex) would be responsibility free! All of us engaging in sexual activity have a major responsibility to our health and to the health of our partners and loved ones.

What are the symptoms of genital warts? Genital warts are pretty obvious unless they are tucked away internally, as in inside the vagina. Typically one will have genital warts visible in, on and around their sexual organs and anus. As mentioned above, they can also erupt inside of the body, as in the cervix or urethra. When genital warts are visible they resemble little irregularly shaped cauliflowers up close. When looking at them regularly they will resemble small bumps. It is important to thoroughly inspect your genitals often when sexually active. If you find something that doesn’t look right, or you have a burning or an itching, it is important to visit a certified STD doctor.

Where exactly will genital warts typically be found on the average infected individual? On women the areas are: the lips of the vagina (both inside and out), inside the vagina and cervix, and around the rectum. In men the areas are: anywhere on the shaft of the penis, scrotum and opening of the urethra, and around the rectum. Genital warts can also be found inside the mouth and extending down into the throat, but this is atypical.

Genital warts are spread by skin to skin contact including oral, vaginal and anal sex. Therefore, anyone engaging in sexual activity is at risk. One can also auto-inoculate themselves. This means that an infected person can spread the virus from one portion of their body to another. Always be aware of your physical status and take all precautions necessary. These are some of those aforementioned responsibilities.

What type of treatment is available for genital warts? Treatment includes the application of an acid-type or a freezing-type medicine to the affected area in order to remove the genital warts. These days many certified STD doctor will use a laser-type therapy to remove the warts. Without a doctor’s help, many of those infected will clear up within twenty four months. This does not mean that the virus is out of your body, it just means that the symptoms are gone. After genital warts are removed or disappear on their own safe sexual practices MUST continue. It is highly recommended that a certified STD doctor be utilized if one is infected.

If you happen to live in the NYC area—and would like more information on genital warts or any other STD—please log onto HPV treatment NYC. Located just blocks from Grand Central Station, this well-regarded certified STD testing Manhattan has been faithfully serving the New York City area for many years. They are safe, discreet and very affordable—and are run by a genuine certified medical doctor, not a nurse practitioner as at some other similar facilities. Call 1-212-696-5900 for an appointment today. Late weekday and weekend hours are available. Be safe, be protected, be responsible!

All You Need to Know About Gonorrhea Test For the NYC Woman

NYC is a swinging place, lots of clubs, bars, libraries, museums and bake-offs—all the right places to land that one-in-a-million guy. But what happens when Mister Right turns out to be Mr. Wrong-Because-He-Has-Gonorrhea? Simple…get to a walk in clinic in your neighborhood to receive testing and/or treatment. Gonorrhea is a way-too-common and devastating disease that affects over 500,000 people in the United States every year. That comes out to approximately 2,000 cases in NYC annually. And things don’t seem to be getting any better.

What is gonorrhea?

We may have all heard of this disease. Some of us may remember watching black and white films depicting its horrors in school. (Then again we may remember dinosaurs!) Things have changed since it was only a disease to be feared by sailors on leave in old Times Square, NYC.

Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted infection caused by a type of bacteria that really enjoys growing in those warm moist pockets of human flash. As women, that’s the last place that we want anything growing—unless we are purposefully having a baby. Aside from the vagina, gonorrhea can also grow like wildfire in the cervix, uterus, fallopian tubes, urethra and the mouth, throat, and anus. In other words, everywhere we fear. Thankfully there is great testing available for this and other STDs at your nearest STD clinic.

How is contracted?

Well, it is NOT contracted from a toilet seat, so put all that nonsense to bed right now. Gonorrhea is contracted through oral, vaginal, and anal sex with an infected partner. Touching infected sex organs and then touching the eyes can also spread this infection. That’s it. No toilet seats, no sharing ice cream. Once again, testing and treatment is quick, easy and affordable—especially in a big city like NYC.

If a woman is pregnant and infected with gonorrhea, she can pass it on to her child during the birthing process. Infants that catch gonorrhea this way can become blind, get joint infections or a life-threatening blood infection. Come on, we’re hip women from NYC and we should know better than to open ourselves up to this kind of thing, but unfortunately our partners rarely where a sign that states they are infected with gonorrhea before we hop in the sack with them. This is where testing and treatment comes in.

One need not become a depressed ball of uselessness if they contract this awful malady. Gonorrhea treatment is easily done, but no one can get help if they do not realize they are infected. Testing is the only reliable way to find out if you have contracted this disease. Get to a NYC based STD clinic as soon as any of the following symptoms occur:

·       Painful urination

·       Vaginal discharge that is either bloody or yellow

·       Bleeding between periods

·       Pain during sex

Obviously, as women we all have suffered through some of these symptoms. It does not mean that you have definitely contracted gonorrhea, but it does mean it is time for testing to occur. Any STD clinic will be happy to proceed with testing at a nominal cost. Testing consists of several methods. They are all painless.

