ABC of Chlamydia Testing

If you think that you have Chlamydia, or, if you don’t know what Chlamydia is and you have symptoms that are worrying you—for women they include pain during sex, for men a burning feeling while urinating (we’ll discuss more symptoms later on)—you should go and get tested.

Chlamydia testing is simple. There are two ways of getting tested if you are a man: the first is a urine test. Most men will prefer this, because the second test involves the doctor taking a cotton bud to “swab” the urethra at the tip of the penis to test for the presence of Chlamydia. You’ll be happy to hear that, nowadays, most doctors prefer the urine sample test. However, it isn’t as reliable as the swab. There is also a quick urine test, which can take less than an hour to get your results.

The test is the same for women. The difference is that a swab can be taken from the vagina by the patient herself (or by a health care professional). For both sexes, results of Chlamydia testing that are sent to the lab can take up to a week. This is a reason why patients prefer the fast urine test: if you’re concerned, it’s good to know your status quickly. The quicker you know your status, the quicker you can start treatment: if you’re positive, that is.

So, let’s talk about treatment. It’s easy to treat Chlamydia with antibiotics. Primary care doctor recommend azithromycin, which comes in a single dose. Single dose antibiotics can be a little bit hard on the stomach, so if you prefer, take doxycycline twice a day for a week instead. Remember, though: to avoid spreading it, the main thing is to abstain from sex until you are negative for Chlamydia.

Although you might consider Chlamydia to be a minor league STD, remember that it can have worrying complications. In women, it affects the cervix, the neck of the womb, and if it is left untreated it can cause infertility in 10% to 15% of cases. The official name for this is Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID). Chlamydia comes from the Greek word for “cloak”: which is appropriate, because often this STD infection has no symptoms. You have no way of knowing if you have it, unless you get tested.

Some of the symptoms are, for men, a discharge from the rectum or the penis; a tenderness or pain in the testicles and, as we mentioned earlier, a burning feeling while urinating. Apparently, men have more symptoms than women. Only about 30% of women have symptoms. These can include a discharge from the vagina, pain during intercourse, or a burning sensation while urinating. You will notice that the burning sensation is a symptom that Chlamydia has in common with a Urinary Tract Infection, so it is important to get tested in order to rule the latter out. You can’t treat Chlamydia with Cranberry juice!

More seriously, women who let the infection go for some time without being treated are at risk of PID, which is a bacterial infection of the fallopian tubes, the uterus or the ovaries. This complication occurs when the bacteria from a Chlamydia infection moves from the cervix further into the female reproductive organs. How is Chlamydia caused? Well, as with most STDs, it is caused by having unprotected sex with a partner who is positive for Chlamydia. A simple urine test can tell you if you have the infection. If you do, a simple antibiotic can clear it up. If you don’t, it can lead to infertility in women, and reduced fertility in men.

And, so, you see the importance of why you need to get chlamydia test. If you live in NYC and would like to get STD testing by a board certified STD clinic, log onto STD Clinic 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.

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. 

Herpes 1 and 2 Testing: The Essentials

Herpes immediately comes to mind whenever STDs are discussed, and for good reason: it's one of the most widespread diseases out there, with an estimated 16% of Americans aged 14 to 49 carrying the virus. That number increases drastically for major metropolitan areas, especially New York City. As with anything else, knowledge is power where herpes is concerned. This article will get you acquainted with the basics of the disease and then provide an overview of treatment practices and herpes testing options.

The Basic Facts

Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) is, as the name suggests, a viral disease belonging to the same family as chicken pox and shingles. There are two varieties of Herpes Simplex. Type 1 is more common and usually affects the face and mouth, producing characteristic cold sores during outbreaks. Type 2 usually affects the genitals with painful, itchy sores; this type is what most people mean by herpes and this type concerns us most. Both types cycle between active and remission periods. Visible outbreaks correspond with periods of weakened immune response, becoming less severe and frequent as time goes on. However, most individuals can go weeks, months, or even years without showing any symptoms. Make no mistake: genital herpes is just as contagious when asymptomatic. In fact, this is one of the better reasons to seek an STD clinic for yourself or your partner. While incurable, the disease need not hamper one's intimate relations. Timely and thorough herpes testing is the first step to mitigating the worst of this common STD.

