STD Testing Dallas, TX

Thank you Devin for providing the following testimonial.

herpes testimonial

“Being a young, 19 year old girl in a steady relationship, would have never thought that getting an STD could possibly ever happen. I was with my boyfriend for 4 years, and he was the only person I had ever been sexually active with. We had been having sexual relations without using protection for years now. Him and I have an 11 month old son together, who I absolutely adore. After our son was born, I immediately started using birth control, of course. A few months ago, after having sex with my boyfriend, unprotected, everything seemed normal. I never thought twice about getting an STD, or using protection for that matter. A couple of weeks after we slept together, I felt very uncomfortable.. I take alot of baths so at first I figured I had a yeast infection? I called the doctor to make an appointment after the uncomfortable pain became almost unbearable. I had a few days before my appointment, and during that time I had the worst breakout in my vaginal area that I thought was even possible. It was horrible. Immediately I called my boyfriend.. I knew it had to be an STD, I knew he cheated, I knew that I was paying the price for HIS unfaithful actions. After seeing the doctor and having it confirmed that I did in fact have herpes, I felt mortified. I was disgusted with myself, with him, with everything. It hurt the most because I knew this was something that I would have forever. I would have to go through this disgusting pain once a month for the rest of my life. It hurt because I had only been with one person.. I had always thought of STD’s being linked to those people who are constantly changing partners and having more than one at a time.. I was completely depressed about it all. Not everyone has breakouts, and not everyone knows they have this disease..I unfortunately did. After the initial shock went away, a few weeks after my doctor’s visit, I decided that everything happens for a reason. I hope I can help prevent this from happening to anybody else.”

There are many reasons people give for why they do not want to get an STD screen. Any Lab Test Now® in Plano has addressed these issues with their current promotion of Rapid STD Testing. This service allows customers to take an anonymous lab test at an affordable price and get their results much sooner while only providing a blood and/or urine sample.

Any Lab Test Now® in Plano provides rapid STD testing to set your mind at ease. STD screens start at $49 and are payable via cash, Visa, MasterCard or Discover. The comprehensive STD panel includes HIV, Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Herpes (I & II), Syphilis and Hepatitis (A, B & C). The cost for this panel is only $229. Results are usually ready in 24-48hrs.

“We provide direct medical lab testing that does not require a customer to provide identification.” Owner Greg Johnson further adds, “Not only does this allow truly anonymous HIV testing, our business model can also get the customer in-and-out within 15 minutes from the moment they walk in the door.” Many HIV awareness groups suggest that sexually active individuals get tested every six months. Most HIV infections can be detected after three months of exposure. An HIV screen at six months post-exposure is considered to have a confident level of accuracy.

Instant STD Testing Dallas

The Dallas County statistics report that last year there was an increase in the STD infection rate, especially with chlamydia. Many times no symptoms become visible with a chlamydia or a gonorrhea infection. Therefore, people continue spreading the infection without knowing. Additionally, the re-infection rate among couples is high if both individuals are not treated concurrently.

Many people do not get an STD screen because they dread getting “swabbed” for a specimen. Getting an STD test this way can be an embarrassing and uncomfortable experience. However, Any Lab Test Now® tests for STDs through the collection of urine and/or blood. This collection method allows for herpes simplex I & II testing even if no active sores are present. Most tests for herpes requires for an active sore to be present at the time of testing. This may delay a person from getting tested and contribute to the spread of the virus.

What exactly is Rapid STD Testing? The collection process takes less than 15 minutes from the moment you walk in the door and results are back in about 24-48hrs. “We perform so many tests every day that it is cost-effective for us to start processing them the same day the customer comes in,” says Johnson.

North Dallas residents wanting to get testing can call (972) 596-6181 or get driving directions to the Any Lab Test Now in Plano on their website. No appointment is needed and walk-ins are welcome. Apart from testing for sexually transmitted diseases, they have hundreds of medical lab tests to choose from including DNA paternity tests, thyroid panel and even a complete wellness checkup.

Herpes on Mouth

Don’t freak out.  There are reasons other than herpes to have a bump on your penis.  If you have never had sex (vaginal, anal or oral) before you can pretty much rule out all STDs.  If you are male and under 18yrs old then there is a chance that bumps on your penis may simply be hair follicles.  Another possibility may be an irritated pore. 

