How to Choose the Best STD Test Kit

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.

Vegetable Gardening Tips for Beginners

Update 5/2020
Since I dont have the traditional backyard like some of you, I wanted to share what I have going on in my desert landscape backyard. My son took some time to reposition my garden boxes that he built a few years ago and refilled them with fresh garden soil. Then he went shopping and bought me some tomato plants and a few perennials. I got them planted about 30 days ago and they are doing well, with the exception of losing a few. But anyone can put in these types of gardens to plant a few plants for some nutritious fresh vegetables for your family. 
I have one of my cats that loves to chomp on whatever he can find so he bought a small strip of sod for him to enjoy, not only too much but to lay down for a few minutes.Garden-Box-planted-in-the-desert-with-tomatoes-and-flowers-Las-Vegas-Nv-2020. Check out the scrolling banner on Garden By The Yard to see how the first garden boxes were created long before they became popular and called them “One Yard Gardens“!

There are lots of added benefits to growing your own vegetables, in comparison to buying them at the store. One main aspect is that without all of the pesticides used in a large market growing, and all of the transportation required to ship the vegetables to various destinations, the overall taste, and texture of the product is greatly improved. While growing your own vegetables can be a learning experience, and will involve taking time and effort to perfect the perfect crop, it also provides a wonderful sense of achievement, and you can cook with confidence knowing that you are using the best vegetables possible. If you are interested in growing your own vegetables, then here are a few basic tips to help you get started. 

Choose the best location

Of course, plants need a healthy balance of sun and water but bare in mind that many vegetables rely on having at least six hours of direct sunlight a day, and this is crucial to their growth. As well as this, you need to make sure the environment they are in won’t be prone to extreme forms of weather, such as flooding, as most vegetables will not survive in harsh conditions. The more nutrient-rich the soil is, the better the plants will grow; if you are growing vegetables in indoor planters, then you can make sure to buy the best soil for that type of plant. In an outdoor space, make sure you are using soil which doesn’t dry out too quickly.

Understand the ecosystem

Even in a small enclosed space, such as your garden, there is a complex ecosystem at work. If you want to provide the best environment possible for your vegetables to thrive in, then you will need to make sure that the environment is tailored towards their survival. In order to do that, you need to have a basic understanding of which organisms in your garden are beneficial to your plants, and which may be harmful.

For example, not every bug you see may be detrimental to your plants; bees and other small insects are often vital pollinators, and so you should avoid trying to kill them when possible unless they are severely damaging your crop. Common pests in the garden include aphids, snails, and slugs, so you will want to find methods to keep these away from your vegetables. Then there are pests such as mosquitoes which, while they are not damaging to your crop, may be a nuisance for you while you are tending to your garden; If so, you may want to look into Pest Control for Mosquitoes.

Provide regular care

You will need to monitor your plants, and make sure you are regularly carrying out maintenance tasks to keep them healthy, such as watering them regularly, especially during dry spouts. When planting, make sure to space your crops evenly, so that they aren’t forced to compete for sunlight and nutrients. You will also want to read up on the plants that you are going to be gardening, and make sure you know the best times of year to plant them, and when to harvest your crop.

Related Garden Articles:
Practical Principles of Gardening You Should Learn
Garden Series: The Pros And Cons Of Chemical And Biological Pest Control In The Garden Gardening for kids: 5 Links to get your child more involved outdoors

HTML Snippets Powered By : XYZScripts.com