Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTypes of TestsWho Needs STI Testing?Barriers to TestingMoving Forward
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Types of Tests
Who Needs STI Testing?
Barriers to Testing
Moving Forward
If you think you have been exposed to asexually transmitted infection (STI), it is in your best interest to contact your healthcare provider for an STI test. In this way, you can seek treatment to either cure or manage the infection while reducing the odds of passing the STI to others.
STI testing is often not a routine part of an annual checkup and often needs to be requested. This includes routine tests for certain groups—such as sexually active younger females or sexually activemen who have sex with men (MSM)—who are at high risk of STIs like HIV or chlamydia.
This article provides details about the types of tests available for STI screening, including which are recommended for at-risk groups. It also helps dispel common misconceptions about STI testing so that you can make an informed choice when asking yourself, “Do I need an STI test?”
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Types of STI Tests
Sexually transmitted infections, formerly known as sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), are a group of bacterial, viral, or parasitic infections that are primarily passed through sexual contact.
Common STIs include:
There is no single test that can detect all STIs. As such, you may be advised to undergo a panel of different tests based on your risk of infection.
This is due in part to the fact that certain STIs commonly occur together, such as HIV and syphilis. These are referred to as co-infections.
So, if you’ve come to get tested for syphilis, don’t be taken aback if you are advised to undergo additional tests. This is done as a precaution, and not because the clinic assumes that you are infected.
The different STI tests may require a blood or urine sample, or a genital, rectal, or oral swab.
People who come for STI screening commonly do so for one of four reasons:
There are certain STIs that affect some groups more than others. Because of this, national guidelines have been established to ensure that at-risk individuals are diagnosed and treated if needed.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued recommendations for STD testing for all people as well as populations at greater risk of infection.
Screening Recommendations: All People
Screening Recommendations: Females
Screening Recommendations: Men Who Have Sex With Men (MSM)
Screening Recommendations: Pregnancy
Screening Recommendations: People With HIV
Please note that this is only a partial list of CDC recommendations. To learn which STI tests are recommended for you as an individual, speak with your healthcare provider or contact an STI clinic near you.
How to Find a Free, Anonymous STI Clinic
Barriers to Regular STI Testing
Despite the screening recommendations from the CDC and other public health authorities, the rate of testing has fallen short for many of the more common STIs.
For example, around 13% of the 1.2 million people living with HIV in the United States remain undiagnosed.Less-than-ideal testing rates for syphilis have also fueled a 413% increase in new infections between 2002 and 2017, with rates increasing year on year.
There are many reasons for this. Among them, the “shame” andstigmaassociated with STIs can make it difficult for some people to ask their healthcare providers for testing.
At the same time, the prospect of having todisclose a positive diagnosisto a sex partner can be overwhelming. STI testing may also force a person to reveal how they got infected, such as through extramarital sex or same-sex contact.
Can a Treated STI Come Back?
Misconceptions and Moving Forward
Overcoming the multitude of concerns about STIs is not easy. On top of this, there are numerous misconceptions about STI screening that stand in the way of a person’s decision to get tested.
Among them:
Generally speaking, when someone says they were “tested for everything,” it usually means that they don’t know exactly which STIs they were tested for. Or, perhaps they were tested years ago and never thought about getting the results updated.
Whatever the reason, it is important to remember that the avoidance of testing places you at risk of complications—either now or years down the road—if you have an STI. It also places others at risk. This includes STIs that can be passed from mother to child during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
On the other hand, if you test negative and have no STIs, knowing your status often reinforcessafer sex practices.
By knowing the facts and seeking advice from your healthcare provider, you can better understand the benefits and risks of STI testing and make an informed choice.
Who to Call for AdviceThe CDC offers a national toll-free STI hotline available 24 hours a day at 1-800-232-4636/TTY 1-888-232-6348 (English and Spanish). The hotline not only offers comprehensive advice about STIs but can also refer you to free or low-cost testing sites near you.
Who to Call for Advice
The CDC offers a national toll-free STI hotline available 24 hours a day at 1-800-232-4636/TTY 1-888-232-6348 (English and Spanish). The hotline not only offers comprehensive advice about STIs but can also refer you to free or low-cost testing sites near you.
Why You Need to Wait for Certain STI Results
Summary
Testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) not only protects your health if you have an STI but can also protect others from getting infected.
While there are many different tests that can detect STIs like gonorrhea or HIV, there is not one that is able to detect all STIs. Even certain “STI panels” may not include otherwise common STIs like herpes or HPV.
Even if you test negative for STIs, knowing your status can help reinforce safer sex practices to protect yourself and others from infection.
The Best At-Home STD Tests
A Word From Verywell
If you recall having had an STI test but can’t remember what you were screened for, you can request of copy of your electronic medical records from your healthcare provider.
Better yet, ask your healthcare provider what STIs you should be screened for based not only on the guidelines but also on your individual risk of infection.
