Does Planned Parenthood Treat Kidney Infections

What Does The Test Result Mean

What Are STDs And How Are They Transmitted | Planned Parenthood Video

A positive test indicates you have an active chlamydia infection that requires treatment with antibiotics.

A negative test means only that there is no evidence of infection at the time of the test. If you are at an increased risk, it is important that you have screening tests performed yearly to check for possible infection, especially since re-infection is common, particularly among teenagers.

If you are infected, your sexual partner should be tested and treated as well.

Medical Treatment For Kidney Infections

Antibiotics are always the first line of defense against a kidney infection. If the kidney infection isnt severe, a doctor will likely give you oral antibiotics to take once or twice a day for 7 to 14 days.

Its important to take the entire course of antibiotics, even if you feel better within several days. Stopping early could lead to antibiotic resistance or re-infection. A doctor will also encourage you to drink plenty of water.

In some cases, kidney infections may require going to the hospital. Youll be given fluids and antibiotics intravenously through an IV, both of which can help treat the infection.

In addition, lab work and imaging may be done to determine the severity of the infection as well as the cause, such as a blockage due to a kidney stone or anatomical abnormality.

If you have recurring UTIs that increase your risk of frequent kidney infections, a doctor will help you establish the cause of their frequency and help you prevent further infections from occurring.

What Stis Should People Test For

Typically, sexual health clinics test for the more common STIs, such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis. If people know that a previous partner has tested positive for a specific STI, it is advisable to get tested for the same STI. A person can also discuss their sexual and STI testing history with a healthcare provider, who can offer help and suggestions about appropriate tests.

To get a reliable test result, people should perform the test within a specific timeframe after exposure due to incubation periods. Below are some common STIs and their

notes that at-home testing kits are becoming more available and are likely to contribute to higher rates of testing and treatments.

Individuals have many options for STI testing, some of which include:

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Common Side Effects With Antibiotic Use

Each antibiotic is responsible for its own unique list of side effects, and the list is usually extensive. Be sure to discuss your individual antibiotic side effects with your healthcare provider. However, there are side effects that are common to most antibiotics, regardless of class or drug:

How Does The Telemedicine App Work

In states where the app is live, you sign in for the state where youre located and note whether you are age 14 or older. If you are, the app asks if you are seeking birth control or UTI treatment, have a question, or want to make an appointment. There is also information in the app about how to learn about different health issues, including abortion, cancer, emergency contraception, general health and wellness, pregnancy, sex and relationships, sexual orientation and gender, and sexually transmitted infections. You can also find information about tracking menstrual periods and ovulation, health insurance, and the services Planned Parenthood offers.

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Cost Of Chlamydia Treatment Without Insurance

Chlamydia is one of the most common bacterial STDs and is easily treated with antibiotics. Chlamydia is usually treated with one dose of a strong oral antibiotic. The cost of a one-gram dose of the generic antibiotic azithromycin is about $30, and for the brand-name equivalent, Zithromax, the cost is about $50 without insurance.

Virginia Planned Parenthood Launches New Mobile App To Expand Birth Control Access

By: Katie O’Connor– May 8, 2019 3:45 pm

Image via Pixabay

Since October, about 1,000 Virginia patients have accessed either birth control or urinary-tract infection treatment from their smart phones, thanks to the Virginia League for Planned Parenthoods new app.

Patients can download the app which was developed by the national Planned Parenthood organization and fill out a health questionnaire just as they would if they went into the doctors office, said Medical Director Shanthi Ramesh. Then a clinician reviews health information within one business day before sending a prescription either to the patients home or their designated pharmacy if they are eligible for medication.

For us, the app was really a no-brainer in terms of reaching populations for whom its hard to get to the office, Ramesh said. Were open in person seven days a week, but even still it can be hard to get the time off of work and school.

Patients log into the app at all hours, she said, even in the middle of the night. And though the organization only has locations in Richmond and Hampton Roads, patients from all over the state have used it.

Right now Planned Parenthood offers virtual access for only birth control pills and urinary-tract infection medication, but eventually it will expand to additional forms of birth control, such as rings and patches, as well as emergency contraception.

by Katie O’Connor, Virginia MercuryMay 8, 2019

Telemedicine Features Are Part Of The Reaction To Defunding

STD Testing – How To Know If You Have An STD | Planned Parenthood Video

In August, Planned Parenthood stopped being a part of the federal Title X grant program, which helps provide birth control and womens health services to low-income women the nonprofit would not limit sharing information about abortion to its patients, per a federal ruling on Title X funding.

