Low Cost Blood Testing: The Health Check USA Blog » HealthCheckUSA Health Test Education: Importance of Condoms in preventing STD’s

Posted by David | Posted on 26-08-2009

HealthCheckUSA Health Test Education: Importance of Condoms in preventing STD’s

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Low Cost STD Lab Tests From HealthCheckUSA

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Importance of Condoms in preventing STD’s

By Mayo Clinic staff

A male condom is a thin sheath placed over the erect penis just before sexual intercourse. Condoms, commonly called rubbers, are a very effective way to protect yourself and your partner from sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and to prevent pregnancy. Condoms are simple to use, inexpensive and widely available.
Condoms are usually made of latex, but some are made from polyurethane or lambskin. Latex and polyurethane condoms provide the most protection against sexually transmitted diseases. Condoms are available with or without a lubricant in a variety of lengths, shapes, widths and thicknesses — and even come in different colors. Some condoms are textured to enhance sensation.

Condoms can prevent both pregnancy and STDs
If you use them correctly every time you have sex, condoms are effective at preventing pregnancy and the transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the virus that causes AIDS. Condoms also reduce the risk of infection from other STDs, such as gonorrhea, Chlamydia, Herpes, Syphilis and Hepatitis.

Condoms don’t have the side effects found in some forms of female contraception, such as birth control pills or shots, or potential complications of an intrauterine device (IUD). They are available without a prescription, and are easy to obtain.

Risks of using Condoms to prevent STD’s
• Some people are allergic to latex, and if either partner is allergic, he or she may react to contact with a latex condom. Reactions to latex include rash, hives, runny nose, swelling and constriction of the airways and loss of blood pressure. In this case, a condom made from polyurethane or lambskin may be an option.
• While condoms are an effective way to prevent the transmission of STDs and to prevent pregnancy, they aren’t foolproof. While it’s rare, it’s still possible to get an STD or get pregnant when using a condom, especially if it breaks or comes off during sex. Even if you use condoms on a regular basis, it is still very important to get routine STD testing. Affordable, confidential STD testing is available from www.HealthCheckUSA.com

How you prepare to use a condom
Condoms are available without a prescription. They’re sold in many stores and from vending machines in some restrooms. Condoms may be less expensive at family planning clinics such as Planned Parenthood. They’re also usually available at university health centers.

Condoms come in a number of shapes, sizes and textures. Finding a condom that works well for you can take a little trial and error.
• Fit is important. If it’s too tight, a condom is more likely to break. If it’s too loose, it may slip off.
• Some men find that condoms decrease sensation or are uncomfortable to wear. You may find that a certain type of condom is more comfortable for you or provides greater sensation during sex.

Some condoms are lubricated with nonoxynol-9, a spermicide meant to help prevent pregnancy. However, condoms without spermicide appear to be a better option for several reasons:
• Spermicidal condoms don’t appear to be any more effective than other lubricated condoms at preventing pregnancy.
• Nonoxynol-9 may irritate or damage skin cells in the vagina and rectum. This could potentially increase the risk of getting an STD.
• Spermicide doesn’t help protect you or your partner against HIV/AIDS or other STDs.
• Spermicidal condoms cost more than other types of condoms and have a shorter shelf life.

Condom safety tips
• Store condoms in a cool, dry place. Exposure to air, heat and light increases the chance that a condom will break. Don’t keep condoms in a billfold, back pocket or glove compartment for an extended period of time. Friction, perspiration and changes in temperature can cause condoms to break down and become less reliable.
• Check the expiration date. Don’t use a condom after its expiration has passed.
• Check condoms for damage — brittleness, small tears or pinprick holes — before using.
• With latex condoms, be sure to use only water-based lubricants, such as K-Y jelly. Don’t use oil-based lubricants, such as petroleum jelly, baby oil, cooking oil or lotion. They can weaken a latex condom and cause it to break.
• Never reuse a condom. If a condom is inside out and does not unroll easily, don’t flip it over because there may be semen in it. Use another condom.
• If you’re concerned about preventing STDs, use a latex or polyurethane condom. Lambskin condoms don’t protect against STDs as well as latex or polyurethane condoms do. Read the label on the package to see what the condom is made of and whether it’s labeled for STD prevention.
• For the best protection from STDs, use a condom during any sexual activity, whether vaginal, oral or anal.

