How Often To Get Tested For Stds

How Often To Get Tested For Stds

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If you are sexually active, getting tested for STDs is one of the most important things you can do to protect your health. Make sure you have an open and honest conversation about your sexual history and STD testing with your doctor and ask whether you should be tested for STDs. If you are not comfortable talking with your regular health care provider about STDs, there are many clinics that provide confidential and free or low-cost testing.
You can quickly find a place to be tested for STDs by entering your zip code in the form below.
For more information see the 2021 STI Treatment Guidelines

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How often should i get tested for stds

How often should I get tested for STDs?

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Once you become sexually active, it’s very important to get tested for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) regularly. STIs are quite common; the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that over 1 million STIs are acquired around the world each day. However, it’s important to remember that most of these infections are asymptomatic, which makes it even more important to get tested so you can help stop their spread.
But you may be wondering just how often you should get tested for STDs. Keep reading if you want to know how often to get tested for STDs and what to expect during testing.
There are two main steps that you should always take to protect yourself against STDs : use condoms every time you have sex, and get tested regularly. However, you should make sure to follow this advice correctly, which involves knowing how to use condoms properly and getting tested for the right STDs and with the right frequency.
The guidelines for how often you should get tested for STDs will vary depending on your age, number of sexual partners, and other factors. As a general rule, it’s a good idea to get tested for STDs at least once a year, but your healthcare provider may recommend testing more often if you have certain risk factors.
It’s particularly important for you and your partner to get tested for STDs if you’re starting a new relationship.
Depending on your sexual behavior, you may need to get tested every few months. This will help keep you safe, diagnose any STDs as early as possible, enable you to get the right treatment, and help prevent the spread of STDs.
Let’s discuss how often you should get tested for different STDs in more detail.
According to the Mayo Clinic , you should get screened for chlamydia , gonorrhea , and syphilis every year if you:
According to CDC guidelines, everyone between the ages of 13 to 64 should get tested for HIV at least once. If you don’t have any risk factors and your last test was negative, you should continue to get tested at least once a year. You may need to get tested more often if you:
HPV is one of the most common STIs around the world, and it can cause health problems such as genital warts, precancerous lesions, and even some types of cancer. However, most cases of HPV are completely asymptomatic. Factors like your age and past HPV test results will determine how often you need to get tested.
According to Planned Parenthood , you should get an HPV test, most women between the ages of 25 and 65 years old should get an HPV at least every 5 years. If your HPV tests have been negative, you probably won’t need to get tested after the age of 65. Pap tests are also used to look for changes caused by HPV, and in most cases, you should get a Pap test every 3 years.
Screening tests aren’t routinely used for herpes . The best way to diagnose this STD is to take a swab from an active lesion or blister. Blood tests for herpes also exist, but they’re not as accurate as swab tests.
Depending on the STDs that you’re getting tested for, you may need to provide different types of samples. The most common types of samples include:
If you’re getting your STD test at a clinic or doctor’s office, a healthcare provider will usually take the samples and take them to the lab for processing. But if you’re using an at-home STD testing kit , you’ll have to collect your own samples and make sure to mail them back properly.
If your test comes back positive, your healthcare provider will be able to help you understand your diagnosis so you can get the right treatment. Fortunately, STDs can be either cured or successfully managed through modern treatments — as long as you get diagnosed as early as possible. You can learn more about at-home STD tests at STDWatch.com .
What’s an HPV test? - plannedparenthood.org

