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Getting Tested For STIs:
Fast Facts
  • ANYONE who has any kind of sex with a partner can get a sexually transmitted infection (STI). And since many STIs have no signs or symptoms in most people, the only way to know if you have an STI is to get tested.
  • Even if an STI has no noticeable symptoms, it can cause long-term health damage, so testing is essential to find and treat infections.
  • There are many options for testing, including options that are low cost or free. You can even test for many infections at home.
When should I get tested?
What tests are recommended?
Where can I get tested?
What happens during testing?
How much does testing cost?

If you’re sexually active, getting tested for STIs is an important part of staying healthy. ANYONE who has any kind of sex with a partner can get an STI. And since many STIs have no signs or symptoms in most people, the only way to know if you have an STI is to get tested.

Even if an infection is “silent,” with no noticeable symptoms, it can cause long-term health damage. For example, when a bacterial STI like chlamydia or gonorrhea is undiagnosed and untreated, it can lead to other health issues, such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and, potentially, infertility.

This is why getting tested—and treated, if needed—is so important. It protects your health and the health of your partner(s).

When Should I Get Tested, and for Which STIs?

Always see a health care provider right away for testing if you have any symptoms such as genital itching, sores, or discharge. These are common signs of a number of STIs, but they could also be a sign of other medical conditions. Testing is the only way to know what’s causing your symptoms (and it’s the first step to getting you the relief you need).

Most people who are sexually active should get screened for STIs even if they don’t have symptoms. Which STIs you should screen for and how often is different for everyone. Screening guidelines are based on things like your age, your gender, your biological sex, who you have sex with, what kinds of sex you have (oral, anal, or vaginal), and whether you’ve had an STI recently.

The best thing to do is ask your health care provider. Before they answer, they will probably ask you a lot of question about your sexual history. They’re not just being nosy. These answers help them decide what tests might be right for you (so be honest).

Figuring out exactly which tests to get and how often can be a little confusing. See the chart below for some testing recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or visit the CDC website for more detailed information.

In the meantime, here are some basic pieces of advice we can all follow. Get tested when:

  • you have symptoms
  • you are about to have sex with a new partner (you can get tested together!)
  • have multiple sexual partners
  • a current or former sexual partner told you that they have a STI

What Tests are Recommended for You?

What should you get tested for? When? How often? Below are some testing recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). There are more detailed recommendations at the CDC website. While these guidelines are general ones, you are an individual. The health care provider you visit may have different recommendations based on your individual health status and history.

CDC recommends yearly chlamydia testing for:

  • Sexually active women under 25 years of age. Retesting should be done three months after treatment.
  • Sexually active women 25 years of age and older if if they have a new partner, or if they have an increased chance of being exposed to chlamydia (e.g. have more than one sex partner, a sex partner with concurrent partners, use condoms inconsistently when not in a mutually monogamous relationship, have a history of transactional sex work, or have a history of incarceration). Retesting should be done three months after treatment.
  • Men who have sex with men (MSM)
  • People living with HIV

Additional recommendations include:

  • Rectal testing for some women based on reported sexual behaviors and exposure, as well as for MSM
  • Testing for in the first trimester for pregnant women younger than 25 and for older pregnant women who have a new partner or an increased chance of exposure to chlamydia (see above). Retesting should be done in the third trimester.
  • More frequent testing (every 3 to 6 months) for MSM on PrEP, with HIV infection, or if they or their sex partners have multiple partners.
  • For transgender or gender diversion persons, screening recommendations should be adapted based on anatomy.

CDC recommends yearly gonorrhea testing for:

  • Sexually active women under 25 years of age. Retesting should be done three months after treatment.
  • Sexually active women 25 years of age and older if if they have a new partner, or if they have an increased chance of being exposed to gonorrhea (e.g. have more than one sex partner, a sex partner with concurrent partners, use condoms inconsistently when not in a mutually monogamous relationship, have a history of transactional sex work, or have a history of incarceration). Retesting should be done three months after treatment.
  • Men who have sex with men (MSM)
  • People living with HIV

Additional recommendations include:

  • Rectal and pharyngeal (throat) testing for some women based on reported sexual behaviors and exposure, as well as for MSM
  • Testing for in the first trimester for pregnant women younger than 25 and for older pregnant women who have a new partner or an increased chance of exposure to chlamydia (see above). Retesting should be done in the third trimester.
  • More frequent testing (every 3 to 6 months) for MSM on PrEP, with HIV infection, or if they or their sex partners have multiple partners
  • For transgender or gender diversion persons, screening recommendations should be adapted based on anatomy.
  • The CDC recommends that everyone aged 13 to 64 should be tested for HIV at least once. Most HIV is transmitted by the 25% of infected people who do not realize they are infected.
  • Sexually active MSM may benefit from more frequent HIV testing (e.g. every 3 to 6 months).
  • All pregnant women should be tested at their first prenatal visit. Women who may be more likely to be exposed to HIV (due to having having STIs during pregnancy, having multiple sex partners during pregnancy, having a new sex partner during pregnancy, living in an area with high HIV prevalence, or having partners with HIV) should be retested in their third trimester.