What you can expect from Condoms
It’s important to use condoms carefully, correctly and consistently.
• Open the package carefully. Don’t use teeth or fingernails.
• If you use condoms that aren’t already lubricated, apply lubricant inside and outside of the condom.
• If you’re not circumcised, make sure you pull your foreskin back before putting on the condom.
• Place the tip of the rolled-up condom over the erect penis. The rolled rim should be on the outside.
• Gently press the tip of the condom to remove air.
• Unless the condom has a reservoir tip, unroll the condom down over the entire penis while leaving room — a half-inch space — at the tip to collect the semen.
• Remove any air bubbles to make sure the condom fits correctly. An air bubble could cause the condom to tear or come off.
• After intercourse, withdraw the penis while holding the base of the condom so that the condom doesn’t come off. Then remove the condom and dispose of it in the trash. Don’t flush condoms down the toilet

Results of condom use
Condoms are an effective form of birth control. However, about 1 in 50 couples who use condoms correctly will get pregnant in a year. Chances of pregnancy increase if you don’t always wear a condom during intercourse, or you use condoms incorrectly.

Although there is still some risk for getting or transmitting STDs, condoms are very effective at preventing the transmission of most STDs. When used correctly, a condom creates a barrier that limits your exposure — and your partner’s exposure — to semen or other body fluids that can carry STDs.

HealthCheckUSA offers many STD lab tests that are affordable and do not require a doctor’s prescription. We have over 5,000 lab locations throughout the United States.

Recommended STD Lab Tests

HerpeSelect Herpes Simplex Virus 1 and 2 IgG Blood Test

Hepatitis STD Panel (A, B and C)

Chlamydia Antibody STD Test

Syphilis (RPR) STD Lab Test

Comprehensive Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Panel

Basic Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Panel

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.

Popular types of blood and lab tests include: thyroid testing, complete metabolic testing (CMP), complete blood count testing, heart disease testing, cholesterol testing, diabetes testing (HbA1c), prostate cancer testing (PSA), vitamin D testing, vitamin B-12 testing, testing for osteoporosis, iron deficiency testing, testosterone testing to check for Low Testosterone (Low T), erectile dysfunction, estrogen testing for low levels of estrogen, male hormone testing and female hormone testing for hormone imbalances, drug testing, STD testing for herpes, hepatitis A, B and C testing, HIV, Chlamydia, syphilis, and EBV, herpes type 1 and type 2 testing, fertility testing in men, fertility testing in women, infertility testing in men, infertility testing in women, pregnancy testing, blood test for pregnancy, blood test for herpes, blood test for HIV, blood test for thyroid, and many more. Please go to www.HealthCheckUSA.com or call 800-929-7044 for complete details.

Posted by David | Posted on 25-08-2009

HealthCheckUSA STD Alert: STDs and Common Symptoms

Category : std testing

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Low Cost STD Lab Tests From HealthCheckUSA

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STD Testing Recommendations: 7 STDs and Common Symptoms

By Mayo Clinic staff

If you’re having sex, you may also be experiencing STD symptoms. STD symptoms can occur regardless of what type of sex — vaginal, oral or anal — you’re having, or whether you use condoms. Although condoms when correctly and consistently used are highly effective for reducing transmission of STDs, no method (other than abstinence) is 100 percent effective. This is particularly true with certain STDs, such as genital warts and genital herpes.

