Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and Testing

What is STI Screening, Exactly?

Getting a screening test means that we look for an infection when you may not have any symptoms. There are no exact recommended times or tests that we recommend for everyone. These testing recommendations depend on your lifestyle and risk level.

Why Is It Important to Get Tested for STIs?

Most importantly, get tested to protect yourself, your partner(s), and to stay informed. Making a diagnosis can alert you to an infection you may not know you had (e.g. many people with hepatitis C, probably about 1 million in the U.S., have no idea they have been infected), or that may have long-term effects like infertility. It can also allow you to start treatment if you do have an infection, and create peace of mind when you think you may have been at risk.

What Are the Most Common STIs?

Gonorrhea and Chlamydia: These infections are very common and are often grouped together because they’re screened for at the same time. The infection can be missed, particularly in biological females because the bacteria that cause them doesn’t always create symptoms. Infections are caused by oral, anal, or genital contact with someone else who has an infection.
Syphilis: Syphilis is a bacterial infection passed from one person to another by oral, anal, or genital contact with infectious but painless sores that are present during the initial stages of the infection.
Herpes: There are two strains of the herpes virus: type 1 and type 2. Type 1 has traditionally been associated with oral herpes (cold sores) and type 2 with genital herpes, but research has shown that genital infections may also be caused by type 1. A person may have either strain of the virus but never show any symptoms, or may have an “outbreak” with painful sores near his or her mouth, genitals, or anus. Herpes is most commonly transmitted via contact with infectious sores, but in some cases can be transmitted when the infected person has no symptoms at all. Because a person can be contagious even though no lesions are present, taking precautions only when there are visible lesions may not prevent spread of the infection to the partner.
HIV: This viral infection is transmitted via blood (e.g, in intravenous drug abusers who share needles with infected persons) or sexually, by having unprotected anal or vaginal sex. Very rarely, it can be transmitted by contact with other body fluids.
Human Papillomavirus (HPV): The most common STI in the U.S., this virus causes genital warts, although the lesions don’t appear in everyone who has HPV. It’s highly contagious and easily transmitted sexually or even by skin-to-skin contact. When genital warts are present, we can usually make a diagnosis from inspection, but additional testing is sometimes useful in women who have had an abnormal pap smear.
Hepatitis C (PDF): Hepatitis C is a viral infection that is transmitted most commonly through contact with blood or through skin exposure (e.g., sharing needles/cocaine straw or coming into contact with an open wound or sore). Very uncommonly, hepatitis C can be contracted by having sex with someone who has hepatitis C; the risk is about 1 transmission per 190,000 sexual occurrences. This infection can cause chronic liver disease and liver cancer.

What Types of Tests Are Out There?

There are plenty of tests that make staying informed accessible, but there’s no single test for every STD. Most tests require a urine or blood sample, or a swab of the area where the infection might be present. If you have a sore and we want to pinpoint the cause, a swab can additionally identify whether a specific virus or bacteria is present.

What Should I Be Tested for and When?

People often say, “Just test for everything.” While that might seem to make sense initially, it’s important to talk to your health care provider about your specific risk factors and lifestyle. There are a few downsides to testing for everything that are important to consider. First of all, tests are expensive, and in a few cases, such as blood testing for herpes, a positive test can be a false positive. False positives may result in unnecessary anxiety when there may be virtually no risk of transmission and no required treatment.

Here are some instances that would prompt a screening test:

You’re sexually active. Everyone who is sexually active (even if you’ve only ever had one partner and always use protection) should be screened at some point. We recommend an HIV test for everyone who is sexually active. We also suggest all patients at risk obtain a test for gonorrhea and chlamydia. It is recommended that all biological females aged 24 and younger who are sexually active to have a chlamydia and gonorrhea test annually or if they have had a new sexual contact.
You’re having unprotected sex. If you’ve had or want to start having sex — vaginal, anal, or oral — with a new partner it’s a good idea to get tested. Here’s how long after exposure can we obtain a reliable test result:
- Chlamydia and Gonorrhea – Usually one week after exposure to be positive.
- Syphilis – Four to six weeks after exposure
- HIV – As early as fourteen days after exposure but could take up to 6 weeks.
- (You might be asking, “What about herpes?” We don’t recommend screening for the herpes virus for most people unless you have an outbreak of sores.)
You engage in high-risk sexual behavior. If your partner has a chronic or long-term infection such as HIV or hepatitis B or C, it’s important to be tested more frequently. Additional high-risk behavior includes intimate contact with a sex worker, IV drug user, men who have sex with men, and having multiple partners, or anonymous partners. In these cases, you’re at higher risk for coming into contact with HIV and hepatitis C, along with syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia and should get tested after contact (that includes oral and anal sex).
You’ve had an infection in the past. You may be more likely to have an infection again, so it’s recommended to be screened about 3 months after you’ve been treated.
You have symptoms. This is a good time to have a discussion with your health care provider. Your symptoms and history will allow you to make the best choice about the most informative tests to look for possible causes of your symptoms.

Testing is Available at the Student Health Center

Call (707) 664-2921 to make an appointment. It is quick, easy, and confidential. Depending on which infection is being tested for, different types of samples are required. This may include urine samples, vaginal/rectal/throat swabs, and/or blood draws.

If you are not having symptoms and would like to self-schedule for STI testing, please visit My Health Portal to book your appointment. You will be required to fill out a brief screening questionnaire at the time of scheduling. This must be completed prior to your appointment for testing. If you have questions, please call the Student Health Center at 707-664-2921.