September 30 is National Get Tested Day
ASHA has declared September 30 as National Get Tested Day—a day to raise awareness about the importance of getting tested for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). For this inaugural event, ASHA is partnering with Everlywell to give away 250 free Everlywell at-home chlamydia and gonorrhea tests (more on that below). Before we get there, let’s take a look at the why, when, how and where of STI testing.
Why Should I Get Tested for STIs?
This question is easy—if you’re a sexually active person, getting tested is just a 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.
This may make you ask—if many STIs have no symptoms, why is it so important to get tested? Even if an infection is “silent,” with no noticeable symptoms, it can cause long-term health damage. For example, when an STI like chlamydia or gonorrhea is undiagnosed and untreated, it can lead to other health issues, like pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and, potentially, infertility.
Getting tested for STIs (and getting treated, if needed) protects your own health and the health of your sexual partner(s). Win-win!
When Should I Get Tested?
This question is a bit 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 that 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 other 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.
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
Again, many STIs have no signs or symptoms. But some do, of course. Genital itching, sores, and discharge are common symptoms of a number of STIs, or they could 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).
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 be able to get free home tests through the health department or other entities. Check 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 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 home testing for COVID and 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.
On National Get Tested Day on September 30, ASHA is pleased to partner with home-testing company Everlywell.
In honor of the event, Everlywell is offering 250 free chlamydia and gonorrhea tests to help increase access to testing.
Interested in a test? Head to Everlywell for the giveaway.