STD symptoms can range from subtle to obvious. If you think you’re experiencing STD symptoms, see a doctor to get tested for STDs. Some STD symptoms can be treated easily and eliminated. Other STD symptoms require more involved and long-term treatment.

Either way, it’s essential to be STD tested via blood or urine, and — if diagnosed with an STD — be treated. It’s also essential to inform any partners so that they can be evaluated and treated. If untreated, STDs can increase your risk of acquiring another STD such as HIV. This happens because an STD can stimulate an immune response in the genital area or cause sores, either of which might make HIV transmission more likely. Some untreated STDs can also lead to infertility.

Common STDs and their Symptoms

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

Chlamydia Antibody STD Test

Gonorrhea
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

HIV
HIV is an infection with the human immunodeficiency virus. HIV interferes with your body’s ability to effectively fight off viruses, bacteria and fungi that cause disease, and it can lead to AIDS, a chronic, life-threatening disease.

When first infected with HIV, you may have no symptoms at all. Some people develop a flu-like illness, usually two to six weeks after being infected. Early HIV symptoms may include:
• Fever
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Swollen lymph glands
• Rash

These early symptoms usually disappear within a week to a month and are often mistaken for those of another viral infection. During this period, you are very infectious. More persistent or severe symptoms of HIV infection may not appear for 10 years or more after the initial infection.

As the virus continues to multiply and destroy immune cells, you may develop mild infections or chronic symptoms such as:
• Swollen lymph nodes — often one of the first signs of HIV infection
• Diarrhea
• Weight loss
• Fever
• Cough and shortness of breath

Signs and symptoms of later stage HIV infection include:
• Persistent, unexplained fatigue
• Soaking night sweats
• Shaking chills or fever higher than 100 F (38 C) for several weeks
• Swelling of lymph nodes for more than three months
• Chronic diarrhea
• Persistent headaches

HIV-1 Test Kit with Next Day Results

Genital herpes
Genital herpes is highly contagious and caused by a type of the herpes simplex virus (HSV). HSV enters your body through small breaks in your skin or mucous membranes. Most people with HSV never know they have it, because they have no signs or symptoms. The signs and symptoms of HSV can be so mild they go unnoticed. When signs and symptoms are noticeable, the first episode is generally the worst. Some people never experience a second episode. Other people, however, can experience episodes over a period of decades.

When present, genital herpes symptoms may include:
• Small, red bumps, blisters (vesicles) or open sores (ulcers) in the genital, anal and nearby areas
• Pain or itching around your genital area, buttocks or inner thighs

The initial symptom of genital herpes usually is pain or itching, beginning within a few weeks after exposure to an infected sexual partner. After several days, small, red bumps may appear. They then rupture, becoming ulcers that ooze or bleed. Eventually, scabs form and the ulcers heal.

In women, sores can erupt in the vaginal area, external genitals, buttocks, anus or cervix. In men, sores can appear on the penis, scrotum, buttocks, anus or thighs, or inside the urethra, the tube from the bladder through the penis.

While you have ulcers, it may be painful to urinate. You may also experience pain and tenderness in your genital area until the infection clears. During an initial episode, you may have flu-like signs and symptoms, such as headache, muscle aches and fever, as well as swollen lymph nodes in your groin.
In some cases, the infection can be active and contagious even when sores aren’t present.

HerpeSelect Herpes Simplex Virus 1 and 2 IgG Blood Test

Genital warts (HPV infection)
Genital warts, caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), are one of the most common types of STDs. The signs and symptoms of genital warts include:
• Small, flesh-colored or gray swellings in your genital area
• Several warts close together that take on a cauliflower shape
• Itching or discomfort in your genital area
• Bleeding with intercourse
Often, however, genital warts cause no symptoms. Genital warts may be as small as 1 millimeter in diameter or may multiply into large clusters.
In women, genital warts can grow on the vulva, the walls of the vagina, the area between the external genitals and the anus, and the cervix. In men, they may occur on the tip or shaft of the penis, the scrotum or the anus. Genital warts can also develop in the mouth or throat of a person who has had oral sex with an infected person.

