Testing – HIV, STD and Viral Hepatitis

Chlamydia is the most commonly reported STD in the United States, and can infect both men and women. Any sexually active person can get chlamydia through unprotected vaginal, anal, or oral sex. It can cause infections of the genitals, rectum, and throat. It is a very common infection, especially among young people ages 15-24 years. If you are sexually active, you should get tested for chlamydia at least every year.

You should get tested more often if you are:

• A sexually active person younger than 25 years old.
• A sexually active person with new or multiple sex partners, or a sex partner who has an STD.
• A sexually active man who has sex with men. Men who have sex with men should get screened more frequently for STDs, such as at 3-to-6 month intervals.
• A pregnant woman. At-risk pregnant women should get tested early in pregnancy, with repeat testing as needed.

Learn more about chlamydia.

Genital herpes is a common STD caused by two types of viruses: herpes simplex type 1 and herpes simplex type 2. Most people who have herpes have very mild or no symptoms. You may not notice mild symptoms or you may mistake them for another skin condition, such as a pimple or ingrown hair. Because of this, most people who have herpes do not know it.

Genital herpes sores usually appear as one or more blisters on or around the genitals, rectum or mouth. The blisters break and leave painful sores that may take weeks to heal. These symptoms are sometimes called “having an outbreak.” The first time someone has an outbreak they may also have flu-like symptoms such as fever, body aches or swollen glands.

Repeat outbreaks of genital herpes are common, especially during the first year after infection. Repeat outbreaks are usually shorter and less severe than the first outbreak. Although the infection can stay in the body for the rest of your life, the number of outbreaks tends to decrease over a period of years.

Your health care provider should examine you if you notice any of these symptoms.

Learn more about genital herpes.

Gonorrhea can infect both men and women. Any sexually active person can get gonorrhea through unprotected vaginal, anal, or oral sex. It can cause infections in the genitals, rectum, and throat. It is a very common infection, especially among young people ages 15-24 years. If you are sexually active, have an open and honest talk with your health care provider and ask whether you should get tested for gonorrhea or other STDs.

You should get tested for gonorrhea every year if you are:

• A sexually active person younger than 25 years old.
• A sexually active person with new or multiple sex partners, or a sex partner who has an STD.
• A sexually active man who has sex with men. Men who have sex with men should get screened more frequently for STDs, such as at 3-to-6 month intervals.
• A pregnant woman.  At-risk pregnant women should get tested early in pregnancy, with repeat testing as needed.

Learn more about gonorrhea.

• Were you born between 1945 and 1965?
• Are you a healthcare, emergency medical, or public safety worker who has experienced a needle stick, sharps or mucosal exposure to HCV-positive blood?
• Were you born to a woman who was infected with HCV?
• Do you currently or have you ever injected drugs?
• Do you snort cocaine or use other non-injecting illegal drugs?
• Did you receive clotting factor concentrates produced before 1987?
• Were you ever on long-term hemodialysis?
• Do you have persistently abnormal alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels?
• Are you a person living with HIV?
• Were you notified that you received blood from a donor who later tested positive for HCV infection?
• Did you receive a transfusion of blood, blood components, or an organ transplant before July 1992?
• Are you a man who has ever had sex with another man?
• Have you ever exchanged sex for drugs or money?
• Are you a long-term sexual partner of someone who is infected with HCV?
• Have you ever received a tattoo or piercing under substandard infection control procedures?
• Have you ever been in jail or prison?

Human Papillomavirus, or HPV, is a very common virus; nearly 80 million people—about one in four—are currently infected in the United States. HPV transmits through intimate skin-to-skin contact, even from someone without symptoms. You can get HPV by having vaginal, anal or oral sex with someone who has the virus. It is most commonly spread during vaginal or anal sex. HPV is so common that nearly all men and women get it at some point in their lives. It can take years to develop symptoms, which makes it hard to know when you first became infected. In most cases, HPV goes away on its own and does not cause any health problems. When HPV does not go away, it can cause health problems like genital warts and cancer.

Genital warts usually appear as a small bump or groups of bumps in the genital area. They can be small or large, raised or flat, or shaped like a cauliflower. A healthcare provider can usually diagnose warts by looking at the genital area.

HPV cancers include cancer of the cervix, vulva, vagina, penis or anus. HPV infection can also cause cancer in the back of the throat, including the base of the tongue and tonsils.

Learn more about HPV.

Any sexually active person can get syphilis through unprotected vaginal, anal or oral sex. Have an honest and open talk with your health care provider and ask whether you should get tested for syphilis or other STDs. Learn how to recognize the signs of syphilis. You should get tested regularly (at least once a year) if you are sexually active.

You should get tested more often if you are:

• A sexually active man who has sex with men. Men who have sex with men should get screened more frequently for STDs, such as at 3-to-6 month intervals.
• A sexually active person with risk factors such as new or multiple sex partners, or a sex partner who has an STD.
• A pregnant woman. At-risk pregnant women should get tested early in pregnancy, with repeat testing as needed.
• HIV positive

Learn more about syphilis.