STI Testing Specialist

Cardinal Pediatrics

Pediatrics located in Lowell, MA & Chelmsford, MA

exually transmitted diseases (STDs) are rising, including skyrocketing rates of dangerous infections such as HPV, gonorrhea, and syphilis. The only way to protect yourself and your family from the long-term complications of untreated infection is to get STD testing at Cardinal Pediatrics. The team supports your health with confidential testing that detects problems even if you don't have symptoms. To learn more about STD testing, call the office in Lowell or Chelmsford, Massachusetts, or book an appointment online today.

STD Testing Q & A

What symptoms indicate I need STD testing?

You may not have symptoms for weeks or months after getting a sexually transmitted disease (STD), which is sometimes called a sexually transmitted infection (STI). When your symptoms appear, they're often so mild and last such a short time that you may not notice them or associate them with sexual activity.

For these reasons, STD testing is the only way to learn whether you have an infection. Without testing, the infection goes untreated, leading to serious complications such as infertility, birth defects, arthritis, blindness, and paralysis.

Each type of STD causes different symptoms, so if you notice any of them, you should seek testing:

Bumps, sores, or warts on your genitals
Discharge from your vagina or penis
Painless sores on your vagina, penis, or mouth
Pain or burning during urination or sex
Pain when ejaculating
Itching, pain, swelling, or burning around the vagina or vulva

You could also have fatigue and flu-like symptoms, including a sore throat, headache, and fever.

What types of STDs are found during testing?

Cardinal Pediatrics performs several types of tests that detect all of the different STDs, including:

Human papillomavirus (HPV)
Chlamydia
Gonorrhea
Syphilis
Genital herpes
Trichomoniasis
Hepatitis B
HIV/AIDS

HPV infections represent the most common type. Your body normally clears the virus away before it causes an infection. If the HPV virus takes hold, it can cause genital warts and cancer of the cervix, vagina, vulva, penis, and throat.

What type of STD testing will I need?

Your provider first completes a physical exam to look for physical symptoms, and in some cases, to take tissue samples. If your partner was diagnosed with a specific STD, your provider can run the test needed for that type.

Otherwise, they choose the best testing based on your symptoms and risk factors. They may need to take several samples and run multiple types of STD tests.

Your doctor may need to:

Take a blood sample
Get a urine sample
Swab the inside of your mouth
Swab your genitals
Swab any sores or visible fluids

Your samples go to a lab where they undergo a variety of tests, depending on the type of STD.

If you have any questions about STD testing, call Cardinal Pediatrics, or book an appointment online today.

We offer pediatric care, physical exams, and newborn care located in Lowell, MA and Chelmsford, MA. Call us to book your appointment today.

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