STI Testing: When to Get Tested and Why

(Tina Dawn/ VM-Med) — If you’re sexually active it’s perfectly normal that you will at some point request or be advised to take an STI test. Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can happen even to those who practice caution and use protection.

STI tests are an important part of taking control of your health and can give you and your partner piece of mind. Some of the most common STIs people get tested for are:

• Chlamydia
• Genital herpes
• Genital warts or human papillomavirus (HPV)
• Gonorrhea
• Hepatitis B
• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which causes AIDS
• Syphilis
• Trichomoniasis

Your doctor may recommend an STI test if you are experiencing symptoms of an infection, if you have already received a positive test for another STI–which puts you at greater risk of other STIs–or if you have multiple partners.

It’s important to remember that some STIs, such as Chlamydia, do not cause any noticeable symptoms. That means you could be infected and unknowingly pass on the infection to your partner. Many untreated STIs can cause serious, long-term health issues and even infertility in women. The good news is that most STIs are treatable, and many are curable.

What does an STI test entail exactly?

An STI test is usually a combination of your physician asking you a number of questions, a physical exam, and a fluid sample. Samples might be a blood test, a urine test, an oral swab, or a genital or rectal swab if there’s a visible sore or rash. The samples are then sent to a lab to test for any STIs, and then you will receive the results.

Different STIs require different types of tests. Depending on what you are being tested for, you may receive a swab, a urine test, a blood test, or a visual exam. In some circumstances, a physical examination or other type of test may be used. Most tests are quick and painless, although some might be a little uncomfortable.

The most accurate test for Herpes, Gonorrhea, Syphilis, and Chlamydia involves swabbing the affected area, so test results are most accurate when sores are present during an outbreak.

If you ask to be tested for “everything” or get “a general STI test,” clinicians will often take this to mean just a urine test, which will screen for the most common bacterial STIs, such as Chlamydia and Gonorrhea.

Should you get an STI test?

Your doctor may recommend testing based on your personal sexual history. Many health professionals recommend having a routine annual screening test for certain STIs if you have a high risk for infection. You’re considered high risk if you’re: 

• Younger than 25 and sexually active
• If you’ve had more than one partner in the past year
• If you or your partner(s) have shared needles for drugs, tattooing, or piercing
• If you’ve had unprotected sex.

If you suddenly experience an abnormal discharge, sudden stomach pain or have developed genital warts, you should get checked. Some STIs don’t cause any symptoms at all, or they can cause symptoms that go away. So, unless you have a test, you may not know that you have an STI.

STI tests are also recommended for people who have a new partner or are pregnant, whether or not they have a high risk for infection. Left untreated, some STIs can lead to serious problems. If a pregnant person has an STI when giving birth, the newborn may have the disease, which can also result in serious health problems for the baby. Chlamydia and Gonorrhea, if left untreated, also raise the risk of chronic pelvic pain and life-threatening ectopic pregnancy.

Certain high-risk types of HPV can cause cervical cancer, penile cancer, and rectal and oral cancer.

If you get a positive STI test result, it’s important to follow up with your doctor for treatment. You then need to responsibly inform any recent sexual partners; in case they have also been infected and are passing it on to other partners.

Don’t let stigma or shame prevent you from getting an STI test

If you are engaging in sex or sexual activity there is a possibility that you may be exposing yourself to an STI. Anyone who is sexually active can get an STI and can pass it on unknowingly and most sexually active people will have one or more STIs in their lifetime. Many people who get STIs do not have any symptoms and might not know they have an STI unless they get tested. The more socially acceptable it is to talk about STIs, the more educated people will be and can protect themselves and the people they love.

Stigma, shame, and fear associated with STIs are real and prevent many people from having these important conversations. Stigma can come from a lack of information about STIs and/or fear of possible impacts on your body, health, and relationships. It can also be fueled by archaic stereotypes about who gets STIs and what getting an STI means about your moral character.

Don’t fall for those taboos. Normalize taking care of your sexual health. This advice is even more important for women since they have a higher risk than men of getting an STI during unprotected sex.

Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights has helpful information on STIs and STI testing, as well as an access line for those who may have more questions.

It’s important to remember that a Pap test is not an STI test. Pap tests are a preventative measure against cervical, vaginal, and anal cancers. They are not an STI test as the health care provider is not looking for signs of a specific sexually transmitted infection; they are looking for abnormal cells on your cervix. Pap tests are routine check-ins to make sure that all tissue is healthy and that there are no worrisome conditions developing that should be treated.

When you get a Pap test, your healthcare provider may ask if you wish to be tested for STIs at the same time. In this case, they will use an additional swab to test for Chlamydia and Gonorrhea.

VM Med’s Sexual Wellness Clinic

VM Med’s Gynecology and Sexual Wellness Clinic offers STI screening and treatment in a shame-free environment where no questions are off the table and where patients are comfortable being honest and staying informed is encouraged. Your health depends on it.

Still have questions? Read more articles on your gynecological and sexual wellness, such as Women need to prioritize their own gynecological health or Types of Contraceptives – Choose the Right Birth Control for You, or book a consultation with our sexual wellness experts.