Below is a picture of a fever blister on someone’s lip.  Herpes on the genitals will look very similar.  Herpes’ blisters may only look like a sore.  It usually takes 2 to 4 weeks after contraction to get symptoms.  Some people get flu-like symptoms prior to their first outbreak, and the first outbreak is usually the worst. 

Herpes simplex I (HSV I) occurs only on the mouth.  Some individuals may contract the virus and never have a fever blister.  This may also be true for herpes simplex II (HSV II).  If you are one of the people that does get symptoms you may find relief knowing that many people only get one outbreak and never have symptoms again.  Those that do have repeated outbreaks show a decreased frequency and intensity over time. 

What is a herpes test?  Well, there are several to choose from.  By far the most common is a blood test.  If you live in the Plano, McKinney or Dallas area you can visit Any Lab Test Now®, pay $49 for a herpes I & II blood test and get the results usually the next day.  They also offer a comprehensive STD blood test for $229 that includes gonorrhea, chlamydia,  HIV, herpes I & II, hepatitis AB+C, and syphilis. 

As mentioned earlier, infection of herpes can cause repeated outbreaks.  There are once a day medications that can prevent possible outbreaks.  It was believed that herpes is only contagious when an outbreak is present.  Therefore, prevent an outbreak and you can prevent spread of the virus.  However, scientific studies have shown otherwise. 

Herpes infection is very common.  The data released by the CDC indicates that the rate of herpes infection in Dallas, TX is 3 out of every 4 sexually active people.  You are part of the sexually active group if you have had sex within the past year.  It was also noticed that herpes infection of older people is on the rise.  This can be attributed to sexual performance medication being covered by Medicare.    

Follow link to find herpes pictures.

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Many people who get genital HPV, it will clear on it’s own with no treatment and with no symptoms. Most of the time, no health problems occur. The longer the virus is in the body, the higher the risk of experiencing health problems, including cervical, anal or throat cancer. The HPV virus lives in mucous membranes in the vagina, anus and throat.

Much of the information about HPV centers on women, since having the virus increases the risk of getting cervical cancer. HPV in men can cause health problems, too. Men have an increased risk of getting genital cancers, although these cancers are not common. HPV can also cause genital warts in men, just as in women.

Changing sexual practices have led to a dramatic rise in throat cancer in the United States. Increasing rates of HPV infections, spread through oral sex, is largely driving the rapid rise in oropharyngeal cancers, which include tumors of the throat, tonsils, and base of the tongue.

The appearance of warts is one way HPV infection is diagnosed. A doctor simply does a visual inspection. In women, an HPV test can be done by a doctor with a swab of cells from the cervix, just like a Pap Smear Test. There is no routine test for men to check for high-risk HPV strains that can cause cancer. However, some doctors are recommending anal Pap tests for gay and bisexual men.

There is no treatment for HPV infections when no symptoms are present. Instead, doctors treat the health problems that are caused by Human Papillomavirus.

Abstinence is the only sure way to prevent HPV transmission. The risk of transmission is lowered when a person has sex with only one person who is not infected and who is also monogamous. Condoms can provide some protection against HPV transmission. Unfortunately, they aren’t 100% effective, since HPV is transmitted primarily by skin to skin contact. The virus can still infect the skin uncovered by the condom. If a partner has HPV, it does not necessarily mean they have had sex with someone else recently. The virus can lay dormant in the body for years without causing noticeable symptoms.

Sometimes, vaginal discharge is completely normal. A normal vaginal discharge helps to clean the female reproductive system. The discharge is secretions made by the glands inside the vagina and cervix. The secretions help to carry away dead cells and bacteria. It is like exfoliating the inside! This process helps keep it clean and helps to prevent infections.

Vaginal discharge may be normal

Most of the time, vaginal discharge is normal. The amount of discharge can vary based on many different factors. A normal vaginal discharge will vary in color from clear to milky, depending on the stage of your menstrual cycle. There will be more discharge when you are breastfeeding, ovulating or sexually aroused. The odor of the discharge can vary during the different stages of you menstrual cycle too. This is because hormones are one variable that can change throughout the month. Increased levels of estrogen are responsible for the increased amount of clear, stretchy cervical secretions seen around ovulation. After ovulation, the vaginal discharge tends to become less watery and may look more like paste. The odor may be different during pregnancy or with bad personal hygiene. None of those changes is cause for alarm.

