10 STD (sexually transmitted diseases) testing panel

Chlamydia trachomatis is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections. Chlamydia infection often can be asymptomatic, especially in its early stages. It can infect both men and women and can affect various parts of the body, including the genitals, rectum, and throat. Without symptoms, untreated chlamydia infection can lead to serious complications such as infertility, chronic infections, and Reiter's syndrome. Initial symptoms may appear 1-3 weeks after exposure. Women may experience abnormal vaginal discharge, pain while urinating, bleeding between periods, and pain during intercourse. Men may have abnormal penile discharge, pain during urination, and testicular pain and swelling. Regular screening and prompt treatment are crucial to prevent complications and reduce the risk of transmitting the infection to others.

Neisseria gonorrhoeae - gonorrhea is a widespread infection contracted through oral, vaginal, or anal intercourse. Symptoms typically appear 1–14 days after sexual contact with an infected person. Most women do not experience symptoms, but may notice bleeding between periods or during intercourse, and pain or burning when urinating. If undetected, untreated, or improperly treated, the infection can spread to the upper reproductive tract and develop into complicated gonococcal infection, which causes pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy, infertility in women, and penile swelling, epididymitis in men.

Mycoplasma genitalium - this bacterium most commonly infects the urethra and cervix, and its infection can be asymptomatic. If untreated, the infection can sometimes lead to more serious complications, such as urethritis or cervicitis, infertility.

Mycoplasma hominis, Ureaplasma urealyticum, Ureaplasma parvum - these bacteria can naturally be found in the reproductive organs (uterus, ovaries, prostate gland), most often do not cause any symptoms or diseases. In certain cases, they can cause infections and symptoms that differ depending on which part of the reproductive organs is affected.

Trichomonas vaginalis - the most common non-viral sexually transmitted pathogen in the world. T. vaginalis can cause abnormal vaginal discharge (trichomoniasis) in women and accounts for 10~12% of all non-gonococcal urethritis cases in men. The infection can be asymptomatic in at least 50% of women and 70~80% of men.

Herpes simplex 1/2 infections are transmitted through contact with HSV herpes sores, mucosal surfaces, genital secretions, or oral secretions. HSV-1 and HSV-2 can be shed from normal-appearing oral or genital mucosa or skin. Typically, a person can get HSV-2 only through genital contact with someone who has a genital HSV-2 infection. Oral sex from a person with oral HSV-1 can result in genital HSV-1 infection. Transmission often occurs from an infected partner who does not have visible lesions and who may be unaware of the infection. Most individuals infected with HSV are asymptomatic or have very mild symptoms that go unnoticed or are mistaken for another skin condition. When symptoms occur, genital herpes lesions usually appear as one or more blisters on or around the genitals, rectum, or mouth. The average incubation period for an initial herpes infection is 2 to 12 days after exposure. The blisters break and leave painful ulcers that may take two to four weeks to heal. The appearance of these symptoms is referred to as a first herpes “outbreak” or episode. Clinical manifestations of genital herpes differ between the first and recurrent (i.e., later) outbreaks. The first herpes outbreak is often associated with a longer duration of herpetic lesions, increased viral shedding (this makes HSV transmission more likely), and systemic symptoms, including fever, body aches, swollen lymph nodes, or headache.

Treponema pallidum is the bacterium that causes syphilis, a chronic systemic infection that can progress through four stages. Primary symptoms appear 10 to 90 days after exposure, usually within 3 weeks (21 days). The main symptom is a painless sore at the site of infection. The sore may be hard to notice and often disappears within 3–6 weeks even without treatment, but can periodically reoccur. Early diagnosis and treatment are essential to prevent the progression of the infection.

Chlamydia trachomatis LGV - one of the diseases caused by the chlamydia bacterium is lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV). LGV is a sexually transmitted infection caused by specific serovars of Chlamydia trachomatis (L1, L2, L3). The primary route of infection is through sexual contact: vaginal, anal, and oral. The primary symptom is small, painless blisters or sores in the genital or rectal area, which often go unnoticed. Symptoms appear 3-30 days after exposure. If untreated, chronic inflammation, lymph node, rectal damage, and reproductive system problems can develop.