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When to Have an STD Test | Surfside Urgent Care of Laguna Beach

Posted on Oct 27, 2021 in STD Testing | No Comments

When is the Best Time to Have an STD Test?

Lacking accurate information on your sexual health can be extremely dangerous. Even those who regularly get tested for STDs following unprotected sex often receive false information if they do not time their visit to the clinic appropriately. Depending on the type of STD test you are planning on getting, you will need to wait a certain amount of time before results can be considered accurate.

At Surfside Urgent Care of Laguna Beach, we understand the importance of sexual health, which is why we encourage our patients to learn about the various incubation periods that affect the reliability of STD testing. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about when to get tested for STDs.

Timing Your STD Testing for Accurate Results

Get tested at the first sign of symptoms

By the time symptoms of an STD appear, your body will have already formed the necessary antibodies that will be used to detect the disease or infection through a test. Therefore, if you are experiencing any common markers of an STD such as sores or bumps on your genital area, itching, pain, frequent urination, or any other indicators, we recommend seeking out STD testing at your local clinic immediately.

If your sexual partner has not displayed any symptoms of an STD, it is still necessary to get tested after unprotected sex. The reason for this is that some of the most common bacterial infections such as chlamydia and gonorrhea often present themselves without any symptoms. With that said, it will take approximately three weeks until the antibodies for these infections become detectable through a swab, blood, or urine test.

Consider walk in STD testing

If you frequently engage in sexual activity without using protection, there are many dangerous STDs that could remain dormant in your body for months before they present themselves in a test. For this reason, the best course of action is to make a habit of testing for viruses such as Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and HPV every 6 months-1 year. This will give your body ample time in between tests to produce antibodies if you have been infected by your partner.

Testing for STDs is an important part of taking care of your health if you are sexually active. Get same-day STD testing and urgent care services from Surfside Urgent Care of Laguna Beach. Call us for more information on our services or visit our clinic today!