What is a Female STI test?
A female STI test is a kit that is delivered to and completed in the comfort of your own home. It checks for the most common female STIs by taking a cotton swab of the vagina, throat, and anus (bottom). It may also include a small blood sample.
There are two different female STI tests, a basic and a full screening test. The basic test checks for some common STIs, while the full screening tests for a wider range, like genital herpes and hepatitis.
What does the basic female STI test check for?
The basic female STI test checks for a number of different STIs including:
- gonorrhoea of the genitals, throat, and anus
- chlamydia of the genitals, throat, and anus
STIs can be spread through:
- contact with another person’s genitals
- infected semen or vaginal discharge coming into contact with your eyes
If you are unsure how an STI can be transmitted, check with a doctor.What does the full female STI test check for?
The full female STI test checks for:
- gonorrhoea of the genitals, throat, and anus
- chlamydia of the genitals, throat, and anus
What are these infections?
Chlamydia: One of the most common in the UK and most women do not know they have it. If you do get symptoms, the most common include pain when peeing, discharge from the vagina, and bleeding after sex. Chlamydia is treated with a course of antibiotics.
Gonorrhoea: This STI is caused by bacteria. Typical symptoms include pain when peeing and yellow discharge from the vagina. Almost half of infected women do not get any symptoms at all. This is usually treated with a single antibiotic injection.
Syphilis: This STI is also caused by bacteria. The most common symptoms include white patches in the mouth, fever, tiredness, headaches and ulcers on the vagina. It can cause serious issues if left untreated but can be cured with antibiotics.
HIV: Caused by a virus which damages the cells in your body, making it harder to fight off diseases and infections. If it is not treated, HIV can lead to AIDS. Treatment, such as PrEP, can be used to stop symptoms but there is no cure at present. The virus may cause flu symptoms 2 to 6 weeks after it enters the body, but many people do not develop any symptoms, meaning they do not know they have it.
Ureaplasma: Caused by bacteria that leads to infection commonly found in the genital area. The most common symptoms include pain when peeing, burning, or discharge from the vagina.
Genital herpes: Caused by a virus called herpes simplex virus (HSV) and is very contagious. HSV can also cause cold sores on the mouth area, which can also be transmitted to the genitals. The virus stays in the body and you may get outbreaks. While there is no cure, the symptoms of herpes can be managed with antiviral tablets to suppress or prevent outbreaks. The most common symptoms of an outbreak are tingling in the vagina, pain when peeing, and painful blisters around the vagina.
Hepatitis B and C: These are both STIs caused by a virus, which leads to liver infections. There is no cure for Hepatitis B and C, but there are treatments to stop symptoms. The most common symptoms include fever, stomach pain, yellowing of the skin (jaundice), and nausea (feeling sick). People who have HIV are more likely to get Hepatitis B or C. If you’ve recently received a hepatitis B vaccination, you should wait 8 weeks before taking this test. You may get a false positive result if you take this test sooner.
Mycoplasma: This STI is caused by bacteria and is found in around 1 in 100 adults. The most common symptoms are a watery discharge from the vagina and pain when peeing. Mycoplasma can be hard to treat, so you must get a doctor to advise on the best antibiotics.
Trichomoniasis: This STI is caused by a tiny parasite. Around 50% of people do not get any symptoms but this does not mean the infection cannot be passed on. The most common symptoms include pain when peeing, swelling or redness around the vagina, and discharge from the vagina. Trichomoniasis is treated with a course of antibiotics.
Gardnerella: This bacteria can cause bacterial vaginosis (BV) and is mainly found in women. It causes a change in bacteria balance in the vagina. Typical symptoms include white discharge and a fishy odour. BV is not an STI but you have more risk of catching it if you have sex. BV is treated with antibiotic tablets, creams, or gels.
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