How to Make the Most out of Your Next STI Test Appointment - Healthline
Raise your hand if you have ever been personally victimized by a cotton swab. If you've ever had your throat swabbed for strep or your nose swabbed for COVID-19, I expect to see some hands! Now that we're all acquainted, let's talk logistics: Several sexually transmitted infection (STI) tests are done with a swab. That's right, the thing that we've been practicing for the past 2 years may actually come in handy when it's time for your next STI screen. Although you can test for some of the most common STIs — like gonorrhea and chlamydia — by peeing into a cup or getting your blood drawn, these tests can't tell you where an infection is. Enter: oral, anal, and genital swab tests. The type of sex you have and with whom you have it are the true determinants of which STI tests you should get and when. For example, if you have one sexual partner and you both only ever kiss, grind, and bang each other, you likely only need to get urine and blood tests once or twic...