STD Testing Info

As a two time gestational surrogate mother and an author, as well as having many friends in the surrogacy community, I often hear women ask this question. Herpes is very common today, and does not automatically disqualify you from becoming a surrogate mother.

All clinics will require potential gestational surrogate mothers to undergo extensive physical and psychological testing prior to becoming approved as an acceptable carrier. Part of this testing is complete STD panels for both the surrogate and her partner.

Some clinics and intended parents will automatically disqualify any woman as a surrogate who has Herpes, but this is not a hard and fast rule. With proper arrangements, Herpes can become a non-issue.

The main problem with the Herpes virus is that it can be transmitted to the baby at birth. The simple solution for this is that the surrogate mother delivers the baby via c-section instead of vaginally.

The risk to the infant is only if there is an active Herpes infection present during delivery, though intended parents might ask for a mandatory c-section with a surrogate who carries the STD to be on the safe side.

The most important thing for you to do as a potential surrogate mother who has Herpes is to disclose this information during the matching process to the set of potential intended parents that you are interviewing with. You will also need to disclose this to the clinic before they have done any testing on you.

This way, if there is a problem, any relationship can be ended immediately, which will save everyone valuable time and money. Plus, this shows that you are honest and forthright with information, even derogatory information, which is vital in a surrogacy arrangement.

If you do not disclose this information in advance of testing, and it is found later, it could be a very large black spot on your relationship with both the clinic and the intended parents. STDs are not something to be taken lightly. They can have permanent and damaging effects on any unborn child.

It is important to note that Herpes is usually the only exception when it comes to carrying any sort of STD and still qualifying to become a surrogate mother. Because Herpes is only contagious when the baby passes through the birth canal, as opposed to being contagious in vetro, and because Herpes is so common in America, clinics and intended parents may turn a blind eye towards it.

Do not get offended if a clinic or intended parents reject you based on your Herpes status. These parents undergo a very expensive and emotional journey trying to become parents. They are usually extra cautious and extra sensitive to such issues.

But for every set of intended parents who may reject a Herpes carrier, there is another set of intended parents who simply do not care, so long as the proper safety precautions are taken. Good luck in your surrogacy journey!

It’s a conversation that nobody wants to have – the admission of having a sexually transmitted disease to a partner. Whether you’ve been with somebody for years or have only just met, the revelation is never easy to make, so it’s important that you impart the information carefully.

Whatever you do, keeping quiet about your sexually transmitted disease is not an option. It’s within your partner’s rights to know of any potential risks that sexual contact will present, so that he/she can make an informed decision on precautions to take or whether to proceed! The only instance when it is okay to keep quiet is if you have previously had a curable disease (Chlamydia, Gonnorhea or Syphilis), have taken the appropriate anonymous STD test and got it treated. Even then, in the interests of full disclosure you should consider it – and if there’s any risk that he/she caught it off you before you got treated, you must (if not for the moral reasons, then for the subsequent chances of re-infection!)

Broaching the subject and the consequences involved are subtly different depending on whether the partner you’re telling has previously had sexual contact with you. If they have, then there’s the double shock – you have the disease, and they will need to take an anonymous STD test to find out whether they do too. Remember in this case that a new STD doesn’t automatically mean a person hasn’t been faithful to their STD-free partner: some take a long period of time to develop symptoms, so any resentment may be unfounded. If you haven’t had sex with the partner yet then they will still have a shock, and may make unfair assumptions about your sexual history. In either case, the way you should broach the subject remains largely the same.

The first lesson is simple: don’t bring it up during, or just before a sexual encounter. For starters, the chances are it will draw a halt to proceedings anyway! Secondly, emotions may be running high and your partner may feel extra venerable. In short, it’s not the best place to impart delicate news, no matter how relevant!