CDC recommends syphilis testing for:

  • All pregnant women at their first prenatal visit. Women who have an increased chance of being exposed to syphilis (due to substance use, STIs during pregnancy, multiple partners, a new partner, or a partner with STIs) should retest at 28 weeks of pregnancy. Syphilis during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage, low birth weight, premature delivery or stillbirth, death shortly after birth, and/or lifelong health issues.
  • Women and men who have a history of incarceration or transactional sex work or who live in an area where syphilis rates are high.
  • Men who have sex with women and are age younger than 29.

Annual testing is recommended for:

  • Men who have sex with men (MSM
  • People living with HIV

Human papillomavirus (HPV) screening is recommended for anyone with a cervix, starting at either age 21 or 25. CDC recommends:

  • Screening with a Pap test every three years from age 21 to 29
  • Screening with either a Pap test every three years, HPV primary test every five years, or co-test (Pap and HPV testing together) every five years

The American Cancer Society guidelines, updated in December 2025, are slightly different. They recommend primary HPV testing, every 5 years, as the preferred screening option, starting at age 25. Beyond this option, they recommend:

The best type of screening is whatever type is available to you. Most cases of cervical cancer are in people who have fallen behind these screening schedules. Cervical cancer can be preventing by early diagnosis and treatment. The HPV vaccine can also prevent cervical cancer and other types of HPV-related cancer. 

Herpes testing isn’t recommended routinely like other STIs (such as chlamydia and gonorrhea). It is only people who have symptoms or concerns, such as a partner with herpes.

CDC says that blood tests might be useful for people who:

  • have genital symptoms that could be related to herpes
  • have (or have had) a sex partner with genital herpes
  • have been told by a provider that they have signs of herpes but need a test to confirm it

A blood test will tell whether or not a person has HSV-1, HSV-2, or both. If a person tests positive for HSV-2, it is virtually always a genital infection. If a person tests positive for HSV-1, it may be either an oral or genital infection. The blood test can only identify the virus type, not the site of the infection. 

When a person has active herpes lesions (a.k.a. blisters, sores), a swab can be taken and tests can done that can detect the virus directly. A Nucleic Acid Amplification Testing (NAAT) can identify the specific herpes virus type someone is infected with (HSV-1 or HSV-2).

Where Can I Get Tested?

Most regular health care providers and gynecologists offer STI testing. While some providers might include STI screening as part of a yearly check-up, others don’t test at all unless you ask them to—so make sure to ask!

If you don’t have a regular healthcare provider, you can search for a clinic that offers testing near you. Just enter your zip code to find a local testing site.

You can also test for STIs at home. Test kits are available in most pharmacies, or you can order them from any number of online companies. There are also programs in some areas that offer free test kits for you to use at home.

Most home tests ask you to collect samples and send them to a lab. You should get your results in about a week. There are home tests for HIV and a new test for syphilis that give you results in 15-20 minutes.

Yes. Most regular health care providers and gynecologists offer STI testing. If you already have a regular doctor or other health care provider, it probably makes sense to talk to them first. Your provider will help you decide what STI tests are best and take all the samples they need.

This keeps all of your care in one place and makes follow-up care easy. It’s also usually covered by your existing insurance. 

Your provider will keep your results confidential, but if you share health insurance with anyone (a parent or a partner), they might be notified about the visit.

Next steps: Call your provider’s office and make an appointment or ask to speak to the nurse if you have further questions.

How to talk to your provider

If you don’t have a regular health care provider, there are other options for in-person STI testing.

  • If you have insurance, you can look at urgent care centers near you. The same places you might go if you think you have strep throat or a sprained ankle often do STI testing. Many urgent care centers offer walk-in testing without an appointment.
  • If you don’t have insurance or don’t want to use your insurance, there are likely clinics in your area that offer testing for free or low-cost testing or use a sliding scale for payment based on what you can afford.

These in-person providers can easily offer follow-up care if you do test positive for any STIs.

Next steps: Search for an urgent care in your area or click the button below to find a clinic or a Planned Parenthood location.

Find a clinic near you

The answer to this question is different for everyone because it can depend on factors like your age and your behavior. For example, younger people, especially women, are biologically more susceptible to STIs. Additionally, certain groups (like men who have sex men) may have higher STI rates in their communities. If a person has multiple sexual partners, they may also need to test more often.