Since you are located in NYC, why not try gonorrhea testing in Manhattan STD Center of New York. They are located just blocks from Grand Central Station, so getting there is not a bother. Log onto STD doctor for more information or simply dial 1-212-696-5900 to arrange an appointment. 

Chlamydia Testing Made Simpler and Easier

When you hear the phrase “chlamydia testing,” your first instinct may be to get away as fast as you can. And who could blame you? Old habits die hard, and old horror stories sometimes never die. Much of the general population, especially sexually active adults, retains any number of crazy myths about the STD testing experience, and chlamydia is no exception. Compound this with the fact that STDs are a traditionally taboo subject in polite society, and it's no wonder that misinformation abounds.

Well, let's correct some initial misconceptions. Times and customs change, and you know what? So do medical practices. While we were out convincing ourselves not to get tested, the medical community has been busy improving their approach to STD testing and treatment. Plenty of money and research have contributed to a complete revamp of the experience: all sort of painful, invasive, and embarrassing procedures are now things of the past. Sample collection is a piece of cake, lab results are quicker than ever, and most clinics will give out smart counseling along with accurate results. For a curable disease like chlamydia, we're well on our way towards breaking down all those old myths and taboos. Let's learn a little more about the modern chlamydia testing experience.

Over Before You Know It

Forget hideously long Q-tips, forget injections. The most common and reliable testing methods take either a urine sample or a genital swab. The former is usually recommended for men because the urethra is the primary site of infection by the offending bacteria, chlamydia trachomatis, so any urine passing through will pick them up en route. For this reason, men should refrain from urinating beforehand so they can produce a decent sample. Women should prepare for a cervical swab, which literally takes seconds and can be done right there at the clinic.

Please inform your STD doctor or healthcare professional if you have engaged in receptive anal sex, regardless of your gender. They may need to take a rectal swab if that's the case. It's no more invasive than a cervical swab and takes just as little time.

How Long Did You Say?

The preliminary sampling period takes about 15 minutes, start to finish. Samples will be sent to a laboratory, which  typically provides results within five days. Unlike certain other STDs, chlamydia testing results are extremely accurate and usually do not require a backup. Some clinics offer rapid chlamydia tests based on urine samples; with this new technology, results can be available in as little as one hour. One quick but important note: be aware that it can take time for the disease to become detectable once you acquire it. Of course, you should definitely contact an STD clinic if you're worried, but you may be counseled to wait a few days before the actual testing procedure. This “window period” will last no more than one week.

What else?

And that's it! The modern chlamydia testing experience is not so much an ordeal as a routine, and definitely nothing to be afraid of. You should, however, be afraid of the long-term consequences of untreated chlamydia. It can cause permanent reproductive damage, make you more susceptible to other STDs, or affect a pregnancy for the worse. When the whole process is so simple and easy, it doesn't take a genius to recognize the importance of regular testing for sexually active adults. Go ahead and get it over with, you'll thank yourself. And get your sexual partners in, too! You can never be too safe, and you can trust your results once you have them. Should you receive a positive diagnosis, you'll be given exact instructions on which medications to take and how often. This counseling comes with the treatment and is informed by years of tests and studies.

In New York City, you can head to STD Center NY for unrivaled, board-certified medical attention for all of your chlamydia testing in Manhattan questions, concerns, or inquiries. Just blocks from Grand Central Station and easily accessible by train or bus, STD Center NY features affordable, private, state-of-the-art chlamydia testing services. Call 1-212-696-5900 for an appointment or log onto STD testing in NYC for more information. Be sure to check out their Travel Clinic as well. Now is the time to take care of testing in a safe, easy way.

ABC of Herpes screening

As our title suggests, the aim here is to give you the tools to (A) recognize the symptoms of Genital Herpes, and (B) know where to access the care to treat it. Before discussing the process of Herpes testing, a small amount of background is necessary. There are two types of Herpes (otherwise known as the Herpes Simplex Virus): HSV-1 and HSV-2. HSV-1 causes fever blisters, or cold sores, on the lips and mouth, and is more an annoying infection than a disease. HSV-2 is Genital Herpes.

However, similar to HSV-2, Genital Herpes can lie dormant in the nerves, becoming active when our immune system is low: in other words, when we are stressed, worried, under emotional pressure, or simply not taking care of ourselves. One worrisome aspect of the two different strains is that neither of them ever really goes away. While the first is more a bother than anything else, there is one complication that’s important to remember: if you have HSV-1(oral herpes), it can be transmitted during oral sex to the genital area of your partner from your lips or mouth. It is important to avoid intimacy during flare-ups of HSV-1.