You want to be concerned if there is a significantly unusual color, odor or consistency of the vaginal discharge, or if there is any itching or burning. There are many different things that can happen to cause a change in the balance of the normal bacteria in the vagina. When this happens, it can affect the smell, color and texture of the discharge. Some of the many things that can upset this balance are medications, diabetes, menopause, douching, soaps, lotions, bubble baths and cervical cancer. Infections that will upset the balance are bacterial vaginosis, PID (pelvic inflammatory disease) and yeast infections. Some STD’s will also cause change in vaginal discharge. The STD’s that commonly cause this are gonorrhea, chlamydia, and trichomoniasis.

There are some things that you can do to prevent vaginal infections that can lead to abnormal vaginal discharge. Good personal hygiene is the most important, keep the vagina clean with regular bathing using a gentle soap and warm water. Always make sure that all of the soaps, feminine sprays and bubble baths are not scented. Do not douche. Douching is linked to an increased incidence of bacterial vaginosis. Douching decreases the concentrations of good bacteria in the vagina. After using the restroom, always wipe from front to back, to make sure bacteria is not wiped from the rectum to the vagina. Make sure to wear white, all cotton panties. These are just some of the simple things that can be done daily for good personal hygiene.

STD Testing During Pregnancy

Having an STD during pregnancy can be extremely dangerous to both the mother and the unborn child, and sometimes even fatal to the child. STD’s can passed on by sexual contact involving the mouth, anus or vagina. Testing for STD’s is a standard process during the first office visit with an OB/GYN after finding out a woman is expecting. It is crucial that if an STD is diagnosed that it is treated along with any sexual partners. If your partner is not treated, reinfection will occur. Make sure and use protection for a week after both partners have been treated to give the infection time to clear up.

If a woman is diagnosed with Chlamydia and/or Gonorrhea during pregnancy, she might not experience any symptoms at all. Chlamydia is the most commonly diagnosed STD. People infected with Chlamydia often are also infected with Gonorrhea. If there are slight symptoms seen with Chlamydia, often they appear as a slight discharge or lower abdominal pain. If Chlamydia is left untreated, it can cause preterm labor or postpartum endometriosis (inflammation of the uterus). If Chlamydia is passed on the child during delivery it may cause pneumonia or conjunctivitis, which can lead to blindness. The symptoms of Gonorrhea might be discharge, itching or burning with urination. If Gonorrhea is passed on the baby, it too can cause eye problems that can lead to blindness. Gonorrhea and Chlamydia both carry an increased risk of miscarriage. Both STD’s can be treated with antibiotics.

Genital Herpes can be very dangerous. Herpes can be passed on to the baby during a vaginal delivery and can cause damage to the eyes and the central nervous system. In some cases it can even cause death to the child. If the woman contracts Herpes for the first time during pregnancy near the time of delivery, it may cause premature labor or restict intrauterine growth. In this case there is a 1 in 2 chance that it will be passed on to the baby. This risk can be reduced by cesarean delivery.

Condyloma, better known as Genital Warts, is caused by HPV, and there might not be any symptoms for months or even years. Babies that contract the virus can develop warts on the larynx (voice box), usually by the time they reach five years old. Performing a c-section is only done if the warts are so large that they interfere with a vaginal delivery. Treatment for the mother will be postponed until after the child is born.

Syphilis can cause miscarriage or stillbirth and if it is transmitted to the fetus, it can cause skin lesions or problems with the spleen, liver, bones or central nervous system. There are antibiotics that can be given during pregnancy to lower the risk of transmitting the infection to the fetus and stop the progression in the mother.

Hepatits B has many different symptoms that can occur, some of which are fatigue, nausea, vomiting, dark urine, grey stools, or jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes). The body will either fight the virus and build up anitbodies or if the body can not build up antibodies to it, the person becomes a chronic carrier. A chronic carrier can infect their child through the placenta. Women with Hepatitis B are more likely to have a premature delivery. An injection will be given to the newborn baby to immunize them from becoming infected.

