For those who’re the type of one who will get nervous or squeamish on the physician’s workplace, you may discover that amassing your personal samples does not freak you out as a lot as somebody in a white coat doing it.
Relying on the place you reside and your transportation scenario, at-home STD exams is likely to be extra accessible than visiting a clinic or making a physician’s appointment. And you may pay for them out of pocket, which is likely to be a greater choice based mostly in your medical insurance.
Lastly, and sadly, sexually transmitted infections have a stigma connected to them. You should not really feel ashamed of checking up in your sexual well being—removed from it, in truth—however at-home exams is likely to be a greater choice in case you’re involved about what others might imagine.
The Cons of At-Dwelling STI Assessments
At-home STI exams are costly. Relying in your particular well being care scenario, they is likely to be extra reasonably priced, and lots of of them are FSA- and HSA-eligible or could also be coated by insurance coverage. However in case you dwell in an space the place there’s free testing by your metropolis or state well being departments, or a third-party clinic like Deliberate Parenthood, these choices are possible going to be less expensive than testing at house.
There’s additionally the danger of you amassing your samples incorrectly, which may result in false negatives. Relying on the check you select, in case you do get constructive outcomes for a sexually transmitted an infection, you may nonetheless find yourself having to go go to a physician in individual to get it handled. Whereas many exams are respected, it is nonetheless essential to make sure that the lab analyzing your outcomes is well-regulated (and that the check itself comes from a good firm). “It’s essential to observe the package directions precisely and gather the pattern correctly whereas avoiding contamination. You also needs to observe the warnings and keep away from elements that may intervene with outcomes, together with incorrect package storage or use of sure merchandise within the final 48 hours,” says Dr. Gary Schoolnik, Chief Medical Officer at Visby Medical.
Your particular person well being and timing can influence the accuracy of at-home exams, too. For instance, in case you’re in your interval or have lately used antibiotics, these variables may have an effect on the standard of the samples you may gather. A well being care supplier can take these items under consideration and modify your testing protocol accordingly.
If the scenario is pressing—for instance, in case you’re experiencing bodily signs that raised considerations, otherwise you’re immunocompromised, otherwise you’re pregnant, or you recognize you have been uncovered to an STI—it is essential to really go to a well being care supplier somewhat than making an attempt to deal with your situation at house. “I nonetheless advocate individuals who’re having signs or know they’ve been with somebody that has an STI to hunt skilled sexual well being care to be fully certain, as a false end result from a do-it-at-home-kit could make you assume you’re okay and subsequently dismiss or overlook signs,” says Roos.
If privateness is a priority, it’d truly be extra useful so that you can go to a routine physician’s appointment somewhat than having the packaging for an STD check within the trash. And in case you assume you may check constructive for one thing, it is likely to be useful so that you can hear that information from a well being care supplier somewhat than discovering out whereas opening the mail in your kitchen. It is one thing that is essential to assume by earlier than you determine to go together with testing at house.