Regular STI or STD testing for those who are sexually active with multiple partners is a critical component of overall health care. If left unchecked, these infections or diseases can cause serious health problems and complications.
Due to the growing demand for our corporate or large bookings and travel testing for COVID-19 antibody or active PCR test collection, our STI / STD Testing Services are on hold.
Getting tested for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), which are still commonly referred to by their previous name of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), is an important part of ensuring your overall health remains strong. While there is often a stigma attached to STI or STD testing, more people are warming up to the idea that sexual health is not something we should shy away from talking about. For those who are sexually active with multiple or new partners, STI or STD testing is the responsible thing to do not only for yourself but those you're involved with too.
Ichor Has You Covered
If you're looking for COVID-19 antibody testing in Calgary, Ichor Blood Services has you covered. We've recently begun accepting bookings for our COVID-19 serology antibody testing collection service. Your sample is then shipped to our laboratory testing partner, who will determine if you have potentially been exposed to the virus and now have the antibodies for it. For more information on our COVID-19 serology antibody testing collection service, click the button below.
Why Regular STI Testing is Important for Your Overall Health
If you're sexually active with multiple partners, anytime you engage in sexual activities with someone new you should get yourself tested for any STIs or STDs before having sex with anyone else again. If left untreated, STIs or STDs can lead to:
- Vision loss
- Infertility
- Cancer
- Organ damage
By getting regular STD testing in Calgary, you can limit your risk of having an undiagnosed STI cause serious health complications. Many STIs or STDs do not immediately present with symptoms, which is another strong argument for getting a Calgary STD test anytime you engage in sexual activities with a new partner.
STI or STD Testing Has Come a Long Way
If you're afraid of getting an STI or STD test due to the horror stories you've heard from your friends in the past, we're here to let you know that STI or STD testing has come a long way in the last decade or so. Previously, many STI or STD tests were carried out by inserting a cotton swab into a man's urethra or a women's cervix. Nowadays, luckily, urine and blood testing has become much more common when it comes to the STI or STD testing procedure.
What Type of STIs or STDs Can Ichor Blood Services Collect Samples for?
At Ichor Blood Services, we can only collect blood or urine samples for testing purposes. This means we are able to collect samples for the following STIs:
- Chlamydia
- Herpes
- Gonorrhea
- Hepatitis B
- Trichomoniasis
- Syphilis
- HIV
What Happens During an STI or STD Test?
For the majority of STI or STD tests, they will be conducted just like other lab work you may have had done in the past. As we only collect urine or blood samples as part of our collection service, any STI or STD tests that we can provide collection services for will fall under this category. You will either pee into a cup or a quick and relatively painless venipuncture will be performed if a blood draw is necessary.
By framing sexual health as a critical component of overall health, it's our hope that we can shed light on the important role STI or STD testing plays when it comes to keeping us and those around us healthy. Sexuality is nothing to be ashamed of and getting tested for infections related to engaging in sexual activities should not be stigmatized. By further pushing this important topic and piece of our overall health further under a veil, we only do ourselves a disservice and potentially cause people unnecessary suffering. It's time we recognize the importance of STI testing as it relates to our overall health and act accordingly.
Contact Us
Ichor is offering corporate or large group bookings and travel testing for COVID-19 antibody or active PCR test collection, and have instituted COVID-19 safe protocols. For more information about our COVID-19 test collection services, please give us a call at 1-844-424-6728 or fill out or contact form.
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