HIV is increasing in women worldwide. Women account for 50% of the 40 million adults living with HIV/AIDS. A woman that has been exposed to HIV may not have symptoms for years and can still infect others, including her child. HIV can be passed on to an unborn child while still in the uterus, during delivery and after delivery through breastfeeding. Over 90% of children with AIDS contracted HIV from their mother. A c-section will decrease the risk of infecting the child. A child born with HIV, might not have symptoms for years. HIV may develop into AIDS, and the only way to know if you have HIV is an HIV test. If a woman is HIV positive and does not take any medications during pregnancy to prevent transmission to the baby, there is a 25% chance of passing the virus on the unborn child. If medications are taken, the risk is then lowered to less than 2%.

All pregnant women need to be tested. If there has been an exposure, start on anti-viral medication as soon as possible. If you are given medication to treat any STD, make sure you take the full prescription, even if symptoms have gone away. The only sure form of protection is abstinence. If there is any sexual activity, practice safe sex. Always use a condom with spermicide. Make sure if you use a lubricant that it is water based. It is better to limit the number of sexual partners, the more partner, the higher the risk of contracting an STD. Everyone should practice monogamy, meaning having sex with only one person. That person must also have sex with only you to reduce the risk. If someone is sexually active, they should get STD testing regularly.

Not testing for STDs during pregnancy can be extremely dangerous to both the mother and the unborn child, and sometimes even fatal to the child. STD’s can passed on by sexual contact involving the mouth, anus or vagina. Testing for STD’s is a standard process during the first office visit with an OB/GYN after finding out a woman is expecting. It is crucial that if an STD is diagnosed that it is treated along with any sexual partners. If your partner is not treated, reinfection will occur. Make sure and use protection for a week after both partners have been treated to give the infection time to clear up.

STD testing during pregnancy

If a woman is diagnosed with Chlamydia and/or Gonorrhea during pregnancy, she might not experience any symptoms at all. Chlamydia is the most commonly diagnosed STD. People infected with Chlamydia often are also infected with Gonorrhea. If there are slight symptoms seen with Chlamydia, often they appear as a slight discharge or lower abdominal pain. If Chlamydia is left untreated, it can cause preterm labor or postpartum endometriosis (inflammation of the uterus). If Chlamydia is passed on the child during delivery it may cause pneumonia or conjunctivitis, which can lead to blindness. The symptoms of Gonorrhea might be discharge, itching or burning with urination. If Gonorrhea is passed on the baby, it too can cause eye problems that can lead to blindness. Gonorrhea and Chlamydia both carry an increased risk of miscarriage. Both STD’s can be treated with antibiotics.

Genital Herpes can be very dangerous. Herpes can be passed on to the baby during a vaginal delivery and can cause damage to the eyes and the central nervous system. In some cases it can even cause death to the child. If the woman contracts Herpes for the first time during pregnancy near the time of delivery, it may cause premature labor or restict intrauterine growth. In this case there is a 1 in 2 chance that it will be passed on to the baby. This risk can be reduced by cesarean delivery.

Condyloma, better known as Genital Warts, is caused by HPV, and there might not be any symptoms for months or even years. Babies that contract the virus can develop warts on the larynx (voice box), usually by the time they reach five years old. Performing a c-section is only done if the warts are so large that they interfere with a vaginal delivery. Treatment for the mother will be postponed until after the child is born.

Syphilis can cause miscarriage or stillbirth and if it is transmitted to the fetus, it can cause skin lesions or problems with the spleen, liver, bones or central nervous system. There are antibiotics that can be given during pregnancy to lower the risk of transmitting the infection to the fetus and stop the progression in the mother.

Hepatits B has many different symptoms that can occur, some of which are fatigue, nausea, vomiting, dark urine, grey stools, or jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes). The body will either fight the virus and build up anitbodies or if the body can not build up antibodies to it, the person becomes a chronic carrier. A chronic carrier can infect their child through the placenta. Women with Hepatitis B are more likely to have a premature delivery. An injection will be given to the newborn baby to immunize them from becoming infected.