While the apps development is not a direct response to the Title X decision, its availability helps the nonprofit ensure that as many people as possible including Title Xeligible patients get the care they need.

South Carolinas Std Problem Has A Lot To Do With Stigma

Category:

South Carolina laws have kept comprehensive sex-ed out of school. But the law isnt the only reason South Carolina has an STD problem. To name our larger societal ill: Stigma.

So that we all have an understanding of what I mean when I say stigma, here is the definition I am working with: a shared understanding that having an STD is morally wrong and/or socially unacceptable.

Heres an example of what I mean when I say, shared understanding and socially unacceptable:

Imagine you are at a dinner party with friends. This is a group of friends youve known for a while and with whom you feel close. One of your friends mentions that shes been on antibiotics for a sinus infection. She complains about the pain around her nose and eyes. Maybe she even grumbles about the side effects of her antibiotic.

Now imagine one of your other friends piping in with, Ugh, I feel you! I had chlamydia last week and Im also on antibiotics!

Take a moment to honestly ask yourself: how would you react in this situation? Do you consider a sinus infection and a chlamydia infection on the same level? If no, why not? Would you be able to announce to a group of friends a recent STD diagnosis?

There is an unspoken understanding that STDs are somehow different from other infections. And if you were to present your friends with this hypothetical scenario, there is a good chance they would your same instincts.

So, what can be done?

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Planned Parenthood Releases Std Home Testing App

Impatient

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Under the Affordable Care Act, some women who visit an in-network provider can get preventive chlamydia and gonorrhea screenings, without having to pay a copayment or coinsurance or meet a deductible. The law also says that higher-risk men and women can get preventive counseling for sexually transmitted diseases at no extra cost.

But for many people, there are still barriers to getting an STD test.

Theres still a lot of embarrassment and shame around the potential of having an STD, says Amy Rosenfeld, director of communications for Planned Parenthood Los Angeles. People even delay getting treatment, or coming in to see a doctor, because of that stigma.

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How Do Health Care Professionals Treat Kidney Infections

If you have a kidney infection, a health care professional will prescribe antibiotics. Even before your test results are in, the health care professional may prescribe an antibiotic that fights the most common types of bacteria. Although you may feel relief from your symptoms, make sure to take the entire antibiotic treatment that your health care professional prescribes.

Once your lab results are in, the health care professional may switch the antibiotic to one that better treats the type of infection you have. You may take these antibiotics by mouth, through a vein in your arm, called by IV, or both.

If you are very sick from your kidney infection, you may go to a hospital for bed rest. A health care professional may give you fluids through an IV.

If something such as a kidney stone or an enlarged prostate is blocking your urinary tract, a doctor can sometimes treat the problem with surgery or another procedure.

Planned Parenthood App Helps Deliver Birth Control Uti Medication

DENVER A new app by Planned Parenthood allows women to get birth control delivered to their door. The app also helps deliver treatment for urinary tract infections.

They can be sitting in their living room, they can be in their car on their lunch break, said Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains Medical Director, Dr. Kristina Tocce.

Like an office evaluation, she said, the app walks women through a set of questions. The women submit their answers and a Planned Parenthood provider responds within 24 hours.

When people have barriers to health care, they often have to delay care or forgo care altogether and so the more we can meet patients where they are, the healthier patients are going to be, said Tocce.

Dana Gutwein said it makes life easier for busy moms like her. She has two kids, two dogs and works inside and outside the home.

It feels like every day is just a total scramble rush from the time we wake up to the time we go to bed, said Gutwein.

Squeezing in time to go to the doctor for a birth control prescription, she said, is difficult, For each appointment, its time away from work or getting a babysitter. I would love to just be able to do that in a faster easier way because Ive got to have it.

Now, she can. Theres an app for that.

It seems like such a small thing but its going to make a big difference for me and many other women in Colorado.

First published on August 30, 2019 / 11:10 PM

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What Do I Need To Know If Im Treating Trichomoniasis

If youre getting treated for trich:

Take all of your medication the way your doctor tells you to.
Your partner should also get treated so you dont re-infect each other or anyone else. Your doctor may give you a separate dose of antibiotics to give to your partner. Make sure you both take all of the medication you get.
Dont have sex again for about a week after you finish your medicine. It takes that long for the medicine to work to get rid of the trich in your body. When you get the medicine, ask your nurse or doctor when it would be OK to have sex again.
Dont share your medicine with anyone.
Its possible to get a new trich infection again if youre exposed in the future. So use condoms and get tested regularly.

