CVS Health At Home STI & HIV Test Kit, 1 CT

What are STIs?

STI stands for sexually transmitted infection. They are also sometimes called sexually transmitted diseases or STDs.

How are STIs transmitted from person to person?

STIs are primarily spread through sexual contact, including vaginal, oral, and anal sex.

What STIs are included in this test?

This at-home test checks for seven different Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) including:

• Chlamydia is easily treated with antibiotics, but if left untreated can cause severe health problems long-term including infertility in women and swelling of the urethra in men.
• Gonorrhea is a common STI caused by bacteria (Neisseria gonorrhoeae) that can infect the genitals, rectum, and throat. Gonorrhea can infect both men and women and can be treated with antibiotics. Infected men may exhibit symptoms, but women usually do not have symptoms.
• Hepatitis C is an antibody test that can be used to identify if you have ever been infected with the hepatitis C virus by looking for antibodies to the hepatitis C virus in your blood.
• HIV, short for Human Immunodeficiency Virus, is a virus that attacks the body's immune system. If HIV is not treated, it can lead to Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). HIV is treatable, but not curable. The first step in protecting your and your partner(s) sexual health is testing to determine if you have HIV
• Syphilis is a STI that is highly treatable if detected early. Syphilis is spread by direct contact with a syphilis sore during vaginal, anal, or oral sex - as well as from an infected mother to her baby. Therefore, all pregnant women should be tested for syphilis during pregnancy.
• Trichomoniasis (also called trich) is a common STI caused by the parasite Trichomonas vaginalis. Trichomoniasis is treatable with antibiotics.
• Herpes Simplex Virus type II (HSV-II) is a sexually transmitted skin infection most commonly associated with blisters or sores on the genitals and rectum, but can also result in sores on the mouth and face. The test detects herpes simplex virus II antibodies.

Who is the STI test for?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends STI testing as follows:

• All adults and adolescents from ages 13 to 64 should be tested at least once for HIV.
• All sexually active women younger than age 25 should be tested for gonorrhea and chlamydia every year. Women 25 years and older with risk factors such as new or multiple sex partners or a sex partner who has tested positive for an STI should also be tested for gonorrhea and chlamydia every year.
• All pregnant women should be tested for syphilis, HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C starting early in the pregnancy. Women with new or multiple sex partners or a partner who tested positive for and STI should also be tested for chlamydia and gonorrhea starting early in pregnancy. They may need repeat testing in some cases, such as new partner(s) since the previous test.

All sexually active men who have sex with men should be tested:

• At least once each year for syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea. Men who have multiple or anonymous partners should be tested more frequently (e.g., every 3 to 6 months).
• At least once each year for HIV and may benefit from more frequent HIV testing (e.g., every 3 to 6 months).
• At least once each year for hepatitis C, if living with HIV.
• Anyone who engages in sexual behaviors that could place them at risk for infection, such as unprotected sexual contact with an untested partner or more than one partner, or shares injection drug equipment should get tested for HIV at least once a year.

* People who have had unprotected oral or anal sex should discuss with their health care provider if additional testing is warranted.

Why consider an at home STI test?

Approximately 80% of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) do not produce any symptoms. STIs are especially common in sexually active people aged 15 to 24, those who have sex with multiple partners, and those that have a history of unprotected sex or using condoms and/or dental dams inconsistently or incorrectly. Also, men who have sex with men are recommended to participate in annual testing for some STIs.

Chlamydia is the most common STI and gonorrhea is the second most commonly reported STI. The bacteria that cause these two common STIs grow in warm, moist areas of the body, including the urethra (tube that carries urine out of the body) or the eyes for either gender (gonorrhea), and can also grow in the cervix, fallopian tubes, and uterus in women.

You are at risk of becoming infected with STIs if you have oral, vaginal, or anal sexual intercourse with someone who is infected with an STI, especially if barrier protection (condom or dental dam) was not used, was used incorrectly, or broke.

Also, a pregnant mother can pass chlamydia and/or gonorrhea to her baby during childbirth, so STI testing is routinely recommended for pregnant women.

Further, an STI is not always detectable immediately following infection. It is recommended that you speak with your health care provider to determine when you should take this test based on the timeline of your possible exposure. It may take 3 to 6 months for some STIs to be detectable, while others may be identifiable sooner after exposure.

Speaking openly and honestly with your health care provider about your sexual history and current sexual behaviors is an important step in protecting your sexual health. Together you can determine a risk reduction and testing strategy to best protect your health that aligns with your unique situation.

Will you know if you have an STI? How can you tell if your partner has an STI?

Many individuals with STIs don't have symptoms, so are unaware they have been infected and may be passing the STI along to their partner(s). The only way to truly know if you or a partner has an STI is through testing, including oral, genital, and anal testing.

When should I take an STI test?

The CDC and other health organizations recommend regular screening for groups at higher risk for STIs and for pregnant women as part of their medical care during pregnancy, as many STIs can be passed from mother to baby during a vaginal birth.

