What is the Difference Between A UTI And An STD?

When it comes to your body, we all like to believe that we know how our body works and what it responds to. Nobody wants to admit they have an STD or UTI and so we rationalize our symptoms and avoid getting tested or going to the doctor until the absolute last minute. The truth of the matter is that STDs and UTIs are extremely common and both go untreated until they really become an issue. Luckily, recognizing the differences between STDs and UTIs can save you a trip to the doctor and ensure that you get the right test for you from myLAB Box™. After receiving the test, mail it back and we’ll contact you with the results. Until then, here is how to tell the difference between urinary tract infections and sexually transmitted diseases.

Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)

• Short for Urinary Tract Infection, UTIs occur when bacteria enters into any of the four sections of your urinary tract: the urethra, the bladder, the ureter, or the kidneys.
• E. Coli is the primary cause of UTIs and the close proximity of the vagina to the anus is the reason that women are infected so much more often than men.
• It is estimated that almost half of all women, at some point in their lives, catch a UTI from one of the countless possibilities of infection.
• There are plenty of ways to catch a UTI
  • Holding your urine for unusually long periods can cause bacteria to multiply within the bladder.
  • Taking prolonged baths in dirty bathtubs.
  • Wiping back to front (for women)
  • Wearing dirty underwear on a more than regular basis.
  • Douching or using creams that are not native to the reproductive system.

Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)

• • Short for Sexually Transmitted Disease, STDs infect close to 20 million people a year in the United States alone. They can be transmitted through oral, vaginal, or anal sex. As well as through non-sexual contacts such as intravenous drug use, childbirth, and breastfeeding.
  • Since many people are asymptomatic, being a carrier for an STD is as common as it is threatening.
  • Anything from skin to skin contact, to contact with sexual or bodily fluid can silently infect an individual.
  • If you have had any unprotected sexual encounters and are concerned about your health, get tested.

What we constantly see at myLAB Box™ are people misdiagnosed with UTIs and STDs. Since many of the symptoms are so similar, many patients aren’t properly tested and therefore aren’t properly treated. At myLAB Box™ we test for all testable STDs and promise accurate, discreet, and quick results so you can sleep at ease. Not only that, we save you a trip to the doctor by mailing directly to your house. If any test comes back positive, we provide a free consultation with one of our doctors to ensure that your next step is absolutely correct and healthy. If your tests come back negative and you are still experiencing symptoms, then a UTI is much more likely. Knowledge is power and we want to keep you as strong as possible!