William
4. STD Testing at Your Doctor’s Office
It seems like a normal part of life to go to a doctor when you think that you have a medical problem such as an STD. While the insurance will usually cover it, it can be embarrassing to talk to your doctor about wanting STD testing. A doctor may want a full story to rule out any other issues for a medical concern you may have. They will usually refer you to a lab for separate tests and do a full blood draw and urine test.
Pros of Doctor’s Office
- Free STD testing (covered by insurance)
- You can discuss a fuller range of causes if symptomatic
- Lab-accurate results
- Follow-up care if you test positive
- Full range of testing
Cons of Doctor’s Office
- Not Private
- Can be embarrassing
- Waiting to be seen by a doctor
- Slower turnaround
- More awkward than at home STD test