Hepatitis
Hepatitis A, hepatitis B and hepatitis C are all contagious viral infections that affect your liver. Hepatitis B and C are the most serious of the three, but each can cause your liver to become inflamed.

Some people never develop signs or symptoms. But for those who do, symptoms may occur after several weeks and may include:
• Fatigue
• Nausea and vomiting
• Abdominal pain or discomfort, especially in the area of your liver on your right side beneath your lower ribs
• Loss of appetite
• Fever
• Dark urine
• Muscle or joint pain
• Itching
• Yellowing of your skin and the whites of your eyes (jaundice)

Hepatitis STD Panel (A, B and C)

Syphilis
Syphilis is a bacterial infection. The disease affects your genitals, skin and mucous membranes, but it may also involve many other parts of your body, including your brain and your heart.

The signs and symptoms of syphilis may occur in four stages — primary, secondary, latent and tertiary.

Primary
These signs may occur from 10 days to three months after exposure:
• A small, painless sore (chancre) on the part of your body where the infection was transmitted, usually your genitals, rectum, tongue or lips. A single chancre is typical, but there may be multiple sores.
• Enlarged lymph nodes.
Signs and symptoms of primary syphilis typically disappear without treatment, but the underlying disease remains and may reappear in the secondary or third (tertiary) stage.

Secondary
The signs and symptoms of secondary syphilis may begin two to 10 weeks after the chancre appears, and may include:
• Rash marked by red or reddish-brown, penny-sized sores over any area of your body, including your palms and soles
• Fever
• Fatigue and a vague feeling of discomfort
• Soreness and aching
These signs and symptoms may disappear within a few weeks or repeatedly come and go for as long as a year.

Latent
In some people, a period called latent syphilis — in which no symptoms are present — may follow the secondary stage. Signs and symptoms may never return, or the disease may progress to the tertiary stage.

Tertiary
Without treatment, syphilis bacteria may spread, leading to serious internal organ damage and death years after the original infection.
Some of the signs and symptoms of tertiary syphilis include:
• Neurological problems. These may include stroke and infection and inflammation of the membranes and fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord (meningitis). Other problems may include poor muscle coordination, numbness, paralysis, deafness or visual problems. Personality changes and dementia also are possible.
• Cardiovascular problems. These may include bulging (aneurysm) and inflammation of the aorta — your body’s major artery — and of other blood vessels. Syphilis may also cause valvular heart disease, such as aortic valve problems.
If you suspect you have an STD, see your doctor.

If you suspect you have these or other STDs or that you may have been exposed to one, see your doctor for STD testing. Timely diagnosis and treatment are important to avoid or delay more severe, potentially life-threatening health problems and to avoid infecting others.

Syphilis (RPR) STD Lab Test

HealthCheckUSA offers many STD lab tests that are affordable and do not require a doctor’s prescription. We have over 5,000 lab locations throughout the United States.

Recommended STD Lab Tests

HerpeSelect Herpes Simplex Virus 1 and 2 IgG Blood Test

Hepatitis STD Panel (A, B and C)

Chlamydia Antibody STD Test

Syphilis (RPR) STD Lab Test

Comprehensive Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Panel

Basic Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Panel

Posted by David | Posted on 21-07-2009

HerpeSelect Herpes Laboratory Test; available at HealthCheckUSA

Category : Blood Testing, herpes test, HIV Testing, std testing

Tags: accurate diagnosis, assays, blood test, cheap STD tests, Chlamydia antibody screening std hiv testing lab tests, diagnostic test kits, genital s, genitalcure for herpes, get std test, healthcare provider, herpes, herpes test, herpes virus, herpeselect, home std test, hsv 1, hsv 2, laboratory tests, lesion, low cost blood testing, physical exam, physical examination, sexual partner, simplex virus, std screening, std test, std testing, STDs, viral culture

Taking a HerpeSelect Herpes Simplex Virus 1 and 2 IgG Blood Test is extremely important if you’re sexually active and think you’ve been exposed to HSV (Herpes Simplex Virus). There is no cure for Herpes, and it’s estimated by experts that 60 million Americans have the virus that causes genital herpes. Anyone who is sexually active is at risk for getting the Herpes virus.