Home Remedies And Treatments For Kidney Infections

Some people prefer to treat medical conditions with home remedies or complementary remedies.

Because of how serious kidney infections are, its important that you dont rely on home remedies. Instead, take the prescription antibiotics a doctor gives you and use home remedies to help ease symptoms or pain.

You can also use home remedies to avoid UTIs and improve kidney function.

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Can I Treat A Uti Without Antibiotics

UTI treatment without antibiotics is NOT usually recommended. An early UTI, such as a bladder infection , can worsen over time, leading to a more severe kidney infection . However, a small study has suggested early, mild UTIs might clear up on their own. Its always best to check with your doctor if you are having UTI symptoms.

Pregnant women should always see a doctor as soon as possible if they suspect they might have a UTI, as this can lead to a greater risk of delivering a low birth weight or premature infant.

Take An Epsom Salt Bath

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Both Epsom salts and warm water can ease pain. This can help make the uncomfortable side effects of the kidney infection a little more tolerable while you wait for the antibiotics to take effect.

Since abdominal pain is sometimes a symptom of antibiotics, as well as kidney infections, Epsom salts could also help even after symptoms from the kidney infection are resolved.

If You Have Any Of These Symptoms

If you have any of these symptoms, schedule an appointment at your local Planned Parenthood health center to get tested and treated for the UTI. If a bladder infection goes untreated, the infection can spread to the kidneys, leading to worsened symptoms such as chills, shaking, night sweats, a fever over 101F, and nausea and vomiting.

Only your healthcare provider can tell you if your symptoms are a result of a UTI or if they are symptoms of another problem, such as a sexually transmitted infection. Make your appointment at Planned Parenthood to get tested and ensure you get the best treatment.

What Is A Uti

A urinary tract infection, or UTI, refers to a bacterial infection in any part of your urinary system, including the urethra, bladder, ureters, and kidneys. Most UTIs affect the lower urinary tract, comprising the urethra and bladder. UTIs can become more severe as they reach the kidneys.

Symptoms of a urinary tract infection include:

A frequent, persistent urge to urinate
Burning sensation or pain when urinating
Frequently passing small amounts of urine
Urine appearing cloudy, red, bright pink, or cola-colored
Urine that has a strong smell

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Does Yogurt Prevent Or Treat Yeast Infections

Maybe. Studies suggest that eating eight ounces of yogurt with live cultures daily or taking Lactobacillus acidophilus capsules can help prevent infection.4,5

But, more research still needs to be done to say for sure if yogurt with Lactobacillus or other probiotics can prevent or treat vaginal yeast infections. If you think you have a yeast infection, see your doctor or nurse to make sure before taking any over-the-counter medicine.

Where You Can Get Treated:

We’d recommend seeing your in-person doctor or going into urgent care.

If you don’t have a primary care doctor or don’t have insurance, start with Planned Parenthood or a low cost Federally Qualified Health Center .

You can find a FQHC here. They can help get you set up with low cost primary care with or without insurance.

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What Do I Need To Know If I Get Treated For Chlamydia

If youre getting treated for chlamydia:

Take all of your medicine the way your nurse or doctor tells you to, even if any symptoms you may be having go away sooner. The infection stays in your body until you finish the antibiotics.
Your partner should also get treated for chlamydia so you dont re-infect each other or anyone else.
Dont have sex for 7 days. If you only have 1 dose of medication, wait for 7 days after you take it before having sex. If youre taking medicine for 7 days, dont have sex until youve finished all of your pills.
Get tested again in 3-4 months to make sure your infection is gone.
Dont share your medicine with anyone. Your nurse or doctor may give you a separate dose of antibiotics for your partner. Make sure you both take all of the medicine you get.
Even if you finish your treatment and the chlamydia is totally gone, its possible to get a new chlamydia infection again if youre exposed in the future. Chlamydia isnt a one-time-only deal. So use condoms and get tested regularly.

How Do I Know If I Have An Std

STD symptoms can differ between males and females, but if you experience any of the symptoms listed above, you may have an STD, and you should contact your doctor immediately. The most common difference between male and female STD symptoms is where the pain is felt. In women, the pain is felt in the belly, while men tend to experience testicular pain with some STDs. The sooner your condition is diagnosed, the sooner it can be treated. This prevents the infection from causing any further discomfort or damage to your reproductive organs. Early testing also prevents you from spreading the disease to more people.

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