If you’re the kind of person who gets nervous or squeamish at the doctor’s office, you might find that collecting your own samples doesn’t freak you out as much as someone in a white coat doing it.
Depending on where you live and your transportation situation, at-home STD tests might be more accessible than visiting a clinic or making a doctor’s appointment. And you can pay for them out of pocket, which might be a better option based on your health insurance.
Finally, and unfortunately, sexually transmitted infections have a stigma attached to them. You shouldn’t feel ashamed of checking up on your sexual health—far from it, in fact—but at-home tests might be a better option if you’re concerned about what others may think.
The Cons of At-Home STI Tests
At-home STI tests are expensive. Depending on your specific health care situation, they might 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 where there’s free testing through your city or state health departments, or a third-party clinic like Planned Parenthood, those options are likely going to be much cheaper than testing at home.
There’s also the risk of you collecting your samples incorrectly, which can lead to false negatives. Depending on the test you choose, if you do get positive results for a sexually transmitted infection, you might still end up having to go visit a doctor in person to get it treated. While many tests are reputable, it’s still important to ensure that the lab analyzing your results is well-regulated (and that the test itself comes from a reputable company). “It’s important to follow the kit instructions exactly and collect the sample properly while avoiding contamination. You should also follow the warnings and avoid factors that can interfere with results, including incorrect kit storage or use of certain products in the last 48 hours,” says Dr. Gary Schoolnik, Chief Medical Officer at Visby Medical.
Your individual health and timing can impact the accuracy of at-home tests, too. For example, if you’re on your period or have recently used antibiotics, those variables might 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’re experiencing physical symptoms that raised concerns, or you’re immunocompromised, or you’re pregnant, or you know you were exposed to an STI—it’s important to actually visit a health care provider rather than trying to treat your condition at home. “I still recommend people who’re having symptoms or know they’ve been with someone that has an STI to seek professional sexual health care to be completely sure, as a false result from a do-it-at-home-kit can make you think you’re okay and therefore dismiss or overlook symptoms,” says Roos.
If privacy is a concern, it might actually be more beneficial for you to go to a routine doctor’s appointment rather than having the packaging for an STD test in the trash. And if you think you might test positive for something, it might be beneficial for you to hear that news from a health care provider rather than finding out while opening the mail in your kitchen. It’s something that’s important to think through before you decide to go with testing at home.
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