3 reasons seniors should have HIV and STD testing done

Whether you’re dating at 18 or 78, there’s one thing that should take place: STD testing. STDs and HIV has been on the rise among seniors in recent years; the CDC reports that rates of chlamydia and syphilis among ages 45 to 64 have nearly tripled in the last decade. Gonorrhea is also on the rise. Here are three reasons for STD testing among this population:

1. Lack of sex education. Many people 50 years or older never had a formal sex ed course in high school and may not think this topic is relevant. However, while pregnancy may not be a consequence of sex anymore, STDs and HIV remain prevalent, and many seniors are unaware of the basics of STD and HIV prevention. Condoms provide excellent protection against most STDs, not just pregnancy. These prophylactics may seem alien to many seniors who relied on oral contraceptives and other forms of birth control during years of marriage and without proper condom use, STDs spread.
2. Menopause. After menopause, women no longer need to worry about unwanted pregnancies, which may lead to a disregard of condoms as mentioned in the first point. Furthermore, menopause causes bodily changes that make women more susceptible to HIV and STDs. Thinning of the vaginal walls and vaginal dryness can cause small, microscopic cuts which allow as an entry point for HIV.
3. Viagra and Internet dating. It’s actually two reasons, but combined, these elements increase ability and opportunity for dating among seniors. Combined with the lack of sex ed and no threat of pregnancy, this puts the demographic at risk for STDs and HIV. Seniors shouldn’t be denied dating, sex and companionship (80% of those between 50 and 90 are sexually active), but as we advise the rest of the dating population, safe sex is the best sex.

Testing is fast and easy. Find an STD testing center near you or go online and check out the home test kits (scroll to the bottom). Test in the privacy of your home when it's convenient for you. Everything you need is in the kit including postage.

What is online STD testing?

Online STD testing is a fairly new concept. The actual STD testing process doesn’t take place online; STD testing is available for purchase online and then testing is performed at a lab near you or at home.

Online STD Testing vs. Traditional Testing

Ordering STD tests online from a service like getSTDtested.com offers more convenience and privacy compared to traditional testing routes, and it's quick and easy. A doctor’s office or free clinic require appointments and often long waits. Online STD testing allows you to order a test from your computer, test immediately without an appointment and receive your results in about 3 days. Many of these labs are open on Saturday, so you can test around your busy schedule.

Online STD Testing Options

Testing is available at over 4,000 labs in the continental United States and Alaska. When testing at a lab there is no need to answer intrusive questions about your sex life or undress for an examination. Certified phlebotomists will take a urine and/or blood sample which are then shipped to a processing facility. From their the results come to us, not back to the lab, and you receive them as a password-protected pdf as soon as they arrive 

At-home STD testing is available for chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis and HIV. You can select STD tests online and have the kit mailed to your home or office. Everything, including postage, is provided. All you do is collect your sample and mail it to the lab for processing.

Online STD Testing is Confidential

Testing is confidential in most cases. STD testing is a personal matter, so your confidentiality is protected at all stages—from ordering to billing to treatment. Lab testing takes place at diagnostic laboratories that do more than STD testing (everything from cholesterol testing to diabetes screening), so no one will know the nature of your business execpt the phlebotomist who collects your specimen. And your personal information is never shared with insurance companies or third parties.

Testing is quick and easy. Find an STD testing center near you.

Survey says: friends with benefits use condoms more

According to one study, people in a “friends with benefits” relationship have safer sex. Those surveyed, primarily young adults in their mid-20s, use condoms during oral and vaginal sex more frequently than those in traditional relationships.

But don’t assume this makes friends-with-benefits sex safer, or riskier, than sex among those in committed relationships. Friends with benefits are much less likely to be monogamous (36% vs. 96%), have had more sex partners and didn’t use condoms during all encounters. Additionally, these survey participants were less sexually satisfied and had less communication about sex. 

Casual FWB relationships are common (there was even a recent movie with the same title); half of college students have engaged in this type of relationship. With the prevalence of these relationships, experts call for specific sex education surrounding these relationships.

So what can you do to keep a friends-with-benefits relationship healthy? Engage in open communication, continue using condoms, practicing safe sex and have regular STD testing performed.

Read the article and find an STD testing center near you.