HerpeSelect Herpes Blood Test Facts

Ask to be Tested?

Diagnosing genital herpes by physical examination alone is difficult for your healthcare provider. For this reason, laboratory tests can be useful for helping to diagnosis and will help you and your healthcare provider determine what actions need to be taken to manage your symptoms and help you prevent transmission to a sexual partner or unborn child.

Laboratory testing is required for an accurate diagnosis.

The following information will help you take an active role in your diagnosis and treatment. When visiting your healthcare provider it is important to disclose how long you have had the sore or lesion and if you have experienced symptoms previously.
• If you have genital lesions or sores at the time of your physical exam, a swab of the lesion may be taken and sent to the laboratory for viral culture.
• If your lesions are healing, your symptoms are unclear, or you are sexually active but do not have symptoms, a blood test may be performed to confirm infection.
Based on the sample taken, your healthcare provider may order a variety of tests to help make a diagnosis. It is important to make sure a type specific HSV test is requested. This information is important because the prognosis and other decisions for a HSV-1 differ from HSV-2.

HerpeSelect® Tests

Available at HealthCheckUSA.com
HerpeSelect is the brand name of HSV diagnostic test kits manufactured by Focus Diagnostics. Available at HealthCheckUSA, HerpeSelect Herpes Simplex Virus 1 and 2 IgG Blood Test

HerpeSelect assays are designed to aid in the diagnosis of:
• Sexually active adults, with or without symptoms, who could transmit the virus to a sexual partner.
• Expectant mothers, to reduce the risk acquiring an infection near labor and transmitting the infection during labor.

Frequently Asked Questions

1) I think I have genital herpes. Is it necessary to get tested?

Yes. It is important that you seek testing from your health professional so that you can be properly diagnosed. If you are diagnosed with genital herpes, you and your physician can discuss ways to manage this disease and reduce the risk of transmission to your partner or baby, if you are pregnant.

2) How is herpes diagnosed?

Health professionals diagnose herpes by taking your medical/sexual history, performing a clinical examination, and ordering laboratory tests. The presence of herpes virus can sometimes be determined from a swab of an active lesion (sore). A blood test (serology) can determine if you have herpes, even if you don’t have symptoms. Newer serology methods utilize highly specific technology that can determine if you have herpes type-1 or type-2 (genital herpes).

3) Can you spread genital herpes when you are not having an outbreak?

Yes. Genital herpes can be spread even when there are no visible signs of outbreak. This is called asymptomatic viral shedding. Most people contract genital herpes from an infected partner who has no symptoms.

4) If I become pregnant and have genital herpes, can I transmit it to the baby?

It is possible to transmit infection to your baby if you become infected during pregnancy or if you have an outbreak at the time of delivery. Your healthcare provider can discuss ways to reduce the possibility of transmission to your baby and carefully monitor you for symptoms during your pregnancy. Women with genital herpes can have healthy babies.

5) Is there any connection between AIDS and herpes?

Genital herpes, and other genital diseases that produce sores, increase a person’s risk of getting HIV if they are sexually active with an infected (HIV) individual. People who have both infections have more frequent symptoms and shed virus at a much higher rate, thus increasing the likelihood of transmitting infection.

6) Who gave this to me?

If you have been sexually involved with more than one partner, it will be difficult to determine the source of infection, as genital herpes infection can be spread even when there are no visible signs of outbreak. As genital herpes infections are often asymptomatic or symptoms go unrecognized, it will also be difficult to determine when you were first infected. Over 50% of people contracting herpes get it from a partner who is unaware they have it.

