STD Testing & Treatment Specialist
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Discovery Medical Center
Pekka Soini, MD, FACOG
OB/GYN & Medical Aesthetics located in Logan Square, Chicago, IL
Screening for STDs is essential for anyone who’s sexually active since many people with STDs are asymptomatic. Discovery Medical Center provides a safe, nonjudgmental environment to get tested for STDs. Dr. Pekka Soini, MD, FACOG offers respectful counseling, testing, and treatment for venereal diseases at the Chicago practice. To set up an appointment right away for STD testing, contact his office online or over the phone.
STD Testing and Treatment Q & A
What are STDs?
Sexually transmitted diseases are viruses, bacteria, or parasites that get passed from one person to another through unprotected sexual contact. Sexual contact includes any vaginal, oral, and anal sexual activity where you come in contact with someone else’s genitals, rectum, skin, or bodily fluids.
Some of the most common examples of STDs include:
- Chlamydia
- Gonorrhea
- Syphilis
- HPV
- Herpes
- Hepatitis B
- HIV/AIDS
What can I do to protect myself from STDs?
Get vaccinated
Young women who aren’t sexually active yet may benefit from the HPV vaccine, which protects against several strains of HPV. Hepatitis B vaccinations are also available for anyone wanting to reduce their chances of contracting the disease.
Abstain
Abstinence is the only way to protect yourself from an STD fully, but maintaining a monogamous relationship with someone who doesn’t have an STD also diminishes your risk.
Get tested
It’s also crucial for you and your partner to get tested for STDs to keep yourself protected. If that isn’t possible, limiting the number of sexual partners you’re with lowers your risk of contracting an STD.
Use condoms correctly
Any unprotected vaginal, oral, or anal sexual activity puts you at risk for STDs. Correct use of latex condoms any time you have sexual contact is another way to reduce your exposure to STDs.
Limit dangerous behavior
Alcohol, drugs, and other risky sexual activities that inhibit your mental capacity can put you at risk for STDs. Limit these activities to keep yourself from getting into undesirable situations.
How do you test for STDs?
Dr. Soini can test for most STDs with blood, urine, or swab samples as per the following:
- Urine: chlamydia and gonorrhea
- Swab samples: chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis
- Blood: syphilis, HIV, and hepatitis
HPV requires separate testing using cells from your cervix. Genital herpes also entails distinct testing using skin scrapings, but a negative test doesn’t necessarily rule out the condition.
How do you treat STDs?
Bacterial and parasitic STDs are curable with antibiotics. These treatable infections include gonorrhea, syphilis, and chlamydia.
Viruses, such as herpes and HIV, can’t be cured with medication. However, antiviral drugs can help suppress these viral infections and reduce your symptoms. Cryotherapy and laser procedures are two possible treatment options for genital warts.
If you’re sexually active, call Dr. Soini online or over the phone to see what type of STD testing is right for you.