7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Kreisel KM, Spicknall IH, Gargano JW, et al.Sexually transmitted infections among us women and men: prevalence and incidence estimates, 2018.Sex Transm Dis. 2021;48(4):208-214. doi:10.1097/OLQ.0000000000001355National Institutes of Health.HIV and opportunistic infections, coinfections, and conditions.Workowski KA, Bachmann LH, Chan PA, et al.Sexually transmitted infections treatment guidelines, 2021.MMWR Recomm Rep. 2021;70(4):1-187. doi:10.15585/mmwr.rr7004a1Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Today’s HIV/AIDS epidemic.Schmidt R, Carson PJ, Jansen RJ.Resurgence of syphilis in the United States: an assessment of contributing factors.Infect Dis (Auckl).2019;12:1178633719883282. doi:10.1177/1178633719883282Dennison HJ, Bromshead C, Grainger R, Dennison EM, Jutel A.Barriers to sexually transmitted infection testing in New Zealand: a qualitative study.Aust N Z J Public Health. 2017;41(4):432–7. doi:10.1111/1753-6405.12680Heijman T, Zuure F, Stolte I, Davidovich U.Motives and barriers to safer sex and regular STI testing among MSM soon after HIV diagnosis.BMC Infect Dis. 2017;17(1):194. doi:10.1186/s12879-017-2277-0
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Kreisel KM, Spicknall IH, Gargano JW, et al.Sexually transmitted infections among us women and men: prevalence and incidence estimates, 2018.Sex Transm Dis. 2021;48(4):208-214. doi:10.1097/OLQ.0000000000001355National Institutes of Health.HIV and opportunistic infections, coinfections, and conditions.Workowski KA, Bachmann LH, Chan PA, et al.Sexually transmitted infections treatment guidelines, 2021.MMWR Recomm Rep. 2021;70(4):1-187. doi:10.15585/mmwr.rr7004a1Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Today’s HIV/AIDS epidemic.Schmidt R, Carson PJ, Jansen RJ.Resurgence of syphilis in the United States: an assessment of contributing factors.Infect Dis (Auckl).2019;12:1178633719883282. doi:10.1177/1178633719883282Dennison HJ, Bromshead C, Grainger R, Dennison EM, Jutel A.Barriers to sexually transmitted infection testing in New Zealand: a qualitative study.Aust N Z J Public Health. 2017;41(4):432–7. doi:10.1111/1753-6405.12680Heijman T, Zuure F, Stolte I, Davidovich U.Motives and barriers to safer sex and regular STI testing among MSM soon after HIV diagnosis.BMC Infect Dis. 2017;17(1):194. doi:10.1186/s12879-017-2277-0
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Kreisel KM, Spicknall IH, Gargano JW, et al.Sexually transmitted infections among us women and men: prevalence and incidence estimates, 2018.Sex Transm Dis. 2021;48(4):208-214. doi:10.1097/OLQ.0000000000001355National Institutes of Health.HIV and opportunistic infections, coinfections, and conditions.Workowski KA, Bachmann LH, Chan PA, et al.Sexually transmitted infections treatment guidelines, 2021.MMWR Recomm Rep. 2021;70(4):1-187. doi:10.15585/mmwr.rr7004a1Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Today’s HIV/AIDS epidemic.Schmidt R, Carson PJ, Jansen RJ.Resurgence of syphilis in the United States: an assessment of contributing factors.Infect Dis (Auckl).2019;12:1178633719883282. doi:10.1177/1178633719883282Dennison HJ, Bromshead C, Grainger R, Dennison EM, Jutel A.Barriers to sexually transmitted infection testing in New Zealand: a qualitative study.Aust N Z J Public Health. 2017;41(4):432–7. doi:10.1111/1753-6405.12680Heijman T, Zuure F, Stolte I, Davidovich U.Motives and barriers to safer sex and regular STI testing among MSM soon after HIV diagnosis.BMC Infect Dis. 2017;17(1):194. doi:10.1186/s12879-017-2277-0
Kreisel KM, Spicknall IH, Gargano JW, et al.Sexually transmitted infections among us women and men: prevalence and incidence estimates, 2018.Sex Transm Dis. 2021;48(4):208-214. doi:10.1097/OLQ.0000000000001355
National Institutes of Health.HIV and opportunistic infections, coinfections, and conditions.
Workowski KA, Bachmann LH, Chan PA, et al.Sexually transmitted infections treatment guidelines, 2021.MMWR Recomm Rep. 2021;70(4):1-187. doi:10.15585/mmwr.rr7004a1
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Today’s HIV/AIDS epidemic.
Schmidt R, Carson PJ, Jansen RJ.Resurgence of syphilis in the United States: an assessment of contributing factors.Infect Dis (Auckl).2019;12:1178633719883282. doi:10.1177/1178633719883282
Dennison HJ, Bromshead C, Grainger R, Dennison EM, Jutel A.Barriers to sexually transmitted infection testing in New Zealand: a qualitative study.Aust N Z J Public Health. 2017;41(4):432–7. doi:10.1111/1753-6405.12680
Heijman T, Zuure F, Stolte I, Davidovich U.Motives and barriers to safer sex and regular STI testing among MSM soon after HIV diagnosis.BMC Infect Dis. 2017;17(1):194. doi:10.1186/s12879-017-2277-0
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