Instead, a quiet, private place to tell all is vital – it’s especially important that you won’t be interrupted. Try to stay as calm as possible. Explain that before you have sex (in the case of a new partner) he/she needs to know that you have a sexually transmitted disease and some information about it. At this point, you can explain what it is, what its side effects are, whether it’s curable and if using a condom will prevent its transfer. If you have a brochure on the disease (many clinics carry these), then passing one over will give your partner the chance to read about the STD in his/her own time.

Be as honest as possible – while nobody wants to go into details about their sexual history, you need to tell your partner whether you contracted it through sexual contact or through other means (drug use, for example).

As to how your partner will react, it’s simply impossible to predict. They will almost certainly be shocked, but this may manifest itself in many different ways: fear, anger, or a reluctance to talk about it. However they react, give them time and don’t push them into making a decision on the future of your relationship right away.

There’s no denying it: admitting you have an STD to a partner is a horrible experience. However, by being open and honest about it, you avoid a lot of long term complications and can be sure that if things turn out okay, the honesty involved can only make your relationship stronger. If you have previously been having sex, make sure both of you take anonymous STD tests to know your present situation and avoid re-infecting each other.

Tim Leach is the Marketing Manager of USA Lab Testing, who can provide people with an anonymous STD test.

The STD epidemic is not limited to today’s youth – oh no. Some STDs (and their painful, scientifically dubious treatments) date back several hundreds of years. Let’s take a look at some of the older ones and the myths about them that caused some pretty unorthodox treatments throughout the history of STDs:

Herpes

Herpes has been around since ancient Greek times – in fact, we owe the Greeks for the name, which roughly means “to creep or crawl” – presumably a reference to the spread of skin lesions. Although local STD testing wasn’t available until long after the virus was identified in 1919, early civilisations could see that it was a real problem – the Roman emperor Tiberius introduced a ban on kissing at public events to try and curb the spread. Not much is known about early attempts to treat the disease, but be grateful you weren’t around during the physician Celsus’ experimental phase: he advocated that the sores be cauterised with a hot iron!

The problem certainly never went away – Shakespeare referred to herpes as “blister plagues”, implying the extent of the epidemic. One common belief at the time was that the disease was caused by insect bites, which seems like an obvious explanation given the sores that the sexually transmitted disease creates.

Syphilis

Mercury was the remedy of choice for syphilis in the middle ages – the understanding of the sexually transmitted disease’s routes and this treatment gave birth to the expression: “A night in the arms of Venus leads to a lifetime on Mercury”. This was administered orally or via direct contact with the skin, though one of the most unlikely methods involved fumigation, where the patient was placed in a closed box with only their head poking out. The box contained mercury and a fire was started beneath it causing it to vaporise. It wasn’t hugely effective, but was very, very uncomfortable. Because Syphilis sores have a tendency to vanish on their own after a while, many people believed they were cured by just about any remedy in the STD’s history!

As the sexually transmitted disease became better understood, the ability to cure it increased. In 1908, the arsenic based drug Salvarsan was developed and, while not 100% effective, was a massive step forward. Its lack of effectiveness in the tertiary phase of the STD led to another disease being used as a cure: malaria. Because it seemed that those with high fevers could be cured of syphilis, malaria was used to induce an initial fever, which was considered an acceptable risk because malaria could be treated with quinine. Penicillin eventually confined both these treatments to STD history.

Gonnorhea

Before the days of local STD testing, Gonnorhea was often mistaken for Syphilis, as without a microscope, the two had very similar symptoms and were often silent. Of course, if you were “diagnosed” with the disease, you were in for an unfortunate treatment. According to some, the syringes found aboard the Mary Rose was designed to inject liquid mercury down the urethra of an crew suffering from the disease. By the 19th century, silver nitrate was a widely used drug, later to be replaced by Protargol. A colloidal silver replaced this, and was widely used until antibiotics came to the rescue in the 1940s.

So if you think that local STD testing and treatment is a painful process now, give a thought to the poor folks who had mercury or arsenic treatment all those years ago – and thank God for antibiotics!