Clearly, the easiest way of being infected with Genital Herpes is by engaging in some form of sexual contact with a person who already has the disease. Although some people never develop symptoms, the clearest physical sign of Genital Herpes is small, fluid-filled blisters around or on the penis, scrotum, vulva, or buttocks. The blisters can also appear on the mouth if they’ve been spread there during oral sex. When Genital Herpes is active, it can be painful to urinate; the lymph nodes in the groin can be swollen; aching muscles in the thighs, backside or knees, fever, and flu-ish feelings are also common. As with HSV-1, the skin tingles at the place where the blisters will appear. However, in Genital Herpes the blisters are much more painful, and the virus leads to ulcers on the skin, which is a good reason for Herpes testing if you think you have it!

The first type of Herpes test takes place when one already has an outbreak of blisters, or sores, on the skin on or around the genitals. The STD doctor at a clinic takes a very small sample of the liquid from the blister, which is the most accurate way of seeing if one has Genital Herpes. A blood test is another way of knowing if one has ever been infected with the Herpes. It’s important to remember that a blood test can be positive even if you have never had symptoms of Genital Herpes (HSV-2).

If a Herpes test is positive, your doctor will advise you about medication against the virus (acyclovir, for example), which will help stop the discomfort, and make the virus go dormant again. Genital Herpes has aspects to it that make it not as serious as some STDs, but it is much more serious than others. Some complications are as follws: pregnant women who have an outbreak of Genital Herpes at the time of giving birth can pass the virus to the baby. And, babies infected during pregnancy may be born premature, or develop meningitis, for example. In individuals who are HIV positive, the virus can affect other parts of the body (the spine, lungs, eyes, or the brain).

It’s important to stress that Genital Herpes, like HSV-1, can’t be cured, which means that if you become infected, it’s vital for you to take good care of yourself, because if you don’t, you can trigger another outbreak. Also, using medication can reduce the risk of passing the HSV-2 virus (genital Herpes) to another person.

Inform yourself, and remember how important Herpes testing is in staying healthy. If you live in NYC and would like to get STD testing by a board certified STD clinic, log onto genital herpes testing for more information. STD Clinic of New York is located just blocks from Grand Central Station and is therefore easily accessible by all means of public transportation. To ask any questions, or to book a convenient appointment, simply call 1-212-696-5900 to speak to a staff member. 

Fighting Gonorrhea Begins With a Simple Screening

America is home to baseball, apple pie…and gonorrhea. There really seems to be a problem with STDs and our overall behavior in this country. To be honest it is not really our behavior—we do nothing in this country that is not done in abundance in other countries (except for, probably, buying air conditioners)— it is the lack of testing that is the problem. Anyone engaging in sexual activity should visit a certified STD clinic and ask for a screening. It is only through testing that we will become a healthier nation. (That, and more missiles…)

Sexually transmitted diseases are so easy to catch—and boy, do we catch ‘em! How many Americans have an STD? Well it’s higher than one in four people. Heck, one in four people have the herpes virus. It’s one in three in big cities like New York. These are crazy numbers. But they won’t get any lower if people don’t go for that screening. There may be worse STDs to catch than gonorrhea, but (understatingly) any sexual disease is a bummer.

Gonorrhea is one of those diseases that has been around since our grandfathers were catting around on shore leave during Dubya Dubya Two. And it still remains an awful illness. In fact, believe it or not gonorrhea is the second most common STD in America. There are approximately a half million new cases reported every year, but experts approximate that the real number is probably more than twice that. With statistics this high who could argue with receiving a simple, easy, and affordable screening?

What exactly is gonorrhea? This is where this article gets a little nauseating. If you are prone to the dry heaves do not go any further.  Gonorrhea is an unfortunately very common STD caused by the bacterium gonococcus. This particular gnarly bacterium can grow and multiply in many of the warm moist areas of your body—such as inside the penis and rectum. Ahhh, gonorrhea grows in the rectum as well as the penis—and also the throat, cervix and urethra. When a screening is administered and treatment begins it can stop the progression of the bacteria.

What are the symptoms of gonorrhea? The symptoms of gonorrhea include a yellow or green discharge from the penis or vagina. Symptoms also include painful urination. This feeling has been called “peeing razor blades.” It would be difficult to think of a more…uhm, colorful metaphor than that. Some infected individuals will show no symptoms at all! This is another key reason why receiving a screening is so important to each and every person who engages in sexual activity. (That, and the green discharge…)

What will happen if you become infected with gonorrhea? Nothing, if you receive that screening and treatment is started—but if left untreated gonorrhea can cause blindness if it spreads to the eyes, infect unborn children in the womb, and cause painful ejaculations. (Painful ejaculations? Where’s the screening sign-up sheet?) Problems arise when individuals suffer through symptoms and do nothing.

