The only way to know for sure if you have an STD is to see a health care professional.

It’s not uncommon for people to not know how STD testing works, but it’s not necessarily a complicated process. The type of test you need will be determined by your healthcare provider and whether or not you’re getting tested for a specific STD. Let’s go over some of the details and testing methods.

• Physical Exam: You’ll be checked for symptoms such as a rash, sores, warts, and discharge by your health care provider. If you’ve ever had a pelvic exam before, it’s not much different.
• Urine Sample: If you can pee into a cup, you can find out if you have an STD. Your health care provider will use this sample to determine if you have chlamydia or gonorrhea.
• Discharge, tissue, cell, or oral fluid sample: Your health care provider will use a swab to collect samples that will be sent for laboratory testing.
• Blood Sample: Don’t freak out, this might not be as scary as you think. Yes, some health care providers will draw blood with a needle, but many just prick your finger tip to collect the sample. Blood tests can verify the presence of syphilis, herpes, and HIV.

STDs come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, and present with different symptoms. There’s no one comprehensive test you can have that will tell you which STDs you have. Your health care provider will determine which STDs you should be tested for based on your symptoms and concerns. It’s important that you’re completely transparent and honest with your health care provider about your sexual history. It’s also important to know that some STDs are common enough that your health care provider will recommend getting tested for them regularly.

Doctors take an oath to help you, not judge you. If you’re worried that you might have an STD, there’s nobody better to speak to than your doctor. They’re obligated to keep your information private, and will only disclose your results to your parents if you give them permission.

There are several locations throughout the Omaha metro area and Douglas County where you can receive free or low-cost, and completely confidental STD tests. Depending on where you are seen, you may get treatment at that same location.

Find a testing center near you. Or keep scrolling down.

Okay, so here’s the deal: Getting tested for STDs is completely confidential. The only person who will know your results is your health care provider, and he or she is obligated by law to not reveal your personal information. That said, your state or city health departments might request information from your health care provider so they can better track outbreaks or trends, but there are laws preventing them from sharing your test results with your family, friends, or employer.

One thing to consider, however, is that if you use your health insurance to pay for testing, there may be others on your plan that have access to your test results. Just be aware of who might already have access to your information before being tested. Speak to your health care provider if you have concerns about this.

Now, if you’re under 18 you may be worried that your doctor will tell your parents. If that’s the case, there are plenty of testing centers where you can get confidential tests without your parents’ permission. They don’t have to know that you’ve been to a clinic, and they will never be contacted by your health care provider unless you allow it. Just make sure you ask your health care provider about their privacy policies. Will they call you at home, or on your cell phone? Will they send results via mail to your home? Each testing center is different, but all of them will understand your concerns. Don’t be afraid to ask. They’ll never judge you.

Many people will forgo testing because they think it’s expensive. The good news is those people are wrong. Most health centers and clinics offer low-cost or even free testing. Others offer STD tests based on a sliding scale, meaning they’ll charge you based on your income or whatever you can afford. Most clinics accept health insurance, but it’s not necessary. You can talk to your clinic about payment options if you have any questions. Very few clinics will turn you away if you can’t afford the test, but it’s always best to ask up front if you’re worried about that.

Breathe. You’re not the first person to have an STD. And remember, most STDs are treatable and curable. Obviously each STD is different, but modern medicine has advanced to the point where there are several ways to treat them.

Let’s use chlamydia as an example. If you test positive, you’ll be given a prescription for an antibiotic—the same medication you’d receive if you had a sinus infection. This will cure your case of chlamydia, but it’s important that you follow the treatment recommended by your health care provider. STDs have been around long enough that there’s a tried-and-true method for treating them. The better you are at following your doctor’s directions, the easier it’ll be to treat the STD. Keep taking medication until it’s gone, even if the symptoms have gone away. Not to freak you out or anything, but even if you cure yourself of chlamydia, you can still get it again if you have sex with someone who has it. That’s why it’s important to have your sexual partner(s) tested and treated for it before having sex with them again.

What about herpes though? Good question. Medications are also available to treat herpes symptoms, and prevent future outbreaks or minimize their severity, as well as reducing the risk of spreading it to others. About 1 in every 6 adults have herpes in the United States, all living normal, healthy lives. There are thousands of others with the same condition, and it’s nothing to be ashamed of.

Sometimes in life, the words come easy. Telling your partner that you have an STD isn’t one of those times. But listen, and listen closely. The conversation isn’t just about you. If you have an STD, your partner is at risk of contracting the same STD if he or she hasn’t already contracted it from you. Your partner needs to know so he or she can get tested and prevent themselves from spreading it in the future. It’s not just you that your STD affects-everyone gets an STD from someone else. The best way to prevent the spread of STDs is to have an open and honest conversation. It won’t be easy, but it’s absolutely necessary.

If you need to practice telling your partner, feel free to ask your health care provider to listen. Doctors have seen this situation countless times before. They can provide you advice, and guide your words in a way that should help your partner better understand the circumstances. Find a mirror, your journal, a personal friend whom you trust endlessly, whatever you need to do to help you open a line of communication with your partner. Remember to support your partner. This might be difficult for them to hear, but telling them is the right thing to do.