If you’re someone who gets nervous or irritable at the doctor’s office, you may find that collecting your own samples doesn’t make you as nervous as someone wearing a white coat.
Depending on where you live and your transportation situation, at-home STD testing may be more accessible than going to a clinic or making an appointment with a doctor. And you can pay for them out of pocket, which may be a better option depending on your health insurance.
Finally, and unfortunately, there is a stigma associated with sexually transmitted infections. You shouldn’t feel ashamed of checking your sexual health – in fact, far from it – but if you’re worried about what others might think, at-home testing may be a better option.
Disadvantages of home STI testing
At-home STI tests are expensive. Depending on your specific health care situation, they may be more affordable, and many of them are FSA- and HSA-eligible or may be covered by insurance. But if you live in an area that offers free testing through your city or state health department, or through a third-party clinic like Planned Parenthood, those options will be much cheaper than at-home testing.
There is also a risk of you collecting your samples incorrectly, which could lead to false negative results. Depending on the test you choose, if you get a positive result for a sexually transmitted infection, you may still need to see a doctor in person to get treated. Although many tests are reputable, it’s still important to make sure that the laboratory analyzing your results is well regulated (and that the test itself comes from a reputable company). Dr. Gary Schoolnick, chief medical officer of Visby Medical, says, “It is important to follow the kit’s instructions exactly and collect the specimen properly while avoiding contamination. You should also follow warnings and avoid factors that could interfere with the results, including improper kit storage or use of certain products in the past 48 hours.”
Your personal health and timing can also affect the accuracy of home tests. For example, if you are menstruating or have recently used antibiotics, those changes may affect the quality of the samples you can collect. A health care provider can take these things into account and adjust your testing protocol accordingly.
If the situation is urgent – for example, if you are experiencing physical symptoms that cause concern, or your immunity is weak, or you are pregnant, or you know you were exposed to an STI – it is important to actually go to a health care provider rather than trying to treat your condition at home. “I still recommend people who have symptoms or know they’ve been with someone with an STI to seek professional sexual health care, because a false result from a home kit may trick you into thinking you’re fine and therefore dismiss or ignore symptoms,” says Ruiz.
If privacy is a concern, it may actually be more beneficial for you to go to a regular doctor for an STD test rather than tossing the packaging in the trash. And if you think you may test positive for something, it may be beneficial for you to hear that news from a health care provider rather than finding out while opening the mail in your kitchen. This is important to consider before deciding to test at home.
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