If you’re sexually active it’s important to protect your health with regular screenings for sexually transmitted diseases (STD). Contact Dr. William T. Boulware and Dr. Robert J. Boulware at Boulware Medical Clinic in Liberty, Missouri to learn how often you should be tested for STDs. The three most common sexually transmitted diseases in the United States, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis, reached an all-time high in 2015, so they represent a risk that should be taken seriously.
There are many types of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and most of them don’t cause symptoms in the early stage of the disease. Without testing, you may have a STD and not be aware you have it, which puts the health of you and your partner at risk.
When STDs aren’t diagnosed and treated, they lead to serious health problems. For example, untreated HIV may progress to become full-blown AIDS, yet early treatment of HIV with antiretroviral therapy can suppress the disease.
Many people don’t worry about STDs like syphilis, yet the number of syphilis infections has gone up every year for the last two decades. When syphilis goes untested and untreated, you’re at risk for the following:
The symptoms associated with each sexually transmitted disease present differently, but as a general rule, they may not appear for months or years and they’re often easy to confuse with symptoms from other health conditions. In some STDs, symptoms may come and go, so they may seem to be nothing more than a temporary problem that has healed.
If you experience any of these symptoms, contact Dr. Boulware for an exam and STD screening:
A range of different lab tests are used to screen for various STDs. Some patients may know that a sexual partner had a specific STD, which helps narrow down the testing process, but Dr. Boulware orders the tests that are necessary based on your symptoms and risk factors.
The lab tests commonly used to screen for STDs include:
At Boulware Medical Clinic, we accept most major insurance plans. Here is a short-list of just some of the most popular plans we accept. Please contact our office if you do not see your insurance provider listed here. We do not accept insurance for cosmetic procedures at Beautification by Boulware
