Confidential, Affordable STD Lab Testing

HealthCheckUSA is now offering new STD urine tests for Chlamydia and Gonorrhea, which is the industry standard method of testing for these STD diseases. Go to www.HealthCheckUSA.com for ordering information.

Chlamydia STD Urine Test, NAA

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the rates of Chlamydia infection increased in 2007 for the seventh consecutive year. In 2007, 1.1 million Chlamydia diagnoses were reported. This is a 7.5 percent increase from 2006! This increase could be partially due to more STD testing, especially in women, and to the use of more sensitive STD tests. However, health officials believe that the reported number of diagnoses might not reflect the actual number of infections, which could be closer to 3 million.
Underreporting is common because many people are unaware of their infection and do not seek testing. That’s unfortunate, because while Chlamydia infection may be silent, it’s also serious. Chlamydia can cause irreversible damage to a woman’s reproductive tract, affecting her ability to have babies.

So what is Chlamydia?
Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis. Chlamydia primarily targets the cells of mucous membranes including the urethra (both male and female), vagina, cervix and endometrium (lining of the uterus). It can also target the mouth and throat. Infections in the mouth and throat happen infrequently. Ejaculation is not necessary to spread Chlamydia.

When should you get tested for Chlamydia?
If you are a sexually active girl or woman under age 24, or a woman older than 24 and at risk of STDs — for example you are having sex with a new partner or multiple partners — get screened annually for gonorrhea and Chlamydia. If untreated, these infections can cause PID in women. Gonorrhea and Chlamydia can also significantly increase your risk of acquiring other STDs like HIV. If you are a man who has sex with men, get tested for these infections at least annually.

Gonorrhea and Chlamydia testing is either done through a urine test or through a swab inside the penis in men or from the inside of the cervix in women. The sample is then analyzed in a laboratory. STD testing is important, because you can be unaware that you have either infection. For example, approximately 80 percent of women and 50 percent of men diagnosed with the STD Chlamydia don’t have symptoms at the time of diagnosis.

Common Symptoms for Chlamydia
Chlamydia is a bacterial infection of your genital tract. Chlamydia may be difficult for you to detect because early-stage infections often cause few or no signs and symptoms. When they do occur, they usually start one to three weeks after you’ve been exposed to Chlamydia. Even when signs and symptoms do occur, they’re often mild and passing, making them easy to overlook.

Signs and symptoms may include:
• Painful urination
• Lower abdominal pain
• Vaginal discharge in women
• Discharge from the penis in men
• Painful sexual intercourse in women
• Testicular pain in men

Gonorrhea STD Urine Test, NAA

Gonorrhea is a bacterial infection of your genital tract. The first gonorrhea symptoms generally appear within two to 10 days after exposure. However, some people may be infected for months before signs or symptoms occur. Signs and symptoms of gonorrhea may include:
• Thick, cloudy or bloody discharge from the penis or vagina
• Pain or burning sensation when urinating
• Frequent urination
• Pain during sexual intercourse

Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted bacterium that can infect men and women. Gonorrhea can affect the urethra, rectum and throat of both men and women. In women, gonorrhea can also infect the cervix.

Most people contract gonorrhea during sex. But pregnant women with gonorrhea can also pass the bacterium onto their babies. In babies, gonorrhea most commonly affects the eyes.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention predicts that about 700,000 people contract gonorrhea each year in the United States. Many don’t know they have gonorrhea. You can protect yourself from gonorrhea by abstaining from sex or by using a condom if you choose to have sex.

Signs and symptoms of gonorrhea that affects the urethra in men include:
- Painful urination
- Pus-like discharge from the tip of the penis and Pain or swelling in one testicle

Signs and symptoms of gonorrhea that affects the cervix or urethra in women include:
- Increased vaginal discharge and Painful urination
- Vaginal bleeding between periods, such as after vaginal intercourse
- Abdominal pain and Pelvic pain

Signs and symptoms of gonorrhea that affects the rectum include:
- Anal itching
- Pus-like discharge from the rectum
- Spots of bright red blood on toilet tissue
- Straining to have a bowel movement

Signs and symptoms of gonorrhea that affects the eye include:
- Eye pain and Pus-like discharge from the eye
- Sensitivity to light

Signs and symptoms of gonorrhea that affects the throat include:
- Sore throat and Swollen lymph nodes in the neck

Untreated gonorrhea can lead to significant complications, such as:

Infertility in women. Untreated gonorrhea can spread into the uterus and fallopian tubes, causing pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which may result in scarring of the tubes, greater risk of pregnancy complications and infertility. PID may lead to abdominal pain, backache, irregular menstrual periods, pain during intercourse and foul-smelling vaginal discharge. It’s a serious infection that requires immediate treatment.

Infertility in men. Men with untreated gonorrhea can experience epididymitis — inflammation of the rear portion of the testicles where the sperm ducts are located (epididymis). Epididymitis is treatable, but if left untreated, it may lead to infertility.
Infection that spreads to the joints and other areas of your body. The bacterium that causes gonorrhea can spread through the bloodstream and infect other parts of your body, including your joints. Fever, rash, skin sores, joint pain, swelling and stiffness are possible results.

Increased risk of HIV/AIDS. Having gonorrhea makes you more susceptible to infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the virus that leads to AIDS. People who have both gonorrhea and HIV are able to pass both diseases more readily to their partners.

Complications in babies. Babies who contract gonorrhea from their mothers during birth can develop blindness, sores on the scalp, joint infections and other infections.

HealthCheckUSA Recommended STD Lab Tests

HealthCheckUSA is the nation’s leader in low cost, direct-to-consumer blood and lab testing and provides people the ability to access all types of blood, urine and saliva tests without a physician’s referral and at half the price. HealthCheckUSA has packages that make it simple for consumers to measure, monitor, and improve their health by being able to order their own lab tests without a doctor’s order. HealthCheckUSA serves customers without insurance, have high deductible insurance plans, and taking control of their health because their doctor won’t order the test.

HealthCheckUSA has packages that make it simple for consumers to measure, monitor, and improve their health by being able to order their own lab tests without a doctor’s order. HealthCheckUSA serves customers without insurance, have high deductible insurance plans, and taking control of their health because their doctor won’t order the test.

The blood tests available through HealthCheckUSA are the same medically accepted lab tests ordered by doctors for their patients. The blood tests are analyzed by an accredited medical reference laboratory. The results are confidential, and are available by fax to you or your doctor, or by mail to you (please allow 10 working days for mailing). Results are also available on the HealthCheckUSA Web site within 3-4 business days. An information sheet with an explanation of each test, including normal reference ranges, accompanies all results.