How often should you get tested for STIs?

How often to test, by situation

Your schedule depends on how many partners you have and whether you’re on PrEP. Find the row that fits you best. If two fit, go with the shorter gap.

Testing every 3 months isn’t a judgment. It just means an infection gets caught and treated in weeks, not months, before it has a chance to spread.

What to ask for at the clinic

Many clinics only test urine unless you ask. A urine test can miss chlamydia and gonorrhea in your throat or rectum, so tell them every way you have sex.

• HIV: a blood test or a finger-prick test.
• Syphilis: a blood test.
• Chlamydia and gonorrhea: a urine sample, plus a throat swab and a rectal swab if you give oral or bottom. You can often take the swabs yourself.
• Hepatitis B and C: a blood test. The CDC suggests every adult test for hepatitis C at least once, and asks gay and bisexual men to be checked for hepatitis B too.

While you’re there, ask whether you’re up to date on the hepatitis A, hepatitis B, HPV and mpox vaccines.

How soon after sex a test works

If you had a specific scare, testing the next morning is too soon. Most tests need time before they can pick up an infection.

Chlamydia and gonorrhea tests usually work about 2 weeks after sex. Syphilis and HIV blood tests can take several weeks, and sometimes up to 3 months, to be sure. Tell the clinic the date you’re worried about, and they’ll tell you when to test and whether to come back for a second one.

If it’s been less than 72 hours since a possible HIV exposure, don’t wait for a test. Ask a clinic, urgent care or emergency room about PEP today.

Where to get tested

Free and covered options come first.

1. 1
   A free clinic or health departmentSearch by ZIP code at gettested.cdc.gov. Many test for free or on a sliding scale.
   Free
2. 2

   Your doctor or a PrEP clinicRoutine STI tests are usually covered by insurance.

   Often covered
3. 3

   An at-home kitCollect your samples at home and mail them to a lab. Some health departments mail free HIV self-tests.

   Paid or free

How to remember your next test

Every 3 months is easy to agree with and hard to keep. Pick a fixed rhythm, like the first week of January, April, July and October, or book your next visit before you leave the clinic.

Bud keeps your test dates and results in a private journal on your iPhone, behind Face ID, and reminds you when the next one is due. The reminder just says “Bud”, so nobody looking over your shoulder learns anything.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to test if I always use condoms?
Yes. Condoms lower the risk a lot, but syphilis, herpes and HPV can spread through skin contact, and many people don’t use condoms for oral sex.

How long after sex should I wait to test?
It depends on the infection. Chlamydia and gonorrhea tests usually work after about 2 weeks. HIV and syphilis tests can take longer, so ask the clinic what fits your date.

Do I need to test if I don’t have symptoms?
Yes. Most chlamydia and gonorrhea infections in the throat and rectum cause no symptoms at all, and early syphilis and HIV are easy to miss.

Is STI testing free?
Often. Health department clinics test for free or on a sliding scale, and most insurance plans cover routine STI and HIV testing.