If you’re sexually active outside of a mutually monogamous relationship, then you may want to get tested for STDs periodically. A lot of STDs don’t cause symptoms in many of the people who are infected, so it’s difficult to know whether you have one of these infections unless you get tested. This also means that you can’t know for sure whether any of your partners have been infected just by asking them about symptoms. Even if they’re honest, they could still have an STD even with no signs at all.
If you live in Tampa and you’re concerned about the possibility of having an STD, then you may be looking for a clinic where you can get an STD test in Tampa. How can you find a way to get the testing that you need? Can you maintain your privacy during this process?
Types of STD Tests
The first thing to decide is which STD tests you need. To check for some STDs, a blood test is required. These include HIV, hepatitis B and C, syphilis, and herpes. For other STDs, either a urine test or a swab test can be used. The swab is taken of the vagina for women, or the inside of the penis for men. These include gonorrhea, chlamydia, trichomoniasis, and HPV.
You may have just one STD that you’re concerned about. For example, maybe you have a partner who tested positive for syphilis, and you need to be tested as well. In this case, you might want just a syphilis test. However, if you’re doing a general screening, then you may want to order an STD panel. This tests for multiple different STDs at the same time.
Sometimes, when a couple gets together but hasn’t had sex yet, they choose to have both partners get screened for STDs, to ensure that they won’t give each other anything when they start to have sex. This is a good way to stay safe and have peace of mind, so that you can fully enjoy sex with your partner without worrying.
Where To Find an STD Test in Tampa FL
It’s certainly an option to make an appointment with your own doctor. After they talk with you to decide which tests you need, they may take a swab sample in their office. You may then need to go to a lab to give blood and/or urine samples as well.
How To Order Your Own STD Test
If you’d prefer to order your own STD test, then you have a few different options. These include getting a home test kit, where you take your own samples in the privacy of your own home, or ordering the test yourself and then going to a laboratory to have the samples taken.
Here are some of the services that are available, which we commonly recommend.
LetsGetChecked
LetsGetChecked offers home test kits, so you’ll take your own samples and mail them back to the lab for testing. You’ll never have to see another person, so this option offers maximum privacy for those who prefer that. However, this does mean that you’ll need to take your own blood sample through a fingerprick if you’re getting a blood test (for example, a Tampa HIV test). While most people don’t have any problem doing this, it can be a little challenging for some people.
myLAB Box
This company also offers home test kits, which allows for maximum privacy but will require that you take your own blood sample. They offer an extremely comprehensive kit that allows you to test for diseases like gonorrhea and chlamydia in the throat and anus as well as the genitals, along with testing for many other common STDs. There is also a couples box available, which means that you get two test kits for comprehensive STD panels, allowing you to test along with your partner to keep each other safe.
STDCheck
This company is a bit different from the previous ones. Rather than home test kits, they offer self-ordered laboratory testing. You will order your tests yourself online, but then go in to a laboratory to have the samples taken. There are multiple labs in Tampa and the surrounding area, so you won’t have a problem finding a lab (even if you’re looking for STD testing in Brandon FL, Westchase FL, Oldsmar FL, or other Tampa suburbs).
Comparing STD Test Tampa FL Options
Here’s a chart that compares the specific STD testing services that we’ve mentioned, to help you decide which one might be right for you.
Sources
LetsGetChecked. https://www.letsgetchecked.com/. Accessed September 16, 2024.
myLAB Box. https://www.mylabbox.com/. Accessed September 16, 2024.
Screening Recommendations and Considerations Referenced in Treatment Guidelines and Original Sources. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/std/treatment-guidelines/screening-recommendations.htm. Accessed September 16, 2024.