7) What do I tell my partner?

It is important to share this information with your partner before you become sexually active. If this has already happened, there is a very good chance your partner has already been infected and needs to visit a healthcare professional for diagnosis and treatment. The best approach is to be direct and honest. Carefully think of the words you will use and deliver them in a frank, open manner that will lead the way to further discussion about your sexual relationship. Since herpes is just one of many sexually transmitted diseases, and the consequences of some are more grim than herpes, this dialog is necessary to built the trust and commitment needed for a relationship.

8 ) Where can I get more information about herpes?

The American Social Health Association has a Herpes Resource Center to assist people with herpes. There is a quarterly newsletter, called The Helper, a telephone hotline, and information about local HELP groups.

For more information, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to:

National Herpes Resource Center
American Social Health Association
P.O. Box 1327
Research Triangle Park, NC 27709

Herpes Hotline
1 (919) 361-8488

http://www.ashastd.org/hrc

Call the CDC Sexually Transmitted Disease National Hotline at (800) 227-8922

9) Where can I purchase the HerpeSelect Herpes Test?

The HerpeSelect Herpes Simplex Virus 1 and 2 IgG Blood Test is available at HealthCheckUSA at an affordable price.

Source: Focus Technologies, HerpeSelect Herpes Simplex Virus 1 and 2 IgG Blood Test

Low Cost STD Testing From HealthCheckUSA

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 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.

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 on the HealthCheckUSA Web site within 3-4 business days.

Posted by David | Posted on 21-07-2009

Did you know that HealthCheckUSA offers Low Cost Herpes Blood Testing?

Category : blood tests, herpes test, std testing

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Taking a HerpeSelect Herpes Simplex Virus 1 and 2 IgG Blood Test is extremely important if you’re sexually active and think you’ve been exposed to HSV (Herpes Simplex Virus). There is no cure for Herpes, and it’s estimated by experts that 60 million Americans have the virus that causes genital herpes. Anyone who is sexually active is at risk for getting the Herpes virus.

Herpes Facts

The Herpes Virus Family

There are eight herpes viruses currently known to infect humans. The most common is herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1) which is generally associated with cold sores, fever blisters and occasionally genital herpes. The other is herpes simplex virus type-2 (HSV-2), most commonly associated with genital herpes and occasionally oral infection. Herpes simplex viruses are contagious and are transmitted through physical contact. Herpes is not a life-threatening disease, but it is a lifelong disease and symptoms can recur at any time.

Recognizing Signs and Symptoms

Herpes symptoms can be difficult to recognize if you are unaware you have the virus. In fact, some patients do not experience any symptoms at all. Shedding (multiplying of the HSV virus) can occur in the absence of symptoms through genital secretions. One study found that 70% of people get herpes from a partner who is unaware they have active herpes at the time they transmit the disease.

When people think of herpes they visualize typical symptoms like a “cold sore” or “fever blister”, however symptoms can also include:
• itching
• burning
• redness
• chaffing
• rash
• vaginal discharge
• bumps

Patients and physicians can also confuse symptoms with different diagnosis:

Female
• Vaginitis
• Yeast infection
• Ingrown hair
• UTI/Bladder infection

Male
• Zipper burn
• Jock itch
• Ingrown hair
• Hemorrhoids

It is important that you share with your healthcare provider the symptoms you have experienced or are experiencing, this will aid in your diagnosis and treatment.

Almost 90% of patients that have HSV-2 will experience an outbreak in the first year. On average HSV-2 positive persons may have 4 outbreaks annually. Once infected, the virus will remain dormant until it is triggered again. It isn’t clearly understood what may trigger the virus but it may be attributed to stress, menstruation, vigorous sex, or a worn down immune system. Once the virus begins shedding, the outbreak may occur at the same site as the initial infection or spread to neighboring areas. Lesions or sores will last for 7 to 10 days, however each individual may be different.