6 more common condom mistakes

Several months ago we published “6 Common Condom Mistakes.” We’re following up on that article with six more common condom mistakes. Condoms are a solid form of insurance (still, don't ignore STD testing as part of your safe sex rituals), but be sure to use them correctly, otherwise the benefits become null and void. Researchers at Indiana University found these additional rubber wrongdoings:

1. Early removal. A handful of survey respondents—13.6 to 44.7%—reported removing the condom before the deed was done, which defeats the whole goal.
2. Failure to check for damage. A handful of ladies and gentlemen said they didn’t check the condom for damage or a passed expiration date. We understand that lighting may be dim or you’re anxious to get the action started, but take two seconds to examine the wrapper for tears and imperfections when unrolling the condom.
3. Reusing the condom. 1.4 to 3.3% said they reused a condom during the same encounter. For real.
4. Poor storage. Storing condoms in wallets, extreme temperature or direct sunlight can weaken the latex. Your pocket is even a dangerous spot—sharp objects and body heat are potential hazards.
5. Incorrect withdrawal. Pull out when finished; don’t linger after ejaculation like 31% of men and 27% of women surveyed.
6. Opening package with a sharp object. This can cause the condom to get torn or punctured, rendering it useless. Be careful when opening!

Bonus mistake: Not wearing one at all! 

We mentioned this error in a previous blog post, but this mistake should be emphasized. Unprotected sex puts you at risk for STDs and HIV, as well as unintended pregnancies. Condoms are cheap, easy to use and offer lifesaving benefits—so, why not use one?! Just be sure to use it correctly! 

Find an STD testing facility near you.

Five things to know about pelvic inflammatory disease

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) isn’t an STD, per say. However, it’s a common complication of the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries from untreated chlamydia and gonorrhea. PID can be a serious condition in women, so here are five facts you need to know:

1.    Each year, over 750,000 women experience PID. About 10 to 15% of these women will become infertile from this infection.

2.    Women under 25 are most susceptible to PID, since the reproductive system may be less developed.

3.    A PID infection may be causing serious damage, but a woman may only experience mild symptoms, making this condition difficult to diagnose.

4.    The more sex partners a woman has, the greater her chances of contracting PID. Women with multiple partners are exposed to more infectious agents that can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease.

5.     The best way to prevent PID is to have STD testing performed regularly and get treated promptly if positive.

Source: cdc.gov

Have questions about STD testing? Give us a call at 877-317-3178.

Emergency Rooms May Be Overdiagnosing UTIs on a Massive Scale

A new study in the Journal of Clinical Microbiology tracked nearly 300 female patients to find that emergency departments massively overdiagnose urinary tract infections. What’s worse, in many cases ERs fail to diagnose the sexually transmitted infections that are the real culprits behind the symptoms. This means millions of women are being put on unnecessary antibiotics for nonexistent UTIs and unaware that they have STIs.

A UTI begins when bad bacteria, usually E. coli, enters the urethra and infects part of the usually sterile urinary tract. Nearly 1 in 3 women will get a UTI at least once, and they’re the cause of nearly 7 million doctor-office visits a year. The trouble is that lower-tract UTIs and STIs often share very similar symptoms: pelvic pain, painful urination, and the urgent need to pee even when the bladder is empty. “Distinguishing between these infections can be challenging,” the researchers write.

One way that providers figure out whether you have a UTI is by doing a urinalysis, which can spot bacteria in your tract. Urinalysis has the benefit of being instant, unlike the more thorough urine culture test, which typically comes back in 24-48 hours. Unfortunately, urinalysis is also prone to contamination and frequently bears abnormal results.

For the study, Hecker and her team tracked 264 women who had gone to the emergency room in Ohio, 175 of whom were diagnosed with a UTI. Then they evaluated participants’ urine samples using molecular tests to determine what infection—if any—they actually had. In reality, less than half of the women diagnosed with a UTI had one. Moreover, overdiagnosing UTIs often meant underdiagnosing STIs, including gonorrhea, chlamydia, and trichomoniasis. Sixty of the 264 participants turned out to have one or more of these STIs, yet 22 of them did not receive STI treatment within a week. Of those, 14 were instead diagnosed with a UTI.

Clearly, emergency departments need to rethink the way they test for both of these types of infections. But for now, if you think you’ve got a UTI but aren’t sure, what can you do? “Honestly, if it were me, I would request a culture,” says Hecker. “And if you’re sexually active, it’s not a bad idea to get an STD test as well.”

Read the complete article and find an STD testing center near you.