What Happens If I Test Positive for an STD?

If you have made the decision to be tested for a STD or STI, the wait between testing and receiving your results can feel long. You might be wondering what happens next if the test results are positive.

Willow Womens Center will walk you through your next steps if your STD test results are positive. We will discuss some of them here.

You Will Receive Treatment

We test you for chlamydia and gonorrhea at no charge in a confidential, judgment-free environment. You might be very surprised if your test results are positive, particularly if you don’t have symptoms. However, treatment of an active infection is still very important. The good news is that both of these infections are treatable.

If you test positive for chlamydia, Willow Womens Center will provide you with a prescription for an antibiotic. If you test positive for gonorrhea, our medical staff will advise you to seek immediate medical attention with a licensed physician.

By law, both of these infections will be reported to the local Public Health Department by the testing lab.

Untreated chlamydia and gonorrhea can cause serious health risks in women particularly. These risks can include infertility, pelvic inflammatory disease, pain, and more, so be sure to protect yourself with prompt treatment.

Contact Partners

If one of your past or current partners tested positive for an STD, would you want to know? How would you feel in the future if you were experiencing side effects of an undiagnosed and untreated STD? How would you feel if you knew that if someone had not withheld information from you about their positive STD results, you would not be facing these problems?

As uncomfortable as the thought sounds, a crucial next step is to contact past and current sexual partners, so they can be tested and treated if necessary. This protects their health and prevents the infection from spreading further. It also prevents the STD from spreading back to you from an infected current partner.

Sometimes, testing positive for an STD stirs up strong reactions and causes relationship conflicts. It is easy for either partner to assume infidelity and mistrust in the other. However, before making assumptions, it is important to remember that STDs can linger for long period of time without symptoms, so someone can have an infection for many years without knowing it. Our licensed medical professionals are available to answer questions and help guide you through these conversations. Here are helpful tips to talk to partners about STDs.

We understand how awkward this step can be, but according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), there are 20 million new STD cases each year in the United States, so many people are having these conversations. You can do it too!

Make an Appointment Today

We are committed to providing you compassionate, confidential services at no cost. You will be empowered with accurate facts so you can make informed decisions about your health and pregnancy. You can make an appointment at Willow Womens Center by calling 608-312-2025.