STD Testing for Women: Which Tests and How It Works

Searching for a female STD test can turn up very different things: a swab, a urine cup, a blood panel or a Pap test. Only some of those are STD tests. Here is what each one does.

Which STD tests do women need?

It depends on your age, partners, pregnancy and sexual practices. The usual building blocks are:

• Chlamydia and gonorrhea. The CDC recommends yearly screening for sexually active women under 25. Women 25 and older should be screened if at increased risk, such as a new partner, multiple partners, or a partner with an STI. The USPSTF recommends screening for women 24 or younger and older women at increased risk.
• HIV. The CDC says all women aged 13 to 64 should be screened, and anyone seeking STI care.
• Syphilis. Screening is recommended for women at increased risk, and for all pregnant women at the first prenatal visit.
• Hepatitis B and C. The CDC recommends each at least once for adults 18 and older, and during each pregnancy.
• Trichomoniasis. The CDC says to consider screening in high-prevalence settings and for women at high risk, with yearly screening for women with HIV.
• Herpes blood test. The CDC says it can be considered for women seeking STI evaluation, but routine screening in pregnancy isn’t recommended.

Is a Pap test an STD test?

No. A Pap test is a cervical cancer screening. WomensHealth.gov says it isn’t used to find STIs, and “you must ask your doctor to test you for STIs if you want to have STI testing.” The CDC says Pap tests and HPV tests shouldn’t be considered screening tests for STIs.

The CDC’s cervical screening schedule is separate. For ages 21 to 29 it lists cytology every 3 years. For ages 30 to 65, it lists cytology every 3 years or cytology plus HPV testing every 5 years. Ask at the same visit, but ask for each test by name. If you’re a transgender man or nonbinary person with a cervix, the CDC says cervical screening should follow current guidelines and other STI screening should be adapted to your anatomy.

Is a swab or urine sample better?

The CDC says vaginal swabs are the optimal sample for chlamydia and gonorrhea in women, and urine is also accepted. You can collect the swab yourself. The CDC says patient-collected vaginal swabs perform equivalently to clinician-collected ones. Some trichomoniasis tests use vaginal swabs, and others use urine.

Swabs from the throat or rectum are separate. The CDC says people who have had oral or anal sex should talk with a provider about throat and rectal testing options.

What about pregnancy?

Tell your prenatal clinician what testing you want. The CDC says pregnant people should be screened early in pregnancy for syphilis, HIV, and hepatitis B and C. It also says pregnant women under 25, and older women at increased risk, should be screened for chlamydia and gonorrhea, with a repeat in the third trimester if under 25 or at risk. It doesn’t recommend routine HSV-2 blood screening for pregnant women.

Can I test at home?

In 2025 the FDA authorized a home test for chlamydia, gonorrhea and trichomoniasis for females with or without symptoms, with results in about 30 minutes. The FDA says a positive result means you should seek medical care, and someone with symptoms or a recent exposure should contact a provider even after a negative result. Lab-based kits and online orders are other options.

How much does it cost?

Prices vary by provider and plan. Healthcare.gov lists chlamydia screening for younger women and other women at higher risk among covered preventive services, generally at no cost in-network, though $0 isn’t guaranteed. If cost is the issue, the CDC’s GetTested site lists confidential free or low-cost clinics.

When should I test?

Timing depends on the infection, and a test taken too soon can miss one. Use the window-period calculator for your dates, and see the test finder to match tests to your situation.