About STD Testing
You can visit our clinic without an appointment, so please come directly to our clinic. The examination can be done on the same day. Through the interview and visual examination, we will determine which STD is suspected and propose an appropriate test. Since we use a special test kit for the test, the results can be obtained quickly (often on the same day).
If the test results show that you have some kind of STD, you can start receiving the appropriate treatment immediately. Our specialist doctors will provide you with friendly treatment.
Insurance and Self-funded Medical Treatment
In insurance medical treatment, the patient only has to pay a partial co-payment of the cost (the percentage of the cost will vary depending on the insurer, age, etc.), and the rest is covered by health insurance.
In contrast, self-funded medical treatment means that the treatment is not covered by insurance and must pay the entire cost.
In self-funded medical treatment, the patient's cost burden increases, but on the other hand, it is possible to receive treatment that cannot be handled by insurance, and it is also possible to receive treatment anonymously.
Typical Symptoms of STDs
Symptoms of STDs vary from disease to disease and from patient to patient, but if you experience any of the following symptoms, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible to have your STD testing and treatment.
- Swelling in genitals
- Tingling in the genitals
- Boils on the genitals
- Pus-like mucus coming out of the genitals
- An unfamiliar stain on your underwear
- Pain or discomfort when peeing
- Itching in the genital area
etc.
*Please feel free to consult us, as we will give full consideration to your personal information and privacy.
*Please feel free to contact us, if you have any questions or concerns about your visit.
What is Chlamydia?
It is caused by infection with the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis. Chlamydia is the most common sexually transmitted disease in Japan, with over one million people infected. Chlamydia is highly contagious, with a 30-50% chance of contracting it through a single sexual act.
Symptoms for men include mild pain when peeing and itching in the urethra. Women are often asymptomatic, with a slight increase in discharge, mild menstrual pain, and irregular genital bleeding.
Chlamydia Testing
Nucleic acid amplification* and other methods are used to detect chlamydia. Nucleic acid amplification is a highly reliable test, and since urine can be used as a specimen, it is a simple test method for patients.
When collecting urine, early morning urine contains more urethral secretions and is more suitable for testing. If early morning urine is not available, collect urine some time after the last urination. Women are tested by collecting vaginal secretions.
Nucleic acid amplification: A method of detecting pathogens by artificially increasing the number of genes of the pathogen to be detected in a test tube.
Once the Infection Detected
Start medication with antibiotics and antibacterial medication. Please note that even while taking the medication, having new sexual intercourse may lead to reinfection.
What is Pharyngeal Chlamydia?
It is a chlamydial infection that affects the throat. Pharyngeal chlamydia is mainly infected through oral sex. The number of infected people has been increasing in recent years, and attention is needed. If left untreated, pharyngeal chlamydia can lead to chronic tonsillitis.
The main symptom of pharyngeal chlamydia is a swollen and sore throat, sometimes accompanied by fever. Since the symptoms are similar to those of a cold or flu, it is not uncommon for people to just take a cold medicine and leave it alone. It is a sexually transmitted disease that is difficult to detect at an early stage because the symptoms are similar to those of the common cold, or the symptoms may not appear in the first place.
Pharyngeal Chlamydia Testing
Nucleic acid amplification test (PCR method) is used to detect. The test is implemented using a liquid gargled with saline solution (pharyngeal gargle). The results of the test will be available on the next day or two days after.
Once the Infection Detected
Start medication therapy with oral antibiotics and antibacterial medication. It is important to follow the doctor's instructions in order to make a full recovery, and not stop taking the medication at your own discretion just because the symptoms of pharyngeal chlamydia no longer appear.
What is Gonorrhea?
It is caused by an infection with Neisseria gonorrhoeae. The most common symptoms are severe pain when peeing and yellowish-white discharge from the urethra.
