There should be no shame in taking care of your health!

Getting yourself tested can be nerve-racking, but it is always better to know your STI/HIV status so that you can keep yourself -- and your sexual partner(s) -- healthy.

Getting yourself tested is a normal part of being a sexually active person.

Getting yourself tested puts you in control.

If you are sexually active, then yes! Half of all sexually active people will get an STI by the age of 25, and most won't know it because they won't always have symptoms. So, a person might feel perfectly healthy but still have an infection.

No matter which type(s) of sex you've had -- whether oral, vaginal or anal -- you generally need to get yourself tested at least once every year. If barriers (i.e., condoms, dental dams, and/or capes) are not used every time you have sex, or if you have multiple partners, then you might benefit from getting yourself testedmore frequently.

Everyone's specific STI/HIV testing needs are different, so talk to your healthcare provider about which tests are most appropriate for you!

Explore the current STI/HIV testing recommendations according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

In general, every sexually active person needs to get themselves tested at least once per year for: chlamydia, gonorrhea, and HIV. There are other sexually transmitted infections -- such as syphilis, herpes, hepatitis and HPV -- so talk to your healthcare provider about which tests might be best for you. You can also check out CDC's Get Tested tool that makes testing recommendations for you based on your responses.

For tailored care, talk to your healthcare provider about the type(s) of sex you have had (oral, vaginal, and/or anal) and -- if applicable -- whether you were a receptive partner (bottom), insertive partner (top) or both (vers). Throat and/or anal swabs might need to be collected for more thorough testing. If you use it, test it!

Your test may include:

• Physical exam – Your health care provider may examine you for any signs of an infection, such as a rash, discharge, sores or warts. For people with a vulva, this exam can be similar to a pelvic exam.
• Urine sample – You may be asked to pee into a cup. Urine samples can be used to test for chlamydia and gonorrhea.
• Discharge, tissue, cell or oral fluid sample – Your provider will use a swab to collect samples that will be looked at under a microscope. These samples can test for certain STIs. For example, if you have sores, a swab might be used to test for herpes. Also, if you have received anal sex (bottomed), you might need to get an anal swab to check for chlamydia and gonorrhea.
• Blood sample – Your provider may take a blood sample, either with a needle or by pricking the skin to draw drops of blood. These can be used, for example, to test for syphilis or HIV.

Make sure you know what you’re being tested for!

For tailored care, talk to your healthcare provider about the type(s) of sex you have had (oral, vaginal, and/or anal) and -- if applicable -- whether you were a receptive partner (bottom), insertive partner (top) or both (vers). Throat and/or anal swabs might need to be collected for more thorough testing. If you use it, test it!