The rate of frequency of symptoms can be uncomfortable, annoying and create anxiety. To reduce the frequency of outbreaks, suppression therapy options may be available.

Getting Tested – Should you?

Visiting a physician or STD clinic for an STD screening can be a difficult and overwhelming experience. It is important to openly speak with the physician about your sexual history and the tests that will be performed. Some physicians and STD clinics DO NOT offer herpes testing as part of the routine STD screening.

CDC states that at least 45 million Americans have HSV-2, and there are up to a million new infections each year. Of the 1 in 5 infected with HSV-2, 90% are unaware they have the virus.

African American women have about three times higher risk of acquiring HSV-2 than Caucasians.

Anyone who is sexually active, no matter how many partners, may be at risk for acquiring a STD. There is no clear formula for who is the most at risk, however if you are sexually active, then it is important to know your and your partner’s HSV status.

In recent years, studies have associated a synergy between HSV-2 infections and an increased rate of becoming infected with HIV. The herpes virus can act as a portal for HIV and increases individuals chances of acquiring HIV by two to three times. Additionally, HIV positive patients have a worn down immune system and have a harder time fighting off infection so a HSV-2 infection will increase the progression of HIV.

Pregnant women also need to know their HSV status so they can reduce the risk of passing the virus to their baby during delivery. Neonatal herpes is very serious and can lead to infant mortality. Women who have tested negative for HSV-2 and have had no symptoms should also know their partners status. Should pregnant women become infected near labor, there is increased risk of neonatal herpes. Often a physician will recommend a cesarean section to HSV-2 positive pregnant women to avoid passing the virus to the infant.

Source: Focus Technologies, HerpeSelect Herpes Simplex Virus 1 and 2 IgG Blood Test

Low Cost STD Testing From HealthCheckUSA

Posted by admin | Posted on 22-01-2009

Take a Home STD Test

Category : std testing

Tags: hepatitis a, home std test, sexually transmitted disease screening, std screening, std test, std testing

Taking a Home STD Test is more important than ever. A 2007 Sexually Transmitted Disease Surveillance report by The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that among women in all 50 states in the United States, the overall rate of reported chlamydial infection was 543.6 cases per 100,000 females. This figure was about three times higher than the men’s rate.

The conclusion drawn from this statistic is that more women are screened for chlamydia than men. Furthermore, the report found that the chlamydia infection rate in men increased by 42.9% from 2003 to 2007. In this same time period, there was a 17.3% increase in women.

Chlamydia is just one of many STDs, and it’s often called “the silent epidemic” because so many people don’t realize they have it. It can be treated with antibiotics, but if left untreated there can be very serious health consequences.

Other sexually transmitted diseases the Home STD Test may screen for include Syphilis, a bacterial infection that if left untreated can eventually cause damage to the body’s organs. It also screens for genital herpes, a virus that causes recurrent, periodic outbreaks of sores in the genital region. The Home STD Test may also screen for Hepatitis A, B and C. It has been estimated by The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that at some point in their life, as many as one-third of the population of the United States becomes infected with Hepatitis A.

Countless people may have an STD without knowing it simply because they aren’t getting tested with a Home STD Test, or any other STD test. For people who are sexually active, it is imperative to take a Home STD Test and get screened for STDs regularly.

HealthCheckUSA offers a Home STD Test that doesn’t even require a doctor’s prescription. With so many lab locations across the country, it has never been easier to get tested.

Posted by admin | Posted on 11-01-2008

Chlamydia Screenings Help Avoid Going Untreated

Category : std testing

Tags: aids test, aids testing, chlamydia antibody, chlamydia lab test, Chlamydia screening, chlamydia symptoms, chlamydia test, clap std, clap std test, clap symptoms, clap test, get chlamydia screening, get chlamydia test, get clap test, get std test, health check usa, healthcheck, healthcheckusa, hiv test, HIV Testing, lab test, std test

Chlamydia Screenings Can Detect the Silent STD

Chlamydia, popularly known as “the clap,” is the most common sexually transmitted disease, but don’t expect to hear about it in the news. While many remain silent on the taboo topic, the infection quietly affects around 2.8 million people per year. 75% of infected women and half of infected men don’t even know they have the disease – because they have no symptoms. Tests such as this Chlamydia Screening are the only way to know for sure.

Risks of Untreated Chlamydia

A person infected with Chlamydia is five times more likely to become infected with HIV, and if left untreated, can lead to other illnesses such as Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) and chronic pelvic pain.

Get Tested For Chlamydia

The Center for Disease Control recommends testing annually for Chlamydia, especially for women under 25. Health Check USA offers a Chlamydia antibody screening for the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis, which can be transmitted through sexual contact, as well as hands and clothing.

Posted by admin | Posted on 22-08-2007

AIDS testing: if only it was that simple for everyone

Category : HIV Testing

Tags: aids test, aids testing, best defense health, health check, healthcheck, healthcheckusa, hiv test, HIV Testing, lab test, laboratory test, medical test, std test, std testing

AIDS testing is a cut-and-dried reality for most of us lucky enough to be reading blogs on the Internet. We know what AIDS testing is, and we know when to get tested for AIDS. We know what it does, and we have a pretty good concept of the dangers and symptoms of AIDS.

We’re really, really fortunate.

Babalwa Tembani is a 21-year-old woman who lives in Cape Town, South Africa. At the age of 14, she was raped by her HIV-positive uncle because he believed the myth that sex with a virgin would cure him of the virus. Now Babalwa is infected and must take anti-AIDS drugs regularly to stay alive.

If her uncle had known a little more about AIDS, Babalwa would probably be looking at a bright future, full of promise. Instead, her health will always be a black cloud hovering over her ominously.

A little knowledge goes a long way. HealthCheckUSA provides quality AIDS testing at affordable prices, but if a person doesn’t know that they need to be tested, they’ll never find out about their health, and they may end up curtailing their lives and those of the people they love. And that’s not the only ignorance that might prevent them from pursuing AIDS testing.

If a person believes some of the many myths about AIDS, they may fail to seek out the medical help that can save their lives. These myths are widespread; they’re not South African. For example:

AIDS is nearly always fatal so testing is futile (in reality, quick diagnosis can save lives),
AIDS can always be cured by modern medications, so there’s no reason to worry or rush to be tested (it can’t – success rates are about 80%),
AIDS was developed by the government to kill minorities (a survey of Texan Latinos and blacks found that some 30% of that population believes this),
AIDS doesn’t exist, and is a conspiracy to marginalize the gay community (untrue).

I’d be the last person to trumpet the glories of public education in the Western world. The First World can alarmingly rank last at things. (In fact, South Africa is considered a first-world country by many.) But I am grateful to the teachers, public health officials and medical professionals – and yes, even the news media – who have successfully educated me and my loved ones about AIDS testing. Although there’s still a daunting amount of myth-busting to be done, I’m privileged to have benefited from their guidance.

If only Babalwa Tembani were so lucky.

HealthCheckUSA Health Test Education: Importance of Condoms in preventing STD’s

Save Money with HealthCheckUSA on STD Testing

HealthCheckUSA STD Alert: STDs and Common Symptoms

Save Money with HealthCheckUSA on STD Testing

HerpeSelect Herpes Laboratory Test; available at HealthCheckUSA

Did you know that HealthCheckUSA offers Low Cost Herpes Blood Testing?

Take a Home STD Test

Chlamydia Screenings Help Avoid Going Untreated

Chlamydia Screenings Can Detect the Silent STD

Risks of Untreated Chlamydia

Get Tested For Chlamydia

AIDS testing: if only it was that simple for everyone

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