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Sexually Transmitted Diseases services offered in Midland, TX
You can go for weeks or months with a sexually transmitted disease (STD) without knowing, as many don’t cause symptoms. For your peace of mind and safety, board-certified Raj Pandya, MD, and the team at Preferred Medical Center in Midland, Texas, offer STD testing alongside other primary care services. To schedule an appointment, call the office or book online today. Walk-ins are also welcome.
What are sexually transmitted diseases?
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are infections that you can catch or spread through sexual contact of any kind. While you might assume you’d get symptoms right away with an STD, many STDs do not cause symptoms, and you can spread them to others. For that reason, regular testing is important for anyone who is sexually active.
Some of the most common STDs are:
- Chlamydia
- Gonorrhea
- Genital herpes
- Genital warts (from human papillomavirus or HPV)
- Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
Some STDs can transmit to an unborn baby. If there’s any possibility you’re pregnant, STD testing should be a priority.
How are sexually transmitted diseases diagnosed?
Dr. Pandya and the team at Preferred Medical Center offer STD testing as a primary and urgent care service that you can get at any time. STD tests are fast and painless, and the team is ready to explain the results to you as soon as they’re available.
There are a few different testing methods for STDs, and the team chooses which to use based on the specific tests they recommend you get. Getting an STD diagnosis might involve:
- A visual exam
- Urinalysis
- Blood test
- Fluid swab
- Specialty procedures like colposcopy
If your test results are negative for all STDs, you don’t need to take any further action. If you have symptoms, the team at Preferred Medical Center helps you find what’s causing them, such as other conditions affecting the area like yeast infections or bacterial vaginosis.
How are sexually transmitted diseases treated?
The idea that there are no treatments for STDs is a myth. In reality, you can resolve most STDs. For those without a cure, there are ways of managing their symptoms and preventing their transmission to your sexual partner.
For bacterial STDs, Dr. Pandya and the team prescribe antibiotics to clear the infection. There are other oral medications that treat STDs that the team can prescribe, some of which are topical while others you take by mouth. For a viral STD, such as genital herpes, you can take antiviral medication that suppresses the virus but does not cure it.
Dr. Pandya and the team advise you to avoid any sexual contact until you complete treatment for a current STD, even if you don’t have symptoms or they subside early in the course of treatment.
If you’re interested in testing for sexually transmitted diseases, call Preferred Medical Center or book an appointment online today. You can also walk in at any time for same-day testing.