Good question!
There are a few different types of tests that health care providers use to test for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). A pee test may be able to detect chlamydia or gonorrhea, but urine alone won’t give a complete picture of someone’s sexual health status. It’s recommended that people get a full screen which may include blood work, and/or a swab of the genitals, bum or throat. If there are any sores present, they will likely swab those to diagnose and treat them.
If you are sexually active, talk with your doctor or nurse about STI testing. The provider will complete a sexual health assessment with you by asking what kind of sexual activity you engage in and recommend the tests that they think are suitable to you. It’s always up to you which types of samples are taken. They will let you know when the results should be available and may also be able to help you work out a timeline of how often you may want to be tested.
