That probably contributed to what is sometimes known as the hidden epidemic ofasymptomatic STIs.
Because many STIs have no symptoms, the only way to detect them is through testing.
When people aren’t tested regularly, they can spread STIs to their partners without even knowing it.
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Urine testing makes it easier for people to undergo STI testing as part of their regular medical care.
Note, however, that STI testing is still not a standard part of most annual exams.
Urine Testing vs. Bacterial Culture
Urine testing is currently primarily used to detect bacterial STIs.
Chlamydia and gonorrhea urine tests are widely available.
Trichomoniasis urine tests are also available, but they are less common.
That involved attempting to grow bacteria out of samples that were taken directly from the cervix or urethra.
These days, bacterial DNA testing is considered a better option.It works differently than a bacterial culture.
Instead of trying to grow bacteria, these tests just look for bacterial DNA.
These types of testing are sensitive to even very small amounts of bacterial DNA.
Even better, they do not require a live bacterial sample.
As such, they can be run on urine samplesnot just urethral or cervical swabs.
It’s also possible to test for these STIs using a urine test at home.
With theseat-home STI tests, you collect your own sample and send it to a lab.
Results are typically available online within days.
Before the Test
You do not need any special preparation for a urine STI test.
Ask why the specific tests have been chosen.
Some offices only call when test results are positive.
You will be asked to pee into a sample collection cup or tube.
That tube or cup will be given to one of the medical staff.
Your urine sample will then be sent out to a lab or tested at the clinic.
Interpreting Results
Urine STI test results to identify bacterial DNA are usually available within hours.
One test called the XPert CT/NG, provides results within 90 minutes.
A positive test result means that you are infected with that STI and should be treated.
Urine STI testing is not a one-time thing.
You could get infected in your next sexual encounter.
In fact, it’s been shown thatself-collectedvaginal swabs are closer in effectiveness toclinician-collectedcervical swabs than urine testing.
Overall, science suggests that urine testing still does a pretty good job of finding most infected individuals.
However, some other STI tests still do require either a physical examination or a blood draw.
Urine Tests for Oral and Anal Infections
Most infections with gonorrhea and chlamydia are asymptomatic.
In men, these diseases usually infect the urethra, and in women the cervix.
However, it is possible to get both of these diseases in the throat, from oral sex.
Anal sex can also lead to rectal chlamydia and rectal gonorrhea infections.
Neither rectal nor oral/throat infections will be detected by urine testing.
That’s because these urine tests can only detect infection in the area they sample.
It is therefore important to let your healthcare provider know if you have unprotected oral or anal sex.
Testing should be done separately for those sites.
Other people who regularly have unprotected oral or anal sex should consider a similar screening regimen.
People who only engage in vaginal intercourse can get by with urine testing alone for gonorrhea and chlamydia.
Risks and Contraindications
Urine testing is completely safe.
There are no circumstances under which urine STI testing is inadvisable.
However, there are other STIs that can be tested for this way.
Trichomoniasis
Trichomoniasisurine tests are becoming more widely available.
Like gonorrhea and chlamydia, trichomoniasis is a very common, curable STI.
Urine testing is one option for doing that.
Other
There are no commercial urine tests available for syphilis or herpes.
Oral and blood samples are far more likely to be used for HIV testing.
There is even a home test for HIV that uses saliva samples.
However, newer studies suggest that some urine tests may actually be better at picking up certain infections.
Even when they’re not superior, FDA-approved urine tests are more than good enough in most circumstances.
Furthermore, the tests continue to get better with time.
However, it ismuchbetter than not getting tested at all.
Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts.At-home STI testing.
Food and Drug Administration.FDA clears first diagnostic tests for extragenital testing for chlamydia and gonorrhea.
2015;10(7):e0132776.
2017;39(1):25-31.
