Getting tested for sexually transmitted infections (STI)
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When to get tested
You should get tested for STI if:
- you are sexually active
- you had sex without condoms or other barrier protection
- you or your partner(s) have any STI symptoms
- you know your current or past partner(s) has or had an STI
- you or your partner(s) have been sexually active with other people
- you or your partner(s) have shared needles for drugs, tattooing or piercing
If you and your partner(s) are tested and have no infections, you're only protected while you have not been:
- sharing drug equipment with other people
- sexually active with any additional sexual partners
To have safer sex, always:
- use a condom, dental dam, or other barrier methods
- talk to your partner about safer sex and STI testing
You and your partner(s) should all get treated as soon as you or they test positive for an STI.
You can have more than one STI at the same time.
Learn more about:
Where to get tested
If you want to be tested for STI, find a sexual health service near you, such as:
- your health care provider
- a sexual health clinic
- a local public health unit
- a walk-in clinic
Learn more:
Testing process
Some infections are reportable. This means your local public health unit will receive reports of all positive test results for:
- HIV
- syphilis
- chlamydia
- gonorrhea
- hepatitis B
- hepatitis C
This way, they can monitor the health of the whole community.
Some clinics that offer anonymous HIV testing report results to their public health unit. They do not include any identifying information about you.
No one will know you have the infection except:
- you
- the public health nurse
- your health care provider
A public health nurse may contact you and offer to help with telling your current and past partners that they need to be tested.
What to expect during testing
The health care provider will ask you questions about your sexual activity. This will help them decide what kinds of testing, physical examination and treatment you need. They may ask about:
- symptoms
- recent partners
- type of sex you're having
- this will determine where on your body may have been exposed to STI
Each test is different, and will depend on:
- your symptoms
- the STI that you're being tested for
- the health care provider's assessment
Your health care provider may collect a urine sample to test for:
- chlamydia
- gonorrhea
- trichomoniasis
They may collect a blood sample to test for:
- HIV
- syphilis
- hepatitis B
- hepatitis C
They may take cotton swab samples from relevant parts of your body, such as your:
- anus
- throat
- vagina
- penis
They use these cotton swab samples to test for:
- chlamydia
- gonorrhea
- herpes (only when you have symptoms)
- syphilis (only when you have symptoms)
- trichomoniasis
Your health care provider may also:
- check your external genitalia for skin changes, like bumps or sores, to see if you may have:
- herpes
- syphilis
- genital warts
- use a speculum to:
- look at the inside of the vagina or cervix
- screen you for cervical cancer, if you're 21 or older and due for a Pap test
- place 1 or 2 fingers inside your vagina and their other hand on your lower abdomen, to feel your ovaries and uterus
- this is called a bimanual exam
Your health care provider may recommend other tests depending on the situation.
Tell your health care provider if you want a support person in the room during your examination.
You may see the terms STI and STBBI when reading about getting tested. STBBI stands for sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections. The term takes into account that some infections can be transmitted through the blood in a non-sexual context, like HIV and hepatitis C.
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