Where Is Free STI Testing Available? How Often Should You Get Tested?

Free STI testing is often available through your local county health department, so you might want to start there. But make sure to check their hours specifically for testing. A lot of places scaled back their times during COVID and have not yet gone back to their original hours.

Also check to see if they do walk-ins or if you need an appointment

Some pharmacies are doing STI testing as well, and these might be covered by your insurance. You can find those, and other sites close to you, by using this website https://gettested.cdc.gov/

I know the question was about free testing, but one of things that started happening during COVID was that a lot of people were looking for ways to get tested for lots of things without necessarily having to go a doctor or lab, and that included STI testing.

These tests aren’t free, though some these may be covered by FSA/HSA. There are tests for a few STIs including HIV, chlamydia and gonorrhea.

Some of these tests require you to take a sample at home and then mail the sample(s) in. That sample may be urine, or blood, or both. Once you send in the samples, then you have to wait a few days for results.

While there definitely is the potential for error when collecting samples at home, this may be a lot easier for folks then trying to access STI testing in their area, and people may prefer it because it feels more private.

As for how often you should get checked it depends on who you’re doing what with.

If you’re in a monogamous relationship and no one is showing symptoms then you don’t necessarily need to get checked on a regular basis (though I think once a year for everyone is a good habit to get into).

I tell people that if you’re starting to engage in sex play with a new partner then you should both get tested. If you’re having sex with lots of partners than it’s not a bad idea to get checked at a minimum once a year, though every 3 – 6 months might be better.

If you’re pregnant, definitely get tested. Your ob/gyn should talk to you about how often that needs to happen during your pregnancy.

If a current or past partner tells you’ve they were recently diagnosed, then get tested.

IF YOU HAVE SYMPTOMS - GET CHECKED NOW! If you’re not sure it’s a symptom, but there’s something funky going on with your vagina, vulva, penis or anus, get checked now.

Until next time, be safe and have fun!

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