Gonorrhea Testing
The gonorrhea test can be done on the same day or by nucleic acid amplification (SDA/PCR). The results of the rapid testing are available about 15 minutes after the testing, and the results of the nucleic acid amplification testing are available the next day. For the rapid test, the secretion is wiped off with a cotton swab and tested. For the nucleic acid amplification testing, the first urine sample (the first pee) is collected and tested.
Antibiotics are administered by injection or intravenous drip (usually once). Oral antibiotics are sometimes used, but nowadays they are not used as much as they used to be because they are no longer effective due to the development of resistance. If the symptoms do not improve much after treatment, such as when the causative organism is resistant to the antibiotics, the antibiotics prescribed will be changed and further treatment will be continued in order to achieve a complete cure.
What are Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma?
It shows the same symptoms as chlamydia.
Mycoplasma and ureaplasma is said to be one of the causes of non-chlamydial gonococcal urethritis.
The symptoms are often similar to those of chlamydia, and the disease is often asymptomatic when infected. It is treated with oral antibiotics.
Test for Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma
A urinalysis is used to diagnose the presence of infection by checking for white blood cells in the urine. It also includes a gargle test using saline solution.
What is Trichomonas?
It is an infection caused by the protozoan Trichomonas, mainly due to sexual intercourse. In addition to vaginitis, the infection can spread to the urethra and bladder, resulting in urethritis, cystitis, and vulvitis.
The symptoms include foul odor, purulent or foamy discharge, itching and tingling sensation in the vulva, and they appear after an incubation period of about three weeks. However, about half of the cases do not show any symptoms (asymptomatic).
Trichomonas Testing
The diagnosis is confirmed when vaginal secretions and urine sediment are examined directly under a microscope (speculum examination) and Trichomonas protozoa are found. A culture may be performed using Trichomonas medium.
After a vaginal wash, a vaginal tablet of tinidazole or metronidazole or a combination of the two is given. The partner should also be treated at the same time (men are treated with oral medication only).
What is Candida?
Candida is a type of fungus, which causes infections in the vulva of men and women. Candida is a common fungus found on the skin, in the mouth, and in the vagina, and it often occurs even if it is not caused by sexual activity.
Men may not experience any symptoms, but if they do, the glans and foreskin will be red and itchy. Women may experience increased discharge, severe itching and tingling around the vulva and vagina.
Candida Testing
The diagnosis is confirmed by swabbing pus from the vulva in males, or discharge in females, and testing by culture.
In most cases, an antifungal ointment is applied. Women can use antifungal vaginal tablets and oral medication at the same time.
What is Herpes?
It is caused by infection with the herpes virus (HSV). It causes itching and discomfort in the genitals, as well as blisters and ulcers. Genital herpes and oral herpes are completely different. Genital herpes is not a sexually transmitted disease, but a common disease that causes blisters on and around the lips.
Herpes Testing
Visual examination and secretions collected from blisters and ulcers in the local area are examined for the presence of the pathogenic virus (HSV). In some cases, blood samples are tested for antibodies to determine whether the patient has been infected for the first time or was previously infected.
It is treated with medications (antiviral medications) that suppress the growth of the virus. There are two types of medication, oral and ointment, and they are used according to the symptoms and degree of infection. Although the disease can be cured spontaneously by one's own immune system, it is not uncommon for the symptoms to become stronger or recur repeatedly, so treatment by a specialist is recommended.
What is Syphilis?
It is caused by infection with the bacterium syphilis treponema. A red, hard lump or sore develops at the site of infection, such as the genitals or mouth, and the nearby lymph nodes become swollen. If left untreated for a long time, it can affect the heart, blood vessels, brain, etc., and in the worst case, lead to death.
Syphilis Testing
A blood sample is taken and tested six weeks after the suspected infection.
When antigens (pathogens) enter the body, bodies produce antibodies to fight them. In the syphilis testing, the presence or absence of infection is determined by detecting the antibodies produced in the body by infection with the causative organism (syphilis treponema).
