This Health Startup Just Launched At-Home STD Tests
Talking to your significant other about getting tested for STDs is an important step in any relationship. Unfortunately, it’s also one that most couples skip. But with reported STDs at an all-time high (nearly half of US men have genital HPV), there’s never been a better time to get over your embarrassment and start chatting about sexual health with your partner.
Since most people are still a little squeamish about heading to the clinic, digital health start-up EverlyWell decided to make it even easier to get tested by launching an awesome at-home sexual health test kit.
The kit costs $249 and enables you to screen for a ton of STDs, including chlamydia, hepatitis C, syphilis, gonorrhea, herpes type two, HIV, and trichomonas vaginalis, all from the comfort of your apartment.
“With STD rates reaching an all-time record high in the United States, it’s important to us to help make STD testing a hassle-free and frequent part of everyone’s sexual health,” said EverlyWell’s CEO and cofounder Julia Cheek. “Consumers today want more information about their health without the cumbersome, time-consuming, expensive, and confusing process of traditional lab testing, and today we’re excited to give people a consumer-friendly option for discreet testing.”
Along with easy-to-understand instructions, the kit comes in discreet packaging (AKA your roommate will have no idea what’s really arrived at your doorstep). After sending your kit back to the lab, you should receive your results online in just a few days. If your results are abnormal, you’ll be able to schedule a no-cost consultation with a physician to discuss your options.
While we’re a little bummed that sexual health testing is still majorly stigmatized, we’re really excited about having more convenient testing options for busy ladies. Seriously, why didn’t anyone think of this sooner?!
Would you take an at-home STD test? Tweet us @BritandCo!
(Photos via Getty and EverlyWell)