How Testing Works: Viral Cultures

Herpes testing is most accurate within 48 hours of the first outbreak. For this reason, it's important to find a clinic as soon as symptoms appear—your doctor will have a better chance of pinpointing the diagnosis, and you'll have improved treatment options. In these cases, a culture test is administered by swabbing the sore directly. Results usually take one week and can be “typed” to distinguish between the strains (either type can show up anywhere on the body, but Type 2 is most often the culprit in the genitals). Remember that time is of the essence: the longer you wait, the more likely your results will return false negatives due to a lack of active virus. Thankfully, new DNA tests are improving precision, but that's no reason to wait it out or avoid seeing a medical professional.

Blood Tests

Blood tests are available when there is a lack of visible symptoms. This variety of herpes blood test detects antibodies produced by the immune system to signal the presence of the virus. Specifically, it looks for IgG antibodies—these develop soon after initial infection and remain in the blood thereafter. Blood tests can also distinguish by type and are known for being more accurate. Be aware that it takes time for the human body to develop antibodies, and thus the medical community recommends waiting 12 to 16 weeks from the last possible date of exposure to ensure detectable levels. Consult your doctor to find out which herpes blood test is best for you—there are several varieties, each catering to different use patterns, patient characteristics, and results windows.

Alternate Tests

A few alternate methods of herpes testing exist. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests are highly sensitive and superior to viral cultures, but they aren't yet readily available. Expect to see advances in this technology in the near future. Viral antigen tests are accurate only in the initial outbreak and have similar availability problems. Finally, the Tzanck herpes test relies on health care providers' judgment calls, a less rigorous and regulated protocol.

New York City residents, don't hesitate to contact STD Center NY to ask about herpes 2 testing NYC. They offer unrivaled, board-certified medical attention for all of your 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 herpes testing services. Call 1-212-696-5900 for an appointment or log onto STD testing NYC for more information. Make a commitment to better health!

The ABCs of Sexually Transmitted STI’s

It's going to take a sea change in our mentality about sexual health in order to reverse our current take on Sexually transmitted diseases screening. At present, it's not even a “necessary evil” to most people—“unnecessary work” is more like it. Yet America (and the globe) faces epidemic infection rates with many of the major Sexually Transmitted Diseases, and sexually active adults go right on making themselves miserable by refusing to take action and seek Sexually Transmitted Diseases screening. How to combat this? Education! You, reader, can inform yourself, and you can spread this useful knowledge to your family and friends. Preserving your health is no chore, especially where HIV and other incurable diseases are concerned. It's more of a necessity, come to think of it; the efforts we put in now will help spur scientific innovation, and hopefully eliminate these scourges once and for all. With that high-sounding rhetoric out of the way, let's get down to some alphabetic factoids to spread the knowledge around.

A: AIDS, a.k.a. Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. Caused by HIV, AIDS afflicts millions worldwide and has been an American public-health problem for decades.

B: birth control, a collection of methods aimed at preventing unwanted pregnancies.

C: chlamydia, a very common bacterial infection that can be asymptomatic or exhibit itching, pain, and discharge.

D: diagnosis can be difficult and shouldn't be attempted by amateurs. It's best to seek professional Sexually Transmitted STI’S screening services to identify and treat possible Sexually transmitted STI’s.

E: examination on a regular basis is the first step to reversing large-scale apathy toward Sexually transmitted STI’s screening.

F: fungal Sexually transmitted STI’s exist, too—yeast infections being the most common.

G: gonnorhea, a very common bacterial infection that usually afflicts men with burning, discharge, and swollen testicles.

H: herpes, an extremely common viral infection that can be asymptomatic or exhibit periodic genital sores.

I: infertility, a possible long-term effect of many damaging Sexually transmitted STI’s.

J: joint pain can be a symptom of gonorrheal infection, particularly in the knees, wrists, or ankles.

K: knowledge. It bears repeating, this can help limit the spread of Sexually transmitted STI’s and improve future screening practices, so visit your local Sexually Transmitted STI’S clinic now.