Tim Leach is the Marketing Manager of USA Lab Testing, providers of local STD testing

With millions of new cases of infections every year in the US, STDs are a danger that everyone needs to be aware of. But while there are thousands of STD testing clinics throughout America offering anonymous STD testing, many people still don’t know under what circumstances they should take a test. Here is a list of five occasions when comprehensive STD testing is essential; some of them are common sense (after unprotected sex with a stranger, for example), but some times it isn’t so straightforward…

You have a one night stand

Even if you engaged in protected penetrative sex, you may still be at risk of infection – be aware that some STDs, such as herpes, can be transmitted through oral sex. Of course, if you have had unprotected penetrative sex with a stranger, you should strongly consider visiting a local STD testing clinic – if you are concerned about confidentiality, many of them offer anonymous STD testing.      

You want to have unprotected sex with a long term partner

Before having unprotected sex with a partner, it is recommended that both you and your partner take some comprehensive STD tests. It is a common misconception that the contraceptive pill protects against sexually transmitted diseases. While the pill does prevent pregnancy, it provides no protection against STDs, and testing is recommended for both you and your partner before you engage in unprotected sex. Many STDs can be completely asymptomatic, so just because you don’t have any obvious symptoms does not mean you or your partner haven’t been exposed. It may not be very romantic, but STD testing at the beginning of a new relationship is essential for safe health and peace of mind.

You are pregnant

Another strange myth is that pregnancy offers protection against STDs. It does not; more seriously, there are a number of STDs that can cause complications during pregnancy. Some (such as Herpes, HIV and Syphilis) can be passed on to the baby as it is born. Comprehensive STD testing is usually standard procedure in pre-natal medical care at several points during the pregnancy – ask your OBGYN if you need further information.  

You have three or more sexual partners in a single year

If you have three or more sexual partners in one year, it is strongly recommended that you undergo comprehensive STD testing, even if you engage in protected sex with all of them. It is also recommended that all sexually active women under the age of 25 should take a Chlamydia test at least once a year, as the disease is extremely common and rarely shows symptoms. If you are worried about your tests appearing in insurance documents, many clinics offer anonymous STD testing.

You have injected drugs or steroids

While some STDs can only be contracted through direct sexual contact, HIV, hepatitis and several other STDs are transmitted through contact with infected blood. The risk is especially high with shared or previously used needles, but if you have ever injected yourself with drugs or steroids you should go to an STD testing clinic to get tested.

Tim Leach is the Marketing Manager of USA Lab Testing, providers of STD testing

In this day and age, we’ve all been told that STD testing is important for those who are sexually active, but there is a lot more to know about STD testing than “just do it.” Who is a candidate for STD testing? What’s involved in the process? When should you be tested for STDs? Why is it so important? Learn what everybody ought to know about STD testing and how getting tested for STDs has never been easier and more convenient.

STD Testing – The Basics

Everyone, sexually active or not, needs to have basic knowledge of STDs and STD testing.

Anyone who is sexually active should receive routine STD testing. This means anyone who participates in sexual activity of any kind, not just vaginal intercourse, is at risk. The risk of contracting a sexually transmitted disease is increased for those who have more than one sexual partner.

STD testing can be performed at your doctor’s office or local lab. There are various types of STD tests, and not all doctors test for the same diseases. Some STDs may be tested for using blood tests, urine, or cell samples. You may need to have multiple tests depending on your sexual history and possible symptoms.

When it comes to STD testing, the sooner you have it done, the better. Like most diseases, the earlier it is caught, the easier it will be to treat. If you have symptoms of a sexually transmitted disease, the best thing to do is to have yourself and your partner tested. If you’re thinking of becoming sexually involved with a new partner, both you and your partner should be tested first. If you have more than one sexual partner, STD testing is recommended yearly.

The Importance of STD Testing

STD testing is important to protect your health and the health of your partner and future partners. The truth is that most people who transmit STDs don’t even know they have one. That knowledge can be obtained in a simple test and can help protect both you and your partner.

