Having an STI can be a traumatizing experience. Being sexually transmitted, most people tend to shy away from visiting health facilities to get a checkup out of fear of victimization. They would rather have the tests done at home where they are sure of their privacy. Testing for sexually transmitted diseases at home is now an upcoming trend.
What type of equipment will one require
Since one may not be health professional with a laboratory at hand, the use of an STI home testing kit is necessary. Today, many companies supply such kits. When making a purchase, one can consider making an online purchase or getting one from your local pharmacy.
What kind of STI’s can Kits uncover?
Even though some kits can identify multiple infections, going to a health facility to get the tests done is usually the best option. Most kits that you will find on the market today can comfortably test for HIV, gonorrhea and many other genital infections. When buying a kit, always identify the type of infections a particular kit can handle.
How long will it take to do the tests
This will purely depend on the type of STI you wish to test for and the nature of the kit you buy. For infections such as HIV, the test can take as little as 20 minutes. In some tests, however, after getting the relevant samples, you may be required to send them back to the company for analysis. Such companies are quick, and one can get their results in less than five days.
How to perform the tests
Blood, urine are some of the basic vitals used to get results from this kind of kits. Some kits may, however, require you to get a mouth swab. One should also check for physical signs of STIs such as smelly discharge in females and pain when urinating in both men and women. They can act as indicators that one may have an STI.
Tips when using home test kits
Before using any kit, make sure that you read all the relevant instructions from the manufacturer. Kits work differently depending on their design. Using a kit correctly greatly increases the chances of you getting the right results. Kit’s may be faulty, and in case one is not satisfied with a result, always get a second opinion from a health professional or buy another kit and repeat the test.
Make it a habit of testing for STI’s as symptoms of the infections take time to show. If your tests turn out positive, consult a doctor for advice. Information on home testing kits is now available on the Internet with companies posting online videos of how to conduct the various tests.