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STD screening: how and why get tested?

STD screening, also known as STI (sexually transmitted infection) testing, is crucial for prevention, early diagnosis and treatment of STIs. Let's take a closer look with Feeli's medical team. Take care of your health!

What is STD screening?

There are several dozen STDs, and cases have been rising in recent years. HIV, AIDS, hepatitis B, syphilis, chlamydia, genital herpes, HPV, gonorrhoea, vaginitis and certain vulvovaginal yeast infections are some of the best-known STDs. Condoms often protect against most STDs, but not all of them. In some cases, simple skin-to-skin contact can be enough to transmit or contract an STI. STD screening is very important and allows for timely care. Getting tested also helps avoid possible complications that can lead to cancer, infertility and more. It's important to know that all STIs weaken the mucous membranes, increase the risk of contracting an STD in the future, and increase the risk of transmission of the HIV virus. STD screening is simply a test that detects a sexually transmitted infection so it can be treated and transmission to others avoided. Some STIs cause no symptoms at all, or present differently from person to person, so it becomes necessary to get tested regularly - the only way to be certain you are not at risk. Each sexually transmitted infection requires a different test to be properly identified and diagnosed. Depending on the disease, it is often necessary to wait a certain amount of time for the screening results to be conclusive. In any case, if you suspect an STD, have certain STI symptoms, or have had unprotected risky sex, it's best not to wait and not to hesitate to see a doctor for testing. This test may be prescribed in the presence of various symptoms such as unusual vaginal discharge, irritation, redness or tingling in the genital area, urinary problems or a frequent need to urinate, pain during sex, the appearance of small warts or blisters on the genitals, pelvic pain, fatigue or nausea, or unusual burning or discharge.

How is an STD tested for?

Since many sexually transmitted diseases produce no physical symptoms and are asymptomatic, it is entirely possible to carry a virus, parasite or bacterium without knowing it. This shows how important screening is for avoiding an STD, identifying an STI, or avoiding passing it on to sexual partners. Screening also allows the condition to be managed if the result comes back positive. It is only after screening that a patient learns their status, can receive care suited to their case and the STI in question, and can avoid transmitting the disease. Depending on the STD suspected, the screening method can vary. Common methods include blood tests, clinical examination of the genitals, local swab samples, urine analysis, and smear tests. These tests give a quick result and are painless. It is only once the results are available, and depending on them, that the patient can receive appropriate care and reduce the risk of transmission. Many people feel uncomfortable with STD screening; there is no shame in it, and healthcare professionals are trained to put you at ease - the doctors are experienced, attentive to your needs and bound by medical confidentiality. If the screening comes back positive, it's important that the partner(s) of the infected person also get tested for STDs. It's fairly common to find several STDs together during a single screening.

STD screening: what are the symptoms of an STI?

STI symptoms (sexually transmitted infections) are sometimes subtle and can vary depending on the type of infection. Sometimes symptoms are severe; in other cases, they are asymptomatic and can go unnoticed. Here, however, is a list of symptoms characteristic of STIs:
 • Unusual discharge from the penis, vagina, anus or throat can be a sign of an STI;
 • Pelvic pain;
 • Pain or burning when urinating;
 • Unusual bleeding;
 • Itching, skin rashes or irritation:
 • Ulcers or lesions in the genital area;
 • Fatigue, fever and flu-like symptoms.
 • Many STIs can also be asymptomatic, especially in the early stages of infection.
It is therefore advisable to consult a healthcare professional, for example during an online consultation, and to get tested regularly, particularly:
 • If you are sexually active;
 • If you have multiple sexual partners;
 • Or if you have taken a risk, for example unprotected sex.
Early screening and appropriate treatment are essential to prevent complications and the spread of STIs.

STI / STD screening: where can you get tested?

STI screening (sexually transmitted infections) or STDs (sexually transmitted diseases) is essential in order to start treatment quickly, which ensures a faster recovery and avoids possible complications. Testing is available at several types of medical facility, such as:
 • Public or private health centres, such as free and anonymous testing centres (the French CDAG/CeGIDD network). You can book an appointment with a GP, a gynaecologist, a urologist, or a specialist in infectious diseases;
 • Sexual health clinics;
 • Family planning centres;
 • Taking a home test (certain home screening tests exist);
 • Sometimes, at a pharmacy.

How is an STD diagnosed?

STI diagnosis (sexually transmitted infections) or STDs (sexually transmitted diseases) is mainly clinical and visual:
 • Assessment of symptoms;
 • Physical examination, for example to look for skin lesions, ulcers, rashes or swollen lymph nodes;
 • Collection and laboratory analysis of a sample of blood, genital secretions, urine or stool. A biopsy (tissue sample) may also be performed in some cases;
 • PCR or RNA testing;
 • Culturing of microbes;
 • Urine culture and sensitivity test;
 • Cervical smear test;
 • Blood tests;
 • Sometimes, medical imaging.
Diagnosis is therefore essential to quickly start appropriate treatment, avoid complications and reduce the risk of transmission. Regular screening tests are recommended for people who are sexually active and at risk of STIs.

What are the treatments for STIs?

Treatment of an STD (sexually transmitted disease) or an STI (sexually transmitted infection) depends on its cause and the severity of the symptoms. Different types of infection are treated differently. Generally speaking, STI treatments may involve:
 • Antibiotics, notably for treating bacterial infections such as gonorrhoea, chlamydia or syphilis;
 • Antiviral medication, for example to treat HIV or genital herpes;
 • Vaccination is another way to protect against certain STIs, notably human papillomavirus (HPV) and hepatitis B;
 • Symptoms can also be treated locally: pain relief, surgical removal of a genital wart, and so on.
Sex education and prevention are essential in every case to reduce the risk of passing an infection on to other sexual partners. Complications can be avoided, in particular through regular screening. Self-medicating with medicines obtained without a prescription is strongly discouraged. The main risk is failing to properly treat the infection, causing antibiotic resistance and, as a result, complications. Talk about it with a GP online on Feeli. If an infection is confirmed by a medical diagnosis, it is essential to inform your sexual partners, in order to prevent reinfection or the spread of STDs. Sexually active people, especially those with several sexual partners, should wear condoms to protect themselves, get tested regularly and, where possible, get vaccinated once vaccination is available.