HIV is increasing in women worldwide. Women account for 50% of the 40 million adults living with HIV/AIDS. A woman that has been exposed to HIV may not have symptoms for years and can still infect others, including her child. HIV can be passed on to an unborn child while still in the uterus, during delivery and after delivery through breastfeeding. Over 90% of children with AIDS contracted HIV from their mother. A c-section will decrease the risk of infecting the child. A child born with HIV, might not have symptoms for years. HIV may develop into AIDS, and the only way to know if you have HIV is an HIV test. If a woman is HIV positive and does not take any medications during pregnancy to prevent transmission to the baby, there is a 25% chance of passing the virus on the unborn child. If medications are taken, the risk is then lowered to less than 2%. All pregnant women need to be tested. If there has been an exposure, start on anti-viral medication as soon as possible.

If you are given medication to treat any STD, make sure you take the full prescription, even if symptoms have gone away. The only sure form of protection is abstinence. If there is any sexual activity, practice safe sex. Always use a condom with spermicide. Make sure if you use a lubricant that it is water based. It is better to limit the number of sexual partners, the more partner, the higher the risk of contracting an STD. Everyone should practice monogamy, meaning having sex with only one person. That person must also have sex with only you to reduce the risk. If someone is sexually active, they should get STD testing regularly.

Herpes is a sexually transmitted disease that comes in two versions.  Herpes simplex I (HSV I) is often called a cold sore and occurs on the mouth.  A very high percentage of people living on the earth have herpes simplex I.  Most commonly, herpes simplex I is spread by kissing.  A few weeks after infection cold sores appear.  However, not everyone gets symptoms.  Personally, I took a comprehensive HIV & STD testing in Plano from Any Lab Test Now and found out that I carry the herpes simplex I virus.  However, I have never had a cold sore.  Although a cold sore does not have to be present for someone to be contagious, the virus does have to be active in their DNA.  The problem is that no one knows when the virus is active if they do not have symptoms. 

2/3rd Dallas has Herpes

 Herpes simplex II (HSV II) is also known as genital herpes.  There are also a very high percentage of people living in Dallas with herpes.  I believe the figure is between 66%-75% of sexually active individuals.  Herpes II can cause symptoms on the mouth as well as the genitals.  Small blisters appear approximately two weeks after infection.  Once again, not all people infected with HSV II have symptoms.  An STD test is the only way to truly know.  It was believed up until a few years ago that herpes was only contagious when signs and symptoms are present.  Research has proven this theory wrong.  Similar to HSV I, it is also possible to be a carrier and to never have a herpes outbreak. 

The only way to truly know if you have herpes is to take a STD Test.  Dallas has many options where you can get tested.  I suggest Any Lab Test North Dallas if you live in that area.  The herpes I & II test costs only $49 ($39 with their website coupon) and you can be in-and-out in 15 minutes.  The best part is that they do not ask for identification.  I even used the name “Mickey Mouse”.  You get the results in 24-48hrs. 

Although there is currently no cure for herpes you do have many options.  There are medications that will eliminate the symptoms and prevent outbreak.  I believe there is soon to be released a once a day pill that will prevent outbreak as well as make the virus inactive.  Making the virus inactive will prevent others from becoming infected.

STD stands for sexually transmitted disease, which means that it is a disease or infection that can be transferred from one person to another through sexual contact. With many STD’s, there are no symptoms, which means a person can be exposed to an STD, be carrying the disease and transfer the disease on to someone else without ever having a sign or symptom of the disease. Of the people that have an STD, 80% will experience no noticeable symptoms. If an STD is left untreated it can have serious consequences. The consequences are usually worse in women than in men, including pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, cancer and sometimes even death. About 1/3 of infertility in women is caused by STD’s. The best way to prevent any sexually transmitted disease is to abstain from have any sexual contact. If someone is sexually active, the best protection available is condoms. Male condoms reduce the risk of sexually transmitted diseases and sexually transmitted infections by 98%. The female condoms only reduce the risk by 70%, they are not as effective and sometimes very uncomfortable for the female. The condom needs to be worn properly in order to maintain their effectiveness. For maximum effectiveness use a lubricant with spermicide along with the condom. Every year, 9 million people under 25 contract a new STD. There are more than 20 diseases that are transmitted through sexual contact. The most common sexually transmitted diseases in the United States are Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Syphilis, Herpes, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV/AIDS. All of these are not treatable.

