There are a few ways to test for STIs without visiting the doctor. One option is to use a home STD test kit.

At-home kits are an affordable way to get a quick screening for chlamydia, gonorrhea and other infections. They also offer more privacy and convenience than in-office tests.

Tests for Chlamydia

Getting tested for chlamydia is an important part of sexual health. It can help you keep yourself and your partner safe and avoid serious long-term health problems.

A chlamydia test can be done by your doctor, at a sexual health clinic or through an online service like Free at Home STD Test. You’ll provide a urine sample or a self-taken vaginal swab (for women) to test for the presence of chlamydia bacteria.

Pregnant people should get a chlamydia test at least once a year to prevent the infection from spreading. During the third trimester, women should also be tested again to see if they’re reinfected.

At-home STI tests are often covered by insurance, so make sure to ask about your coverage. Some STI tests are also available for free at Planned Parenthood health centers.

Tests for Gonorrhea

Gonorrhea is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). It can cause infections in the genital area, rectum, and throat. Like chlamydia, it can cause problems for both men and women, especially in teens and young adults.

It is a very common infection, and most people will have it without any symptoms. This makes it important to test for gonorrhea every year or so, especially for girls under 25 years old.

There are many ways to get a free gonorrhea test, including at your local doctors’ office or in a clinic. Some colleges also offer student health centers that provide STI testing services.

Depending on the test, you may need to provide a urine or swab sample for your results. Urine tests are the most accurate for men, but a swab test can be more accurate for females. Some swab tests use Gram staining to confirm the presence of gonorrhea bacteria. You should always discuss your test results with your doctor or other medical professional.

Tests for Herpes

Herpes is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). It affects about 1 in 6 people aged 14 to 49.

Fortunately, there are several tests available to diagnose herpes infection. They can be useful for those who are unable to go to a doctor’s clinic or who are unwilling to discuss their sexual health with a doctor.

At-home herpes test kits are convenient and affordable options that allow people to test their herpes without visiting a doctor’s office or lab. These kits contain everything the person needs to collect a sample.

Some companies, including myLAB Box, Priority STD, Everlywell, and LetsGetChecked, offer at-home herpes testing kits that include multi-test panels. These are more comprehensive than standalone herpes testing kits. The multi-test panels can detect herpes, gonorrhea, and chlamydia.

Tests for HIV

HIV is a serious sexually transmitted disease (STI) that can cause many health problems, including AIDS. It attacks and destroys the immune cells in your body, causing you to be vulnerable to infections.

Getting tested regularly can help you find out if you have HIV and help you take steps to prevent it. You can get tested at a doctor’s office, community clinic or at home with a self-test kit.

Most tests use a blood sample, either from a finger prick or through a needle placed in your vein. Others use saliva.

These tests can give you results in 30 minutes, or up to a half hour with a rapid test. Oral fluid antibody tests can tell you in 20 minutes or less if you are positive.

It’s possible to get a false negative result, which means the test says you don’t have HIV but you do. But it’s not very common, especially if you were already taking medicine called PrEP or PEP at the time of your test.