If you have sex — oral, anal, vaginal intercourse, or genital touching — you can get an STD, also called a sexually transmitted infection (STI). Regardless of your marital status or sexual orientation, you are vulnerable to STIs and STI symptoms. You can have an STI without knowing it and infect your partner during sex. Most STIs can be successfully treated, but getting any symptoms checked as soon as possible is important.
The good news is most STIs are treatable, and many are curable. Getting tested and treated for STIs is straightforward and confidential. At Core Medicine of Idaho, we can provide testing and treatment for STIs.
You may feel embarrassed, but there is no need. At Core Medicine, our staff is used to testing for all kinds of infections. Our staff will address your concerns in a professional manner, without judgment, and will do their best to explain everything and make you feel at ease.
Anyone can be seen at Core Medicine, regardless of their gender, age, or whether they have symptoms or not. The service is always confidential; if you are under eighteen, the clinic will not tell your parents. No information about your visit to the clinic will be with anyone outside of the clinic unless you ask it to be. If it is suspected that you or another person is at risk of harm, other healthcare services may need to be notified, but this will be discussed with you before this occurs.
STI Symptoms
The symptoms of an STI can include:
- Sore or bumps on and around your genitals, thighs, or butt cheeks
- Discharge from your vagina or penis
- Burning when you urinate or frequent urination
- Itching, pain, irritation and/or swelling in your penis, vagina, vulva, or anus
- Rash
- Flu-like symptoms like fever, body aches, swollen glands, and feeling tired
STI Testing
There are several options available for STI testing. Blood, urine samples, and sometimes swabs
may be taken for STI testing. The visit may also involve a physical examination for symptoms.
Here are the tests to check for common STIs:
- Chlamydia: Swab of the affected area or urine sample
- Gonorrhea: Swab of the affected area or urine sample
- HIV: Blood sample sent to the lab
- Genital herpes (HSV 1 & 2) with symptoms: Swab of the affected area
- Genital herpes (HSV 1 & 2) without symptoms: Blood sample sent to the lab
- Syphilis: Blood test sent to the lab or swab of the affected area
- Trichomoniasis (Trich): Swab of the infected area or urine sample
- Genital Warts (HPV): Visual exam or swab of the affected area
- Hepatitis B: Blood sample sent to the lab
- Hepatitis C: Blood sample sent to the lab
You can expect to get your results in 2–10 days. The length of time depends on the type of test.
STI Prevention
The only 100% guaranteed way to avoid STIs is not to have any kind of sexual contact (vaginal, anal, oral, or skin-to-genital contact) with another person. But if you do have sex, safe sex lowers your chances of getting an STI.
How to Protect Yourself
1. Abstinence: NO SEX = NO STI.
2. Vaccination: Vaccines are safe and effective and are recommended to prevent hepatitis B and HPV (human papillomavirus).
3. Condoms: Correct and consistent use of the condom is highly effective in reducing STI transmission. Use a condom every time you have anal, vaginal, or oral sex.
4. Reduce the amount of sex partners: Reducing your number of sex partners can decrease your risk for STIs.
5. Mutual Monogamy: This means that you agree to be sexually active with only one person who has agreed to be sexually active only with you. Being in a long-term monogamous relationship with an uninfected partner is one of the most reliable ways to avoid STIs
If you are worried because you think you have an STI, come to our family medicine practice in Caldwell- Core Medicine of Idaho as soon as possible. We can test and treat STIs in our walk-in urgent care.