How are STDs diagnosed?
If your doctor suspects that you may be infected with a sexually transmitted disease, he or she will ask how many sexual partners you have had, and if any of them have had an STD. Then, your doctor will perform an examination focusing on your genital area. He or she also will examine your anal area, and perform a pelvic exam in women. In addition, your doctor may swab the tip of the penis in men, or take a sample of any cervical discharge in women. The specimens are sent to a laboratory for testing. Similar measures may be done with any visible sores. Rarely, your doctor may use a needle to obtain a sample from inside a swollen lymph gland to confirm a specific diagnosis. Your doctor may make an initial diagnosis based on the results of your physical examination. For example, painful sores would suggest genital herpes, while painless ulcers might indicate syphilis. In this way, you can begin treatment for your infection as soon as possible, even before results of laboratory tests are a
