Regular sexual health testing is a part of having a healthy sex life. It’s an important way to keep yourself and your sexual partners heathier. Getting a sexual health test is part of keeping your overall body healthy, just like keeping hydrated, eating fresh food, and being physically active.
What is a sexual health test?
A sexual health test is a medical checkup that looks to see if you have a Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) or Blood Borne Virus (BBV). The test will usually involve a pee and blood sample and could also involve a swab of your genitals, anus or throat/mouth.
Where can I get an STI test?
You can get an STI test at any GP, sexual health centres, and other health services. Some services are free/low cost, and some do not require a Medicare card. Find a service that’s close to you here.
How often should I get tested?
We recommend getting tested every three months if you’re having sex with more than one person. If you’re monogamous, get tested once a year. If you’re somewhere in between, get tested between partners, or stick with every three months. Chat to your doctor about what kind of frequency will suit you best.
What do I say to my doctor?
Not everyone feels confident talking about sexual health. Asking for an STI test may feel scary, or you might just not know what to say, which is completely fine - we are here to help.
Firstly, you need to make an appointment. Some people like to go to their regular GP because they feel comfortable with them. Others prefer clinics like dedicated sexual health services for more specialist knowledge around sex, particularly sex with other guys. Others might want to go somewhere that they can stay relatively anonymous. If you are unsure where you can get a STI test, visit here.
Here's a script for what you can say if you don’t have any symptoms and you need to have an STI and BBV test:
I would like to get an STI and BBV test please. I would like the test to include gonorrhoea, chlamydia, HIV, syphilis, hepatitis A, B and C.
If you have symptoms, you can say the same thing, and include that you’re experiencing symptoms of an STI and what you’re experiencing.
Your healthcare clinician might ask you why you think you need these tests and ask you questions about your sex life to determine what sexual health care you need. This includes your sexual history and some lifestyle questions around drug use, travel, and if you have ever been to prison. This is to determine your risk of certain STI’s and BBVs. It is best to be as honest as possible so that your healthcare clinician can work with the information you give them. However, if you’re uncomfortable, you don’t need to answer these questions to get a test. If you feel like your clinician is unsure, you can direct them here for more information on current STI testing guidelines.
The clinician will then print out a form and you need to take that form to a lab or pathology service to get your testing done. Or, they will complete the test themselves.
What to expect during the test?
When you go to have your STI test there are a few things that will happen.
| You will be provided with a small cup that you will need to pee into, this will then be sent away to be tested. The pee will be collected in a small jar that looks similar to this: |  |
| You will also be asked to provide a blood sample. The pathologist will put a needle in your arm and draw blood in a vial that will be sent away for collection. The vial will look similar to this: |  |
| You may also be asked to provide a swab sample. This could be for your throat, penis, anus, or front hole/vagina. You will be provided a different swab for each of the different areas. It’s likely that you will do this swab test yourself while in a bathroom. It’s important to take your time, there is no rush. It’s better for you to be comfortable and confident and take a little longer to make sure you get an accurate sample. If you need to provide a swab you will be given a swab that looks like this: |  |
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You will be provided with a small cup that you will need to pee into, this will then be sent away to be tested. The pee will be collected in a small jar that looks similar to this.
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You will also be asked to provide a blood sample. The pathologist will put a needle in your arm and draw blood in a vial that will be sent away for collection. The vial will look similar to this.
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You may also be asked to provide a swab sample. This could be for your throat, penis, anus, or front hole/vagina. You will be provided a different swab for each of the different areas. It’s likely that you will do this swab test yourself while in a bathroom. It’s important to take your time, there is no rush. It’s better for you to be comfortable and confident and take a little longer to make sure you get an accurate sample. If you need to provide a swab you will be given a swab that looks like this.
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Once you’ve collected all your samples, you can go ahead and wash your hands and return the samples for testing. Some samples may be back within 24 hours others can take a week or sometimes more. If you test positive for something, your clinician will contact you to start treatment. Treatment could include pills, injections, or topical medications, depending on what you need treatment for. Your clinician might also contact you if they can see that you don’t have immunity to things like hepatitis B. If you test positive to something and need to tell your sexual partners, visit our disclosure page for some tips.