The spreading of STDs is preventable. Diseases such as Chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis are easily curable with simple antibiotics. But in order to treat these STDs, you must be aware of them. STD testing is the first step.

You have a responsibility to receive STD testing, not only to protect your partner and to prevent the spreading of STDs, but also to yourself, your body, and your health.

Sexually transmitted diseases are escalating nowadays when more people have started entering into multiple sexual relationships. They might not consider this ethically wrong but the fact remains that such people are more prone to sexual diseases. However, if unfortunately one gets infected by any such disease, it is better to start ailment as soon as possible for these diseases have the potential to ruin your entire life. People often are embarrassed and scared to disclose their problem to others even to their friends but they fail to realize that delaying diagnose is compromising with their life. Thus, as soon as you fear a sexually transmitted infection, approach a doctor.

This article informs the readers about certain primary STDs and their symptoms.

1. AIDS and HIV

• Transmitted through- AIDS and HIV are two more or les related diseases. The HIV stands for the ‘human immunodeficiency virus’ and the disease that spreads through it is known as AIDS i.e. ‘acquired immune deficiency syndrome’. HIV travels through blood. It can be transmitted from one HIV positive person to his partner through sex. It can also pass on from the HIV positive mother to her child through infected breast milk and even from an infected syringe or other equipments that come into contact with the blood of the HIV positive to any other individual who is treated with the same devices.

• Symptoms- weak immune system and susceptible to more infections than usual. HIV gets translated to AIDS when the HIV patient acquires a particular indicative illness.

• Preventive Measures- not much available yet. But avoid taking drugs. Maintain hygiene.

2. Chlamydia-

• Infected via- the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis is the cause of this infection. Once this bacterium enters the individual’s body it affects his mucous membranes, eyelids and even reproductive tissues.

• Symptoms- the symptoms Chlamydia often confused with another similar STD called Gonorrhea and even with Conjunctivitis due to eyelid infection. The common symptoms to this disease are pain during sex, burning and abnormal discharge. Chlamydia can be without any typical indications also.

• Prevention- the disease is curable. As a precautionary measure one should maintain hygiene during sex and get medical check up done in order to avoid infection.

3. Pelvic Inflammatory Disease- usually women are afflicted by this disease. It is a an infection in the upper genital tract and reproductive organs including ovaries, uterus and fallopian tubes.

• Spreads through- Chlamydia and Gonorrhea are the two STDs that are most often responsible for this disease. Women between 15 to 25 years of age are more prone to be infected by it. Excess douching can also lead to PID for it cleanses the naturally beneficial bacteria from the women’s vagina.

• Symptoms- When ailing PID, women might experience pain during intercourse, burning and even fever.

• Precautions and Cures- antibiotics are useful to cure PID. But it is recommended to get frequent check ups done and in case the disease is discovered medicines and proper treatment should commence the very moment for PID can be unexpectedly harmful in later stages.

4. Gonorrhea- infects the individual’s sensitive tissues of reproductive system.

• An individual can acquire this disease through all types of sexual contacts like oral sex.

• Indications- the indicators to Gonorrhea are very few which makes it all the more difficult to adjudicate it and so stop it from being transmitted from one to the other person through sex. Symptoms are akin to Chlamydia so the two diseases are liable to be confused with each other. A person suffering from Gonorrhea experiences unusual discharge, burning, pain during sexual activity, swelling, fever and other infections like women may have bleeding between periods.

• Remedies and Safety- treatment should commence in initial stages to cure Gonorrhea. Those who are pretty active in their sexual life should get check ups done on a regular basis to be on a safer side.

Apart from these there are several other STDs not discussed here like Hepatitis, Scabies, Herpes, Syphilis, HPV etc. which are most common in ones. It is better to acquire information about them once you are sexually active and consult a gynecologist every now and then to avert from all kinds of STDs.