It’s just human nature; sometimes it’s easier to just ignore something until it goes away. It is then that many people forget about the previous pain entirely, figuring whatever the problem was is gone—and progress with their regular lives. The big problem is that the disease does not go away when the symptoms do. The disease remains alive and continues to damage the body.

What can be done for a gonorrhea infection? It’s all about the screening. Receive a screening to determine if you are positive or negative. If positive, treatment can commence. The most common treatment is antibiotics prescribed by a certified STD doctor. The screening is an analysis of the blood taken during a routine blood screening. We’ve all had blood screenings, it’s a simple pin prick and does not cause pain. It’s well worth the very slight discomfort to know if you have gonorrhea.

If you live in NYC and would like to get  gonorrhea screening in NYC by a board certified STD clinic for any reason at all, log onto STD screening in NYC for more information. STD Clinic of New York is located just blocks from Grand Central Station and is therefore easily accessible by all means of public transportation. To ask any questions, or to book a convenient appointment, simply call 1-212-696-5900 to speak to a staff member. 

Testing For Herpes? The Infection Rate Will Shock You! How To Protect Yourself From Herpes 1 and 2

There seems to be no stopping the health problems that may arise once you begin having sex. We’re not referring to sex that happens between a man and woman, happily married and newly experimenting with carnal pleasures. No, we’re referring to the other ninety nine percent of Americans, who seem to begin engaging in sexual activity way before their honeymoon, and therefore need a place to go for help once the inevitable health problems arise. After all, there are a whole bunch of problems that can arise. No one said this premarital sex thing was going to be easy. Far from it. From HIV to Herpes 2 just about anything can happen.

For the most part, medical professionals are not into dictating morals. No, medical professionals mainly attempt to heal when they can. Sure, they can also preach until they’re blue in the face, but thankfully they tend to do what they do best and don’t stick their noses in a person’s personal choices. You may notice a trend toward the opposite these days, but these individuals have always been on the scene, making noise where they shouldn’t be. So for the sake of this argument, uhm… article, we will accept the medical profession as they would like to be identified: as caring, discreet professionals who want to help you stay healthy, or heal—but not tell you what is right and wrong. One of their main points is the importance of undergoing HSV 2 testing.

What is this Herpes 2 we’ve brought up twice now? Herpes 2 is more commonly known as HSV2 or genital herpes. There are actually many more strains of the herpes virus than two. These other types of the herpes virus include Chicken Pox and Shingles. Yep, Herpes seem to be with us our entire life cycle, from young to old. For the most part, however, when people refer to herpes they are usually referring to either Herpes 1 or Herpes 2. Testing is available for all the strains.

Herpes 1 is more commonly known as oral herpes. These are your run-of-the-mill cold sores. Many of us have the virus in our bodies at this very moment. We don’t need to undergo testing to know if we get cold sores, do we? Believe it or not, the current statistics indicate that one in four Americans are already infected with HSV 1. One in four? Isn’t that way, way, way too high? Perhaps it will make you feel better to know that current infection rates of Herpes 2—or genital herpes—is only one in five. When you climb back up off of the floor we’ll continue the article… We’ll wait…. Take your time…

That’s right, folks, one in five Americans are currently infected with genital herpes or Herpes 2. This is a whopping number, but indicates clearly the power of a virus to spread through a populace—and why testing is so important. If one goes to an STD doctor for testing and finds that they are positive for the virus, common sense dictates that a majority of these people will practice safe sex more than they would have had they either been negative for Herpes 2 or not known they were infected with Herpes 2. If all Americans currently engaging in sexual activity underwent testing and found out their Herpes 2 status, genital herpes infection rates could be lowered in a relatively short time.

Herpes 2 testing is a painless procedure that consists solely of a simple blood test. We’ve all had these needles before. As bad as they are to think about, if we just close our eyes when we are about to be pricked we know it isn’t all that bad. The medical profession implores all Americans currently engaging in any type if sexual activity to get to a certified STD clinic and undergo herpes testing. Test for Herpes 2—and while you are there, test for one or two other STDs you may feel you have been exposed to.

If you live in New York City, look no further than herpes testing in Manhattan. This highly regarded certified STD clinic is staffed by a great doctor who is friendly, caring and one hundred percent discreet. NYC STD testing center accepts most insurance and offers a very affordable pricing list for those who are not currently covered. Call 1-212-696-5900 to make an appointment today. There are weekend and extended weekday appointments available. Time for testing!