L: lymphogranuloma venereum, an infection of genital lymph nodes characterized by painful swelling, abscesses, and inflammation.

M: medical advances have done much to improve the safety, rapidity, and reliability of Sexually transmitted STI’s screening.

N: needles can transmit blood-borne diseases with alarming speed.

O: oral sex can transmit many Sexually transmitted STI’s just as easily as vaginal or anal sex. Dispel this common misconception!

P: penile cancer, a possible long-term side effect of untreated HPV.

Q: questions—we all have them! There's no need to keep silent, even if you're embarrassed. Part of a successful Sexually transmitted STI’s screening involves posing and answering any and all questions which arise.

R: recurrence, an outbreak or flare-up of certain incurable diseases such as herpes.

S: syphilis, an insidious disease with dire long-term consequences, if untreated.

T: trichomoniasis, an Sexually transmitted STI’s characterized by inflammation in the cervix, urethra, and vagina as well as itchiness and foul-smelling discharge.

U: urine samples have steadily become more applicable in Sexually transmitted STI’s screening environments due to more sophisticated lab techniques.

V: vaginosis, a disease in which naturally occurring bacteria in the vagina are disrupted by too much of a certain kind of bacteria.

W: warts—or genital sores. The most easily recognized symptom of HPV infection.

X: The Title X Family Planning program, established in 1970, is the only federal grant program dedicated to low-income families in need of contraception, Sexually transmitted STI’s screening, and information.

Y: young women and men are particularly at risk for Sexually transmitted STI’s because of prevailing sexual practices, misinformation, and the desire to remain anonymous.

Z: zithromax, a common antibiotic prescribed for bacterial diseases such as gonorrhea.

New York metropolitan residents should get tested for herpes in NYC for unrivaled, board-certified medical attention for all of your 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 STD testing services. Call 1-212-696-5900 for an appointment or log onto STI tests in NYC for more information. Go on, keep learning!

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. 

Should You Get Tested For HIV? Why The Answer is “Yes”

Take your average party for instance: once all the hoopla dies down there’s still a lot of work to do. There’s collecting the empties, emptying the ashtrays and screwing the lampshades back in place. In other words, once all the action disappears, you’ve still got a bunch of important work to do. It’s the same for certain STDs, HIV and AIDS specifically. Twenty or so years ago you couldn’t read a newspaper or watch the TV without being bombarded with information on this terrible disease. Yet as with all things, the hoopla died down. The party, as you may say, ended… and all that hard work began. The first thing one can do to combat this problem is to get tested for HIV.

Get tested for HIV. It doesn’t sound like much, but the significance cannot be underestimated. Anyone who engages in sexual activity should get tested for HIV—and many other sexually transmitted diseases—on a regular basis. One does not have to be a “dirty” person, engaging in all sorts of debauchery, to wind up infected with an STD. The longer one has sex—even so-called “protected” sex—the higher the odds are that they will become infected with something. It’s just basic mathematics, is all. Eventually even the best dice shooter craps out.

HIV and AIDS were once believed to be automatic death sentences for anyone unlucky enough to become infected. Just because HIV showed its ugly head in the gay community first, meant that many people believed it was merely a gay disease and that straight people, heterosexual couples, need not worry about such a thing. This was quickly proven to be false, but still—to this very day—some simpletons still consider HIV a gay disease. The facts are that anyone can catch the HIV virus via sexual contact and/or blood transmission. According to the World Health Organization research taken from STD centers around the world over sixteen thousand people become infected with the HIV virus every single day of the year. It would be a ridiculous notion to suggest that all of these people are homosexual. It just isn’t true. If you are currently engaging in sexual activity, you can become one of these sixteen thousand people. First things first: get tested to make sure you are not already one of these people.

We need to look at the HIV issue from a worldwide position. In countries such as India, and areas such as Africa and Asia, HIV has always been a heterosexual problem. In these areas no one believes that infection rates are influenced by sexual preference. The entire societies of these geographical regions are allied in their fight against infection. Unfortunately, due to many reasons—poverty and lack of general healthcare in many locales—getting tested is not an option for many individuals. In America, we can get STD clinic and yet many of us forgo this option for a variety of reasons.

