The Very Basics of STD Screening that You Should Know About

• STD

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STDs (sexually transmitted diseases) screening may not be an ideal topic to talk about, however, if you come up with one, you should know how to handle it. This type of diseases is wildly becoming an epidemic across the societies. Having said that, medical experts in London suggest every sexually active individual must undergo STD screening on a routine schedule.

Here’s a brief guide for you on STD screening and its related topics.

What are STDs and how do they differ from STIs?

STI is the abbreviation of sexually transmitted infections. STDs and STIs are the same, the names however are used interchangeably, as some people assume the word infection carries less stigma with it than ‘disease’. Despite that, it is important to note that an infection may have no symptoms and it may also grow into a disease by time. The only way to diagnose an STI when it shows no symptom is to screen it.

Some of the common STDs include the following:

• HPV or Human Papilloma Virus: It is a very common STD across the Atlantic. The virus causes genital warts and is highly infectious. It can be easily transmitted either by sexual intimacy or skin to skin contact.
• Chlamydia or Gonorrhoea: These infections are usually grouped together because a patient is simultaneously screened for both. This disease usually shows no symptoms, particularly in women. The infection spreads from a contaminated individual through oral, anal or genital sex.
• Syphilis: This infection too, spreads from a contaminated person through anal, oral or genital sex. At the initial stages, you’ll have a few painless sores, which are often ignored.
• Herpes: Herpes virus is broadly divided into two groups, Type 1 and Type 2. Type 1 is Oral herpes, which develops cold sores, and Type 2, also known as Genital herpes. However, the latest researches show, most of the genital infections are caused by Type 1 herpes virus. You may have the strains of both viruses and yet never exhibit any symptoms, or it is also possible that you may have an outbreak with painful sores near the mouth, genital or the anus. It is usually transmitted through infectious sores. But it can also spread within contact with a person who shows no symptom at all. In other word, it is indeed very tough to stay safe from its contamination.
• HIV: This infection mostly gets transmitted through sexual intimacy and blood. Therefore, it is commonly found among intravenous drug abusers, who share needles. Unprotected anal or vaginal sex also makes you prone to get infected with HIV.
• Hepatitis B: This is another common viral infection, which is transmitted either through semen or blood and can disrupt your normal liver function.
• Hepatitis C: This infection mainly spreads through blood as well as through sexual intimacy. It can lead to chronic liver disease as well as liver cancer.

What exactly is STD screening?

According to medical experts providing STD screening in London, it means looking for an infection in your system even when you may not show any symptom. There’s no ideal time to get these screenings done, nor there is any standard set of tests for STD screening. The tests are recommended depending on an individual’s lifestyle and risk level.