September 30th marks the second annual National Get Tested Day. ASHA created this annual celebration to raise awareness about the importance of getting tested for sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Here are some things to know if you’re thinking about getting tested for STIs (spoiler alert: you should be thinking about getting tested for STIs).
If you’ve already decided to get tested (yay!) and want to learn how, see below and know that you have more options than ever before.
Why Should I Get Tested for STIs?
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 STIs like chlamydia or gonorrhea are undiagnosed and untreated, they can lead to other health issues, like pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and, potentially, infertility.
Getting tested for STIs (and getting treated, if needed) not only protects your own health, it’s also an important part of preventing the spread of STIs and protecting the health of your sexual partner(s) and community.
When Should I Get Tested?
The first answer to this question is really easy: if have any genital itching, sores, or discharge you should get tested. These are common symptoms of a number of STIs, or they could be a sign of another medical condition. Testing is the only way to know what’s causing your symptoms and the first step to getting you the relief you need.
Many people who are sexually active (especially those who have a new partner or multiple partners), should get tested regularly even if they don’t have symptoms. How often and for which STIs can be a little more complicated.
There are some guidelines for testing based on things like age and gender. For example, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that all cisgender women, transgender men, and gender diverse people with a cervix under the age of 25 get screened for chlamydia and gonorrhea once a year. This is because these STIs are common in that population and, as we said above, untreated infection can lead to other health problems.
There are additional recommendations that take into account other factors, like you who you have sex with and what kinds of sex you have. This is why a health care provider will ask a lot of questions about your sexual history, like the gender of your partners and whether you’re having oral, vaginal, or anal sex. They’re not just being nosy. These answers help them decide what tests might be right for you. (Most online home test providers will also ask you a series of questions so they can help you determine which tests to get.)
There are some basic pieces of advice that we can all follow about when to get tested:
- When you have a new sexual partner (you can get tested together!)
- When you have multiple sexual partners
- When a sexual partner is diagnosed with an STI
- When you have any symptoms that are bothering you
How Does STI Testing Work?
Getting tested can be quick and easy. STI tests may require a blood sample, a urine sample, or a swab. It depends on the STI and the site of the infection.
For example, a chlamydia test for genital infection can be done with a urine sample or a genital swab. But chlamydia can also cause anal and throat infections (transmitted by oral and anal sex), and these areas can only be tested with a swab.
If you get tested by a health care provider in a clinic or office setting, they may take a blood sample; swab your vulva, 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.
You can also decide to test in the privacy of your own home. You can buy an over-the-counter test kit at a pharmacy or order one online.
Depending on where you live, you might also be able to get free home tests through the health department or other entities. Click here to learn about home testing and see what’s available in your area.
Most home tests work like tests at the provider’s office. You collect the sample (by peeing in a cup, swabbing your genitals, or pricking your finger for a drop of blood.) You then send the samples to a lab, and the results come in a few days.
There are home tests for HIV and a new home test for syphilis that give you results in 15-20 minutes.
Home Testing—Self-testing vs Self-collection
When we talk about home testing, many people think of tests for things like COVID or pregnancy—where you take the test and get results within several minutes. This type of test is called a self-test. Right now, only the rapid HIV test (done with an oral swab) and the new syphilis test (done with a drop of blood) provide these quick, at-home results.
All other home STI tests involve collecting the samples yourself and sending them to a lab for analysis. Results can take a few days to a week or so once you’ve sent the sample back. This is called a self-collection test. There are also options for self-collection at a health care provider’s office, like a new self-collection test for cervical cancer.
Where Can I Get Tested?
As you can see, you have options! You can find a local clinic, visit a private health care provider, go to a local Planned Parenthood, buy a test online, or pick one up at your local pharmacy. Choose what works best for you. Keep in mind convenience, comfort, and cost.
Some people may be more comfortable having health care provider guide them through the process. There are many options for testing in a healthcare environment. If you have a regular provider, you can talk to them about testing. If you don’t, you can search here for a health clinic nearby that offers testing.
Testing through your provider may be covered by insurance, and many clinics offer testing for free or at a reduced cost.
Other people prefer testing at home. Maybe they have a busy schedule with little time or flexibility for medical appointment appointments, maybe they don’t have reliable transportation, or maybe they’re not ready to talk STIs with a provider.
Home testing offers convenience and privacy. Home-based tests are typically not covered by insurance, though it may be possible to use funds from an HSA plan, if you have one.
All of these testing options will provide you with accurate results so choose the one that feels best for you. And there’s no better time to do it that National Get Tested Day!