STD Facts

Chlamydia is caused by a bacteria called Chlamydia trachomatis. Chlamydia is the most frequently reported STD. The symptoms are usually mild or none at all. It can take up to 3 weeks to notice any symptoms at all. Women might experience a vaginal discharge or burning with urination. If chlamydia is left untreated and spreads, a woman will experience abdominal/low back pain, nausea, fever, pain during intercourse or bleeding between periods. Men might experience discharge from the penis or burning with urination. If infected with chlamydia through anal sex, a person might experience rectal pain, discharge or bleeding. Chlamydia has also been found in the throat of a person performing oral sex. In women that have been infected with Chlamydia and it was left untreated, 40% ended up with pelvic inflammatory disease. In women, it can also cause permanent damage to the reproductive system, leading to ectopic pregnancy and women with Chlamydia are five times more likely to become infected with HIV if exposed. Chlamydia and Gonorrhea often infect a person at the same time. Chlamydia is a treatable std. During 2008, there were 1,486 new cases of Chlamydia in Collin County and 13,495 new cases in Dallas County.

Gonorrhea is also known as The Clap. Gonorrhea is caused by a bacteria called Neisseria Gonorrhoeae. It is more common for men to not experience any signs or symptoms with
Gonorrhea. Sometimes it can take up to 30 days for symptoms to appear. Men might experience discharge from the penis, painful urination and even painful or swelling of the testicles. In women symptoms are often mild and mistaken for a urinary tract infection. Symptoms of rectal infection can be anal discharge or itching, anal bleeding and painful bowel movements. In the throat, it can cause a sore throat. If gonorrhea is left untreated in a woman it can cause infertility, and in men it can lead to epididymitis. Gonorrhea can spread to the blood or joints and can be life threatening. Gonorrhea is a treatable std. During 2008, there were 364 new cases of Gonorrhea in Collin County and 5,070 new cases in Dallas County.

Syphilis is caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum. Many people that contract Syphilis do not have symptoms for years. There are three different stages of Syphilis. The first stage, or primary stage, a person might experience a single sore or multiple sores at the spot where Syphilis entered the body. If left untreated, the sore will heal but the infection will progress. The second stage, or the secondary stage, is the development of a rash, fever, swollen lymph glands, sore throat, patchy hair loss, muscle ache and fatigue. Again these symptoms may resolve without treatment but the infection still progresses. The third stage, or the latent stage, can damage the internal organs; the brain, nerves, eyes, heart, liver, bones and joints. The damage may be serious enough to cause death. Syphilis is a treatable std.

Herpes is a sexually transmitted disease caused by Herpes Simplex Virus type I or type II. Symptoms typically appear as blisters on or around the vaginal or rectal area. The first outbreak usually occurs within 2 weeks of exposure and can take 2-4 weeks to resolve. There is no treatment for Herpes, however there are anti-viral medications available to decrease the number of outbreaks and lessen the severity of the outbreaks. Of Americans 12 and older, 1 out of every 5 has Herpes.

Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver. Hepatitis can be acute or chronic and can result in long term health problems. An acute infection is a short term illness that usually occurs within six months of exposure. Typically an acute infection leads to chronic infection. There is an immunization available for Hepatitis B, but not for Hepatitis C.

The one that usually scares people the most is HIV/AIDS. Many people may not realize they are infected as this virus doesn’t show any symptoms the first few years. HIV testing is the only way to know for sure if you have been infected. There are many ways of treating this virus that can prolong an infected person’s life. For many this virus will progress to AIDS and eventually death. As of December 2008, there were 35,014 people living with HIV or AIDS in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex.

In the state of Texas, Dallas is ranked # 2 for the cities with the highest rates of STD’s. This is a serious epidemic worldwide, but with the numbers as high as they are, everyone should want to be safer. Seventy million Americans currently have a sexually transmitted disease. Sexually transmitted diseases or infections can be passed on to another person by oral sex, vaginal sex, rectal sex and can also be passed on to a baby during labor from the mother. If anyone is involved in sexual relations, this person should be tested regularly. Since so many STD’s don’t have any symptoms, a person can be infected with a disease and pass it on to another person and not know that they are infected. Many of these STD’s are treatable, but you have to get tested in order to receive treatment. People should be aware of their partners sexual behaviors. Abstaining from sexual activity is the best form of prevention.