In general, everyone should be tested for HIV at least once in their lives and anyone who is sexually active should be tested for most STIs about once a year. Some people may want to be tested more frequently if they have multiple partners and some people may need fewer tests because they have only one partner and are sure their partner doesn’t have any other partners. Check for an explanation of CDC’s specific recommendation for each STI.

See what tests are recommended

If you don’t have insurance or don’t want to use your insurance, there are likely clinics in your area that offer free or low-cost testing or use a sliding scale for payment based on what you can afford.

There are also health departments and programs across the country that will send free at home test kits for HIV and/or other STIs. There are other programs that offer free HIV and/or test kits by mail. Unfortunately, free test kits may not be available in all areas.

Next steps: Click the button below to find a clinic or a Planned Parenthood location.

Find free or low cost care
Yes (but…). In-person providers and at-home testing companies keep your test results confidential, but if you’re worried about privacy there are a few things you should know.
  • If you use your insurance to pay for testing, the insurance company may send a statement to the primary person on the account (often a parent or partner). The statement wouldn’t include your results, but it could alert them to the visit and the fact that you had some testing done.
  • Also, positive results for certain STIs have to be reported to your state’s health department because their job is to prevent outbreaks. The reporting requirements vary by state but usually include syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, chancroid, and HIV. The health department may follow up with you.
  • The health department may also ask for the names of your current or past partners to help them get treatment if needed. If they do contact a partner, the health department will not give out your name.
  • If you are under 18, some states allow providers to share test results with your parents. Ask your provider about privacy between you and your parents.
Things to think about: Who might get a statement from the insurance company? Who might be home with the test kit arrives?

Yes. There are now tests kits for all of the most common STIs. You can pick up a test kit in our pharmacy or order one through the mail. The kit will contain detailed instructions and everything you need to collect samples (this could be urine samples, blood samples, or swabs of your penis, vagina, anus or mouth).

Most home tests ask you to send the samples back to a lab. You should get your results in about a week. There are home tests for HIV and a test for syphilis that give you results in 15-20 minutes.

Things to think about: Do you want to do all of the testing yourself in the privacy of your own home or are you more comfortable be guided by a health care provider? Are you squeamish about blood or hesitant to take a blood sample by yourself?

Lots of places. There are so many places to get at-home tests. You might want to start by checking if there are free or low-cost home test kits offered in your area. You can also ask your health care provider if they offer tests kits, as some offices and clinics do. Many local health departments also offer tests that can be taken at home.

You can go to your local pharmacy to get tests, or you can buy one from any number of places online. The American Sexual Health Association has partnered with Diagnostics Your Way to offer easy access to home sexual health testing.

Things to think about: How much does the test kit cost? Am I testing for the right STIs? Is there anyone at home who might open the test kit package I order online?

See ASHA's Home Test Products

If you choose to test at home, you may be asked to swab your own genitals, mouth, or anus. You may also have to collect a urine sample or provide a blood sample.

With home testing, blood samples are usually done by pricking your finger. Some tests require more than one drop of blood, so you might have to prick multiple fingers. (Don’t worry—the test kit will come with specific instructions.)

Things to think about: How comfortable are you collecting your own samples? Swabbing your genitals is easy, but it does make some people uncomfortable. How comfortable are you with blood or urine? Blood samples at home may require multiple finger sticks and you may have transfer your pee from the cup into a different container.

It varies. Unfortunately, it can be hard to know in advance how fast you will get your results whether you test in person or at home.

In some cases, you can get your results right away. Some providers offices and clinics offer “point-of-care testing.” This means they have the machines they need to process your results on site. You may get your results back within about 30 minutes.

Some at-home testing kits also offer quick results. There are kits for HIV and syphilis that let you to test your own sample and give you a result in 20 minutes. There is also a new at-home test for gonorrhea, chlamydia, and trich. This test is only available for women. It costs $149 and comes with a one-time use testing device. You also need to download an app on your phone in order to get your results.

Most providers, however, send your sample to a lab and most test kit companies have you send your samples back to their lab. In this case, it could take a a few days to a week or more to get the results back.

Next steps: You can ask your health care provider whether they have point-of-care testing and/or how long results take to come back. If you’re buying a test kit online, see what the company says about how long results usually take and look at some online reviews.

Don’t panic. You are not alone; millions of people test positive for STI every year. All STIs can be treated, and many can be cured. The most important thing is that you get treated as soon as possible.

If you test in person, the provider you see will tell you how to get the follow up care you need. They may just be able to send a prescription to a pharmacy, or they may want to see you again.

Test kit companies will also help you find the follow up care you need. Many offer telehealth appointments to people who test positive. These online providers can prescribe medication if you need it.

In some cases, you may require in-person follow-up care either for treatment or additional tests. Most test kit companies will help you find care in your area, or you could contact your own health care provider or look for a clinic in your area.

