Healthcare Elevated: Innovative Trich Testing

At-home testing using home collection is giving the healthcare industry a welcome revitalization. This testing method is a reliable way to screen for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) without leaving home. With myLAB Box, at-home testing using home collection is available for all of the most common STIs in the United States, from syphilis to HIV. In particular, let’s discuss how this service includes trich testing in this blog post.

About Trichomoniasis

We’ll start with some great news: trichomoniasis (often referred to as “trich”) is curable. So is it really necessary to test for it?  The short is answer is yes!

Though it is curable, it is also one of the most common curable sexually transmitted infections.  In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 3.7 million people in the United States have the infection.

Despite this fact, a survey conducted by the American Sexual Health Association in 2013 showed that only one in five women (that’s 22%) are even familiar with the infection.

Trich is Usually Asymptomatic

Those who have this infection usually don’t experience symptoms. Actually, the CDC estimates that only 30% experience symptoms.  This fact may make it more likely for people to unknowingly pass it to their partners or may not test for trich based on a lack of symptoms.  This is why making regular trich testing a routine, regardless of symptoms, is important. Even without symptoms, you can still spread the infection.

If someone with trich experiences symptoms,  here is the CDC’s listing for symptoms that men and women may notice:

Men with trichomoniasis may notice:

• Itching or irritation inside the penis;
• Burning after urination or ejaculation;
• Discharge from the penis.

Women with trichomoniasis may notice:

• Itching, burning, redness or soreness of the genitals;
• Discomfort with urination;
• A change in their vaginal discharge (i.e., thin discharge or increased volume) that can be clear, white, yellowish, or greenish with an unusual fishy smell.”

Trich Testing Options At Home

While a single-infection trich testing kit is available from myLAB Box, you may consider testing for multiple other infections at the same time. A series of combination test kits are available as a way to better take control of your health. To this end, here are additional ways to test for trich:

Safe Box: This five-panel test kit screens for the top four STD risks: HIV (I & II), Chlamydia, Gonorrhea and Trichomoniasis.

V-Box for Women’s Health tests for all common causes of abnormal vaginal discharge, including Yeast, BV, Trich, Chlamydia, Gonorrhea.

Uber Box: This eight-panel test kit includes tests for HIV I, HIV II, Hepatitis C, Herpes Simplex Type II, Syphilis, Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, and Trichomoniasis. The Love Box includes two Uber Box test kits so that couples can test together.

Total Box:  This comprehensive test screens for fourteen infections at once.  It is the ultimate way to take “total” control over your health. Tests include: HIV I, HIV II, Hepatitis C, Herpes Simplex Type II, Syphilis, Chlamydia (genital, throat, and rectal), Gonorrhea (genital, throat, and rectal), Trichomoniasis and Mycoplasma genitalium. An optional add-on is available for women who are 30 years of age and older who want to screen for HPV.

Treatment for Trich

As mentioned above, trich is a curable infection. However, if it isn’t diagnosed and treated, it can cause some potential health complications. For instance, genital inflammation can make it easier to contract other infections like HIV.  For pregnant women, trich can also cause premature labor or babies with low birth weight. Luckily, trich is treatable with a simple antibiotic. Customers who test positive with a myLAB Box test are entitled to a free phone consultation with one of myLAB Box’s physician affiliates. This physician can then review your patient history, assess if you’re experiencing symptoms. With that and if your state allows telemedicine (and most do!), you can get a prescription for trich  treatment and have the prescription sent to your local pharmacy.

Trich testing is the only way to know for sure whether you have this infection.  Find out your health status by testing from home with myLAB Box.

Sources:

CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/std/trichomonas/stdfact-trichomoniasis.htm

ASHA study: http://www.ashasexualhealth.org/stdsstis/trichomoniasis/

Reviewed by Luis Ferdinand M. Papa, MD, MHA