Being sexually active comes with a great deal of responsibility. To keep yourself and your partner(s) safe it is important to always use condoms and get tested for STD’s on a regular basis. Some people do not want to have to go to a doctors office or clinic to get tested and once upon a time, this meant that if someone who felt that way did have an STD it would go undiagnosed and therefore untreated. Thankfully, there is another option that is now available for anyone who needs tested but does not want to leave home to do so. There are a multitude of companies that now offer at-home STD test kits. Here you will find all of the information that will need to choose the best STD test kit for you and your needs.

The first thing you need to consider is which STD’s you need to get tested for. Making this determination will need to be based off of a few different factors. The first factor is whether you are getting tested because A – you are experiencing symptoms, B – you think you were exposed to something, or C – you need a yearly screening. If you need tested because of A, you will need to choose tests based off of the symptoms and which STD’s can cause those symptoms. For option B you will need to base the tests you choose off of whether you have an idea of what you may have been exposed to. If you do not know, it is best to go for the whole gambit. Finally, if you are getting tested because of option C you will need to go for a complete screening.

The next factor to to take into consideration is a company’s accreditations and reliability. It is incredibly important to do some research into various companies to make sure they are legitimate and have all of the appropriate accreditations. All legitimate companies will proudly display their credits and affiliations directly on their websites with documentation and and links so you can verify. One thing to be on the look out for is test kits claiming to be instantaneous. The only legitimate instantaneous tests are for herpes, anything else is fake.

Factor number three is the cost. None of these companies accept insurance of any kind so all fees must be paid upfront. Each company has its own prices and all fees are dependant upon how many tests you need to have done. Prices generally vary from around $70 USD to  $450 USD. There are some tests and some companies whose prices are higher or lower. Because everyone has their own budget restraints that they must stay within, it is important to find a good company with prices that match your budget.

Here are a few things to look for in an STD test kit company. Of course, the first thing that you should look is the accreditation that we talked about earlier. This information is usually located on the “about us” page is often displayed  at the bottom of every page. The second thing that you should look at is the types of tests that are offered. Not every company offers all of the same tests. There are some the only specialize in certain tests such as herpes. Others offer tests for everything imaginable.Your choice here will depend on your needs. Third, you should compare response times. Some response times are only two to three days while others are up to ten to twelve days. After taking all of this into the consideration, choose the company that is left of the possibilities that has the best prices.

In case you are not familiar with all of the possible tests that you may need to have run, here is a list of the most common STD’s.  There are many different types of STD’s and they all fall into one of three categories; short term, middle term, and long term/chronic.

Short Term STD’s:

• Chlamydia
• Crabs (pubic lice)
• Gonorrhea

Mid Term STDS

• HPV (Human Papillomavirus)
• Syphilis
• Trichomoniasis (Trich)

Long Term/Chronic STD’s

• Herpes
• HIV/AIDS
• Hepatitis A-E

If you are having trouble finding STD test kit companies, here are some of the best ones currently available. MyLab Box, Private iDNA, EverlyWell, STDRapidTestKit.com, and OraQuick. Each of these kits come with all of the necessary equipment for each test you are performing. This often includes swabs, urine sample containers, and specialized collection container and pricking device to gather a blood sample. You also receive a package to ship the samples back to the lab in. Remember, do not wait after obtaining the samples to send them back. It is vital to get them back as quickly as possible so as to get the most accurate results.

Remember that not everyone who has contracted an STD experiences symptoms. Particularly for certain diseases.Because of this it is important to get tested on a regular basis and as soon as possible after you think you may have been exposed. Always practice safe sex, condoms, when used correctly can protect both partners from many STD’s. Of course, condoms are not infallible, nor do they protect against every STD. It is also worth noting that all couples even have the option of using a condom. One particular STD, Trichomoniasis (Trich) is the most prevalent among lesbian couples because the main method of spreading it is through vulva to vulva contact.

Now you have all of the pertinent information you will need to choose the best STD at-home test kit for your needs. While the best possible option is to avoid putting yourself in a situation with a high risk of contracting an STD, that is not always possible. It is always best to take charge of your sexual health and get tested annually as well as any time you suspect a problem or have had unprotected sex. If you do test positive for any STD, be responsible and make sure that all partners that you have recently been with know and get tested as well. The sooner you receive treatment, the easier most STD’s are to treat. Now, with at-home tests so readily available, there is no excuse not to get tested.