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How Often Should You Be Tested for STDs?
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What Are STDS? Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/std/general/default.htm Get Tested. Planned Parenthood. Retrieved from https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/stds-hiv-safer-sex/get-tested Sexually Transmitted Diseases. National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Disease. Retrieved from https://www.niaid.nih.gov/diseases-conditions/sexually-transmitted-diseases How Often Should I Get Tested? Action Canada: Sexual Health & Rights. Retrieved from https://www.actioncanadashr.org/resources/sexual-health-info/sexually-transmitted-infections/how-often-should-i-get-tested Take Charge of Your Sexual Health. National Coalition for Sexual Health. Retrieved from https://www.ncshguide.org/provider-visit/how-do-i-bring-up-the-topic How You Can Prevent Sexually Transmitted Diseases? Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/std/prevention/default.htm
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Here’s a tough fact: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention millions of sexually transmitted diseases (STD) infect sexually active adults each year.
STDs can be passed on through sexual contact — primarily through vaginal, anal or oral sex. Thankfully, if you do have an STD, depending on the type you have, it can be managed or cured with medical treatment.
Now for the tricky part: Some people may not even know they have an STD, especially if they have mild symptoms.
So if you are sexually active, it’s important to be tested to ensure you have a clean bill of health.
But how often should you be tested for STDs? We’ll answer that — but first, here’s a bit more about why you may want to be tested in the first place.
STDs often do not have any symptoms. That means that getting tested is the only way to know for sure if you have one or not.
By getting tested, you can avoid the possibility of unknowingly passing something along to a sexual partner.
Another important reason to get tested: STDs — such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, genital herpes, HIV and syphilis — can cause serious health complications if left untreated.
Some of the serious health complications that can arise if an STD is left untreated include :
Yes, things can get that serious — which is why it’s so important to catch STDs early through regular testing.
So now that you know why you should get tested, let's discuss routine STD testing — and exactly what your testing frequency should be.
The general rule, if nothing has changed in your sexual life, is that you should go in for annual testing.
But there are some life events that, if they occur, should encourage a sexually active woman or man to get tested (even if you’ve already done your annual testing). These situations include:
Before you hook up with a new sex partner
You’ve got physical symptoms of an STD — like bumps on or around your genitalia, discharge or a rash
Your partner is sleeping with someone else — or you are
Someone you’ve slept with let’s you know they’ve tested positive for an STD
Whether you want to get your annual tests or any of the above apply to you, make an appointment with a healthcare provider to get tested.
While it may feel uncomfortable to speak with a medical professional about your sexual history and desire to get tested, being open and honest will yield you the best care and results.
Want to get tested but not sure where to go? Your healthcare provider’s office can run or order STD blood tests for you, or direct you to a testing location. You can also visit Planned Parenthood or other health centers. This site from the CDC allows you to search for free testing near you.
There are also at-home kits you can purchase online — with which you collect your own samples and send them to a lab.
While these make for a convenient testing option, there can be more room for error. If you do decide to go this route, use a test approved by the FDA .
While we’re talking about the importance of regular testing for STDs, it’s worth going over preventative measures you can take during sexual activity to encourage that your STD tests stay negative.
According to the CDC, these are the best ways to prevent transmission of an STD:
Reduce the number of sexual partners you have.
The fewer partners you have, the less you are putting yourself at risk. That said, even if you reduce your sexual partners, it is still important to get tested.
You are in a mutually monogamous relationship.
If your relationship status is serious and long-term and you are both monogamous, your chances of contracting an STD are slim to none.
during every sexual encounter is a highly effective way of preventing the spread of STDs.
Abstaining from sexual activity. This one may not be realistic, but it’s worth mentioning that abstinence will prevent STDs.
When it comes to how often to get tested for STDs, there is no one-size-fits-all answer.
If your sex life hasn’t changed, you can stick with routine screening once a year.
However, if you are thinking of sleeping with someone new, it’s a good idea to get tested before engaging in sexual contact.
Additionally, you should get tested if you forget to use a condom with someone new (or the condom breaks), if your partner is sleeping with someone else, or if you’re experiencing symptoms of an STD.
If you have any other questions about STDs, your best bet is to speak with a healthcare professional .
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This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice. Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment. Learn more about our editorial standards here .
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October 17, 2021 Read Time - 7 minutes
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) remain one of the most common health challenges in the United States. According to estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Americans are diagnosed with
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