Next steps: Get the follow up care you need! Untreated STIs can lead to long-term health issues. We know you care about your sexual health, because you are thinking about getting tested. If you test positive, it’s really important to take that next step.

Unsure whether to test in person or at home? Consider some of the pros and cons of each.

Testing in person

  • A provider helps you decide what tests you need
  • A provider collects all the samples for you
  • You know exactly where to go if you need follow-up care
  • Usually covered by insurance or offered at free/low-cost clinics
  • Other people on your insurance plan may get paperwork that tells them you were tested
  • Have to find time and transportation to a provider’s office

Testing at home

  • You can test in private in your own home
  • You test at a time that's convenient to you
  • You don’t have to find time or transportation to get to a provider’s office
  • There are lots of places where you can get test kits, and some are even free or low-cost
  • You have to be comfortable collecting your own blood and urine and/or swabbing your genitals, mouth, or anus
  • You may have to find an in-person provider for care or additional testing if you test positive

What Happens During STI Testing?

Wherever you get tested, it should be quick and easy. If you get tested by a health care provider in a clinic or office setting, they may start with a visual exam of your genitals. Then they may take a blood sample; swab your vagina, penis, urethra, anus, or throat; or ask you to pee in a cup. Sometimes the provider can give you results at the same visit, but more often the sample is sent out to a lab, and you receive your results in a few days.

Here’s an idea of what to expect for some more common STIs.

  • How the test is done: Swab of genital area or urine sample
  • What you also need to know: If you have had oral or anal sex, let your healthcare provider know this also. These sites may be infected, but vaginal or urine samples may not be positive. Pharyngeal (throat) or anal swabs may be needed. 
  • How the test is done: Blood test or swab from inside of mouth
  • What you also need to know: Confidential and anonymous testing options are available in many clinics. The most common HIV tests look for antibodies to the virus. The time between infection and the development of detectable antibodies is called the window period. The window period varies from person to person and also depends upon the type of HIV test.
  • How the test is done: Blood test, or sample taken from a sore.
  • What you also need to know: The CDC recommends all pregnant women be tested for syphilis. Congenital syphilis (where a syphilis infection passes on from a pregnant person to an infant) is dangerous but preventable. Most cases can be prevented with testing and treatment.

There are many different types of HPV. Some cause genital warts and some cause different types of cancer, including cervical cancer.

Genital warts

  • How the test is done: Visual diagnosis 
  • What you also need to know: Warts can occur in both men and women.

Cervical cancer

  • How the test is done: Regular screening with Pap and/or HPV tests. See more here.
  • What you also need to know: Pap tests detect cervical cell changes, not HPV. HPV tests indicate infection with the virus itself. No test available for men for these types of HPV.

When a person has no symptoms

  • How the test is done: Blood test (drawn from arm or a fingerstick)
  • What you also need to know: Be sure to ask for a type-specific IgG test (not an IgM test)

When a person has symptoms

  • How the test is done: Swab of affected area; if at first negative for herpes, follow later with blood test to make sure.
  • What you also need to know: A Nucleic Acid Amplification Testing (NAAT) is preferred. NAATs are fast, accurate, and can tell if a person has HSV-1 or HSV-2.
  • How the test is done: Swab of infected area, physical exam or sample of discharge.
  • What you also need to know: “Trich” is harder to detect in men than in women.

If you choose to test at home, you may be asked to swab your own genitals, collect a urine sample, or a prick your finger and put a drop of blood on a collection card. (Don’t worry the test kit will come with specific instructions.)

How Much Does STI Testing Cost?

Most health insurance plans will cover in-office STI testing, often with no co-pay, though there may be some exceptions. Many health care centers across the country—including health departments and Planned Parenthood clinics—offer free or low-cost testing. The CDC’s Get Tested website can help you find testing centers by zip code and lets you filter results for free and low-cost testing.

Home-based tests that you buy in the pharmacy or online are typically not covered by insurance, though it may be possible to use funds from an HSA plan, if you have one. There are also programs in some areas that will mail free test kits.

Is STI screening different than STI testing?

Not really. Public health experts use the term screening when they’re talking about preventative care for certain populations. Think of it like mammograms for breast cancer or colonoscopies for colon cancer. These are tests that people should get on a regular schedule to stay healthy. STIs screening is the same thing. In contrast, STI testing is for people with symptoms. That said, a lot of people will just use the phrase STI testing for any time that someone is checked for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, or other STIs whether they have symptoms or not.

Talk to a Partner about Getting Tested

See how easy it can be in this video from Planned Parenthood.

Learn More About STIs

Chlamydia
Crabs
Gonorrhea
Hepatitis
Herpes
HIV
HPV
MGEN
Molluscum
NGU
Scabies
Syphilis
Trichomoniasis
Safer Sex Toolbox
STI Testing
Finding a Provider

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  • Last updated on March 18, 2026

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