How Often Should You Get Tested for STDs?

STD testing isn’t one-size-fits-all. How often you should be tested depends on your age, your partners, your anatomy and what kind of sex you have. CDC and the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) both publish screening advice, and it breaks down by group. Here is how it looks in plain terms.

How often should you get tested for STDs?

The short version is that some tests are one-time, some are yearly, and a few are every 3 to 6 months for people at higher risk. STIs often have no symptoms, so a schedule beats guessing.

CDC’s own summary is general: how often depends on factors like location, age, sexual history and practices, and symptoms. The groups below are CDC’s examples.

Which tests does everyone need, at least once?

• HIV. CDC says everyone aged 13 to 64 should get tested at least once. The USPSTF recommends screening for ages 15 to 65.
• Hepatitis C. CDC says all adults 18 and older should be tested at least once. The USPSTF recommends screening adults 18 to 79.
• Hepatitis B. CDC says all adults 18 and older should be tested at least once, and people with ongoing risk need periodic testing.

None of these need symptoms or a known exposure.

How often should women get tested?

• Under 25 and sexually active: chlamydia and gonorrhea every year (CDC). The USPSTF recommends screening for women 24 or younger.
• 25 and older: chlamydia and gonorrhea yearly if you are at increased risk, such as a new or multiple partners (CDC).
• Pregnant: CDC says syphilis, HIV, and hepatitis B and C early in pregnancy. Hepatitis B and C testing is repeated in each pregnancy.

How often should men get tested?

• Men who have sex with men: CDC says syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea and HIV at least yearly. Those with multiple or anonymous partners may need testing every 3 to 6 months.
• Men who have sex with women: CDC says there is insufficient evidence to recommend routine chlamydia and gonorrhea screening for heterosexual men at low risk. Test if you have symptoms, a new partner, or a partner who tests positive. HIV and hepatitis testing still apply.

CDC also says people who have had oral or anal sex should talk with a provider about throat and rectal testing.

What about other groups?

• People with HIV: CDC says screen for chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis at the first HIV evaluation and at least yearly after.
• People who share injection equipment: HIV at least yearly (CDC).
• Transgender and gender diverse people: CDC says screening should adapt to anatomy, and HIV screening should be discussed and offered.

When should I test sooner than my schedule?

Any time something changes. Test sooner if you have symptoms, a new partner, a partner who tests positive, or a condom that breaks. After a specific exposure, timing matters, because a test taken too soon can miss an infection. See when to get tested after sex for the windows.

What about herpes and HPV?

CDC does not recommend routine herpes blood tests for people without symptoms in the general population, and its screening table says type-specific herpes blood testing can be considered for women presenting for an STI evaluation. For men there is no HPV test (see is there an HPV test for men). People with a cervix get HPV testing as part of cervical screening.

Where can I get tested?

A doctor, clinic, urgent care or health department can all test. CDC’s GetTested site lists free or low-cost, confidential testing. You can also order online and visit a lab, which is covered on our other pages. Whichever you choose, tell them what kind of sex you have, so they test the right body sites.