How Are STD Tests Performed on Women?

About STD Testing

STD (Sexually Transmitted Disease) testing is different for each infection, and the majority of it is the same for women and men. Blood testing, tissue sampling, discharge sampling and superficial physical exams are sex neutral. A pelvic examination is the one type of STD test that is only performed on women.

Blood can be drawn to test for PID (Pelvic Inflammatory Disease), which is an STD that is specific to women. Blood tests can also be used to diagnose HIV/AIDS, cytomegalovirus, hepatitis B, herpes and syphilis.
With the exception of hepatitis B and cytomegalovirus, all of these STDs, including PID, can be tested for without a blood test. PID can be identified during a pelvic exam; AIDS/HIV can be tested for with a cheek swab; and syphilis and herpes can be identified by their sores and a swab test.

Cotton swabs and other instruments can be used to take cell tissue samples and samples of discharge from the affected area. Swabbing is a useful test for many STDs, including: bacterial vaginosis and PID---which are specific to women, chlamydia, gonorrhea, HPV (Human Papillomavirus), syphilis, scabies and trichomoniasis.

A pelvic exam is also known as an internal exam, and this is a specific STD test for women. Here, the woman sits on an exam table and puts her feet into metal stirrups. A paper cloth will be given to cover her stomach, genitals and legs, to make the woman feel less exposed.
The health professional will first look at the outside of your vagina, examining for any abnormalities and asking you about any problems with your period or any other concerns with the area.
Next, s/he will insert a metal speculum into the vagina, and will open it slightly to look at the inside of the vagina and the cervix. This exam is particularly useful to identify bacterial vaginosis (BV) and PID. A sampling be taken from the cervix, using a cotton swab, to test for BV, PID and HPV.
Finally, a bimanual exam will be performed. The health care professional will insert two fingers into the vagina and will palpate the stomach, feeling for any pain, for the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries.