Sexual health testing
"Get tested" is not one test. Different infections live in different places and need different samples, so the useful question is which test answers your situation.
Start from your situation, not the test names
- A sore, ulcer or unexplained rash points towards syphilis testing.
- Discharge, pelvic pain or burning when you urinate points towards chlamydia, gonorrhea and trichomoniasis.
- A specific exposure, or a routine check with no symptoms, usually starts with HIV and syphilis.
- No symptoms at all is normal — many infections are silent, which is exactly why people screen.
What each at-home test covers
- HIV: oral swab, HIV-1 and HIV-2 antibodies, result in 20 to 40 minutes.
- Syphilis: fingerstick, syphilis antibodies, result in about 15 minutes.
- Chlamydia, gonorrhea and trichomoniasis: self-collected vaginal swab in one device, result in about 30 minutes, for people with a vagina.
How often to test
The CDC recommends that everyone aged 13 to 64 is tested for HIV at least once, and that people with new or multiple partners test more often. Testing after a new partner, or before you stop using condoms in a relationship, is a practical rhythm most people can keep.
What we do not sell
We only carry instant at-home tests, so there are gaps we are upfront about: there is no instant at-home chlamydia or gonorrhea test for people with a penis in our catalog, and we do not test the throat or rectum. Those need a clinician.
The tests this applies to
OraQuick In-Home HIV Test
An HIV answer at home, in 20 to 40 minutes, with no blood.
First To Know Syphilis Test Kit
A single drop of blood, a syphilis answer in 15 minutes.
Visby Women's Sexual Health Test
Three common infections from one self-collected swab, in about 30 minutes.
Frequently asked questions
- Which STI test should I take?
- It depends on your symptoms, how long ago a possible exposure was and your anatomy. The Diagnik questionnaire uses those three answers to narrow it to the tests that actually apply.
- Can you have an STI with no symptoms?
- Yes. Chlamydia, gonorrhea and trichomoniasis are frequently asymptomatic, and HIV and syphilis can be silent for long periods. Screening is the only way to know.
- How often should I get tested?
- At least once for HIV for everyone aged 13 to 64 per CDC guidance, and more often with new or multiple partners.
Learn more about sti testing
- sti testing
STI symptoms
Start from what you noticed, and work towards which test answers it.
- sti testing
STI testing
There is no single STI test. Here is what each one actually covers.
- sti testing
When should I get tested?
Four situations that justify a test, and the timing that makes each one meaningful.
- sti testing
Can you have an STI without symptoms?
Yes — and for several infections, silence is the normal presentation.
Related testing pages
Sources
Educational information only, not a medical diagnosis or treatment advice. Screening results always need confirmation by a clinician.