Testing Guide
Know when to get tested, what each test detects, window periods, and what to expect. Regular STI screening is one of the most important things you can do for your sexual health.
Recommended Testing Schedule
| Population | Frequency | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| All sexually active women <25 | Annually | Chlamydia, Gonorrhea |
| Women 25-65 | Every 3-5 years | HPV/Pap |
| Pregnant women | First prenatal visit; syphilis at delivery | HIV, Syphilis, HBV, Chlamydia, Gonorrhea |
| MSM (sexually active) | At least annually; every 3-6 months if multiple partners | HIV, Syphilis, Chlamydia, Gonorrhea (all sites) |
| People with HIV | At least annually | Syphilis, Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, HCV |
| Everyone 13-64 | At least once; more often if risk factors | HIV |
| New sexual partner | Before/early in new relationship | Full panel recommended |
Testing Windows by STI
| STI | Test Type | Window Period |
|---|---|---|
| HIV/AIDS | 4th-gen: 18-45 days; Rapid Ab: 23-90 days; NAT: 10-33 days | |
| Chlamydia | 1-2 weeks after exposure | |
| Gonorrhea | 2-6 days after exposure | |
| Syphilis | 3-6 weeks after exposure (blood tests) | |
| Herpes (HSV-1 & HSV-2) | IgG blood test: 2-12 weeks after exposure. Swab: during active outbreak. | |
| HPV (Human Papillomavirus) | No reliable test for current infection in men (no FDA-approved test). Cervical HPV testing starts at age 25. | |
| Trichomoniasis | 5-28 days | |
| Mycoplasma genitalium | 2-5 weeks | |
| Hepatitis B | 4-10 weeks | |
| Molluscum Contagiosum | 2 weeks to 6 months |