Many of us go about our daily lives like ostriches—with our heads stuck deep into the ground. We need to shake the dirt off our noggins and appreciate the powerful protection that being tested can afford us. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention it is approximated that almost a third of those infected with HIV are completely clueless of their status! In a country such as the United States, testing means the beginning of treatment for those found to be infected. Think of the ramifications of this! Whereas before being tested this individual went about his life, including sexual activity—unaware he was potentially infecting others. After being tested, this same individual now has a moral dilemma to accompany his libido. Does he or doesn’t he take this chance of infecting his partner. In the long run, we must come to the conclusion that infection rates will drop significantly!

It’s as simple as saying that knowledge is power. This statement is true in regards to so many things in life. If you happen to live in the New York City area and would like to get STD testing in Manhattan or any other STD, please log onto get tested for HIV in Manhattan for more information. STD Center of New York is located in the heart of midtown Manhattan, just blocks from Grand Central Station. It is conveniently accessible by car, bus and subway. This certified STD clinic is ready to see you discreetly and affordably. They offer extended weekday hours and are also open on the weekends to make sure you can fit in an appointment easily. Just call 1-212-696-5900 to begin. STD center of NY accepts most insurance. 

The Disturbing Facts Regarding Genital herpes in NYC And the Importance of Testing for Infection

The figures are startling. At least one in four Americans will contract an STD at some point in their lives. Yet, one in four people in NYC already have one of the genital herpes viruses! This is one out of four people already walking around—but more importantly trying to smooch up on you—with a genital herpes infection. When will the madness end?! Well, when more people do the right thing and receive testing for not only genital herpes, but an array of STDs. After all, twenty five separate diseases qualify as STDs, so that’s a lot of testing!

But it makes sense. The only way genital herpes can be controlled is if the individuals who are infected know it and stop spreading it around. Here are a few facts about genital herpes that you may not have known:

·       The number of Americans with genital herpes has increased thirty percent since the 1970s

·       Male to female infection is more common then female to male infection

·       An estimated one million Americans will become infected with genital herpes this year alone

As stated previously, the figures are startling. Remember that all these figures are a tad worse when it comes to NYC, where the statistics spike upwards. Testing for genital herpes and other STDs cannot be stressed enough. Let’s back up a bit and explain what it is we are speaking of when we speak of genital herpes. Today, when people speak of genital herpes chances are they are speaking of these two strains. The first one is called HSV 1 (genital herpes simplex virus 1) and is generally known as oral genital herpes because it concentrates its symptoms around the mouth. HSV 2 is generally known as genital herpes, as its symptoms concentrate around the genital area.

What about the symptoms? What are they? Symptoms are different in all people and very rarely symptoms are almost nonexistent. Generally, the first outbreaks are almost always more severe than following outbreaks. It is because of this that testing for infection makes sense. If you are living in NYC it is possible to receive testing at many fine NYC STD clinics.

Symptoms generally appear just two or three days after infection (this is a great time to undergo testing in one of those fine NYC STD clinics). The infected area of your body, either around your mouth or around your genital region, may be itchy, burning or tingly. This is followed by an outbreak of red painful blisters that eventually break and form hard painful scabs and sores.

Remember that it is possible to infect someone else with genital herpes even when there are no visible sores present! Testing by an internist is the only way to definitively find out if you are a genital herpes carrier. If the test comes back positive, you will have to be prudent about not spreading the infection to your partners and/or significant other.

Testing is accomplished by different means. The most popular tests include the genital herpes viral culture, the genital herpes virus antigen test, and the polymerase chain reaction test. Only a certified internist (as in a NYC STD clinic) will know which testing procedure is best for you.  Testing is highly accurate, pain free and affordable.

Since you live in the NYC area and would like to engage in genital herpes testing log onto genital herpes testing NYC. This clinic is located just several blocks away from Grand Central Station in Manhattan and is easily accessible by subway and buses. Call 1-212-696-5900 to book an appointment today.  STD testing NYC is the first step in controlling infection rates.