It is treated with oral or intravenous penicillin. Treatment is possible even if a long period of time has passed since infection, but in many cases, treatment is prolonged. It is advisable to start treatment within 3 months of infection. If treated early, it is a relatively curable STD.
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is an infectious disease caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV).
Hepatitis B is an inflammation (hepatitis) caused by HBV infection of the liver. There are two types of hepatitis B: acute and chronic. Acute hepatitis is caused by sexual intercourse with an infected person, while chronic hepatitis is often caused by HBV carriers or mother-to-child transmission, and subjective symptoms are rarely seen. In the case of acute cases, most patients recover spontaneously by resting. For chronic cases, antiviral medications are taken.
Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C is an infectious disease caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV).
Hepatitis C is a liver disease that develops through the blood or bodily fluids of a person infected with HCV, and is a factor in the progression to chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and liver cancer. It is also characterized by a lack of subjective symptoms, with generalized lethargy, fever, and loss of appetite being the first signs of infection. The basic treatment is to take antiviral medications.
What is AIDS (HIV)?
AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) develops after an incubation period of about 10 years due to infection with the AIDS virus (HIV). Once the disease develops, it progresses chronically and causes immunodeficiency, leading to various infections and malignant tumors. Eventually, the disease leads to death, but nowadays, with the advancement of treatment methods, it is possible to suppress the onset of HIV infection and prolong life for a long time even after the onset of AIDS. In addition, if you have other STDs, your mucous membranes become inflamed and your skin and mucous membranes lose their resistance, which is said to increase the rate of HIV infection by three to five times.
AIDS (HIV) Testing
When a person is infected with HIV, HIV increases in the body, and antibodies against HIV are produced. The most common HIV testing is the antibody testing, which checks for the presence of antibodies against HIV in the blood. In addition, in order to detect infection at an earlier stage, there is the Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAT test), which examines the viral genes when HIV begins to multiply, the antigen testing, which examines the proteins that form HIV, and the simultaneous antigen-antibody testing, which measures both antibodies and antigens at the same time. Both of these tests are performed by drawing a blood sample.
HIV infection is not a disease that progresses rapidly, so once it is discovered that a person is infected, the first step is to check the general health of the patient and determine the appropriate time to start treatment. Treatment is mainly based on medication that inhibits the growth of HIV (anti-HIV medication).
What is Condyloma Acuminatum?
It is caused by infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV). There are various types of human papillomaviruses, but the types that cause condyloma acuminatum are mainly known as types 6 and 11. Many pointed wart-like tumors appear around the genitals and anus, sometimes looking like a cauliflower.
Condyloma Acuminatum Testing
Diagnosis is made by visual examination of the infected area (vulva, anus, inside the anus, urethral opening, vagina and cervix, etc.). After infection, it usually takes three weeks to eight months (average about three months) for multiple papillary, corpuscle, and cabbage-shaped tumors (warts) to appear on visual examination. In some cases, the warts are removed and histological examination is performed.
Pharmacotherapy
It is a treatment with an ointment called "Veselna Cream 5%". It suppresses the growth of the virus that causes condyloma and also destroys the virus-infected cells. Apply a small amount to the affected area (wart area) once a day, three times a week, every other day, before going to bed. Upon waking (6-10 hours later), rinse off the applied medication with warm or cold water and soap.
What are Crab Louses?
It is caused by a blood-sucking worm called crab louse, which is about one to two millimeter long and parasitizes hairy areas. It is most commonly infected by direct contact with the genital area and genital hair through sexual contact, but can also be infected indirectly through clothing and bedding. The main symptom is a strong itching sensation that appears at the site of the parasite.
Diagnosis of Crab Louses
Diagnosis is based on the presence of worm bodies and eggs on the skin, genital area, and hair. Treatment is able to be done with powders or shampoos containing phenothrin, or by shaving the parasitic area to remove crab louses. If you have a partner, be sure to treat together.