How often should I take the STI test?

If you are sexually active, even if you are in a monogomous relationship, it is recommended that you get STI testing at least once a year.

You may need testing sooner if your partner notifies you they tested positive for an STI.

If you have multiple partners, you should have an STI test before having sex with a new partner.

If you have symptoms of an STI, you should contact your health care provider right away to determine which STIs you should be tested for, as there are many different STIs.

Will you know if you have an STI? How can you tell if your partner has an STI?

Many individuals with STIs don't have symptoms, so are unaware they have been infected and may be passing the STI along to their partner(s). The only way to truly know if you or a partner has an STI is through testing, including oral, genital, and anal testing.

When should I take an STI test?

The CDC and other health organizations recommend regular screening for groups at higher risk for STIs and for pregnant women as part of their medical care during pregnancy, as many STIs can be passed from mother to baby during a vaginal birth.

How often should I take the STI test?

If you are sexually active, even if you are in a monogomous relationship, it is recommended that you get STI testing at least once a year.

You may need testing sooner if your partner notifies you they tested positive for an STI.

If you have multiple partners, you should have an STI test before having sex with a new partner.

If you have symptoms of an STI, you should contact your health care provider right away to determine which STIs you should be tested for, as there are many different STIs.

How do you take an at home STI test?

This STI test involves collecting a small sample of blood from a finger prick, as well as a urine sample, from the privacy of your own home.

Will my postal carrier or neighbors know I have ordered an STI test?

Our testing kits are discreetly packaged to ensure your privacy. The outside mailing box does not indicate that it includes an STI test.

When can I expect my STI test results back?

STI test results are typically available 5 to 10 days after your sample arrives at the lab for analysis.

Does a PAP smear test for STIs?

No. A PAP smear looks for abnormal cells that indicate possible cervical cancer. Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is a type of STI that is associated with an increased risk of developing cervical cancer, but the PAP smear does not look for HPV or any other STIs.

Can I get STI testing when I am having my period?

No, you should not submit a urine sample while having your period or within 24 hours of sexual intercourse, as this can impact the lab’s ability to analyze your sample.

Can I get STI testing when I am pregnant?

Yes. STI testing during pregnancy is safe. In fact, it is common for a health care provider to request that an expectant mother get some STI testing done before her delivery, because some STIs can be passed from mother to baby during a vaginal delivery. If you test positive, the health care provider may decide to treat the STI with a medicine or recommend an alternative birthing plan.

How soon after having unprotected sex should I get an STI test?

Some of the STIs do not show up immediately. Therefore, it is often recommended that you wait approximately 10 days before taking an STI test. If you are concerned you may have an STI, you may want to abstain from having sexual contact with another person during this time so you do not risk passing it to someone else before you know your status or can seek treatment.

If you believe that you have a high-risk exposure to HIV, e.g. unprotected receptive anal sex, needle-sharing injection drug use,or sexual activities with sex workers, you should contact your health care provider as soon as possible and discuss post-exposure prophylactic treatment options

Will this test check for all STIs?

There are more than 30 different bacteria, viruses, and parasites that are known to be transmitted during sexual contact.

Eight of these cause the most common STIs. Four of the eight are treatable (syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis). The other four are viruses that are NOT curable at this time (hepatitis B, herpes, HIV, and human papillomavirus (HPV).

Why should I want to find out if I have an STI?

STIs can have a significant impact on sexual and reproductive health.Some STIs can increase the risk of getting HIV. The transmission of an STI between mother and child can result in stillbirth, neonatal death, low-birth weight and prematurity, sepsis, pneumonia, neonatal conjunctivitis and congenital deformities.

HPV infection can lead to cervical cancer. Hepatitis B is linked to liver cancer risk.

How will my STI test results help me?

Identifying if you have an STI is the first step in taking action to protect your health and the health of your sexual partners. Action may include taking medication, as several of the STIs are treatable. Also, learning your STI results can help foster open and honest communication between sexual partners. The only way to know definitively if treatment is needed is to test.

Can STIs be treated?

Yes. Some STIs can be treated, including:

• Chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis (bacterial STIs) and trichomoniasis (a parasitic STI) are generally curable with existing single-dose regimens of antibiotics.
• There are antiviral medications that can modulate the course of the disease for herpes and HIV, though they cannot cure the disease.
• Antiviral medications can help to fight the virus and slow damage to the liver for hepatitis B.

How can I protect against getting an STI?

Condoms offer one of the best forms of protection against STIs when used consistently and  correctly. However, a condom does not offer 100% protection against all STIs, as some cause extra-genital sores that can be spread with skin to skin contact. After abstinence, condoms are the best protection method for contracting an STI, so they should be used for all vaginal and anal sex.

Why do I need to activate my STI at home test kit?

Activating the kit connects you to the unique ID within your sample collection kit. The laboratory cannot process your sample if the kit is not activated and linked to you.