Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are infections that can be passed from one person to another through vaginal, oral, or anal sex.
Unfortunately, a lot of the time, you can’t. Most STIs don’t have any symptoms which means that it’s pretty easy for someone to have an STI and not know about it. That’s why it’s so important to get tested regularly and always use condoms when you have oral, vaginal, or anal sex.
If left untreated, STIs can cause some serious health issues so the sooner you know you have an STI, the better.
Take our 20 second Could I have an STI? quiz to see if you need to get an STI test.
STI testing is the process of running medical tests to check for any sexually transmitted infections (STIs). It is quick, easy, and confidential. Most STI tests only require a blood test and a urine sample but may also involve a self-collected swab.
STIs can be spread during oral, vaginal, or anal sex and are more common than you might think. However, many STIs don’t show any symptoms, which is why getting tested every 6-12 months is important to protect you and your partner/s and to ensure any STIs are treated as quickly as possible.
If you haven’t had an STI test before, or it’s been a while since your last test, it can be hard to know where to start.
The good news is that there are so many different places that offer STI testing in NSW including in person, telehealth and online options.
Anyone who is sexually active (has ever had oral, vaginal, or anal sex) needs to get tested for STIs. Remember, many STIs don’t show any symptoms, which is why getting tested every 6-12 months is important to keep you and your partner/s safe.
STI testing is widely available across NSW and can be done through a number of different services. The best way to find your local STI testing location is to visit the healthdirect website. Some of the different types of STI testing services include:
General practitioners (GPs) are medical doctors and are who most people see to get an STI test.
Not only can GPs order STI tests, but they can also give you information about STI prevention, provide you with treatment if needed and even connect you to specialised services and counselling if required.
If you have a Medicare card and get an STI test at a bulk-billing GP practice, it will be free. If you get an STI test at a non-bulk billing or part-bulk billing GP practice, the pathology (urine and blood tests) will be free, but there may be a cost to see the doctor to get the test.
GPs are trained to diagnose and treat a wide range of health issues, including STIs.
There are a number of NSW Health funded sexual health clinics across NSW that provide a range of sexual health services to those most at risk of STIs and HIV. These clinics are confidential and free but most clinics only have the capacity to see people most at risk of STIs and HIV. To find out where to you can get tested, call the NSW Sexual Health Infolink on 1800 451 624 or visit the healthdirect website.
Some community youth centres offer free STI testing and other sexual health services if you’re under the age of 25. Visit the headspace website and filter your search results to view locations near you.
There’s a number of specialised LGBTQIA+ sexual health services in NSW that offer STI testing including, aTEST and Check OUT clinic. All NSW Health sexual health services are also available to the LGBTQIA+ community.
Aboriginal Medical Services, also known as AMSs, are health centres that provide culturally safe healthcare and services to Aboriginal people across the state. All AMSs have sexual health services available on site and are bulk billed.
Family Planning NSW is an independent, non-profit organisation that offers reproductive and sexual health services. Capacity is limited, so it’s best to call in advance and make an appointment.
Telehealth services usually involve having an online video conversation with a doctor instead of visiting a doctor in person. Depending on the reason for your appointment, this option may not be suitable, especially if you are experiencing any suspected STI symptoms.
If the doctor thinks that you should be tested for STIs, they will email or text you a pathology referral. You can then visit the relevent pathology provider/service to get the tests you need.
If you have a Medicare card, the tests may be free but you may still need to pay the doctor for the appointment, There are many telehealth/online options so it’s a good idea to compare prices and choose a service with Australian registered doctors.
No matter who you are, where you live, or what your sexual health needs are, there’s an STI testing service for you. When choosing an STI testing service it’s a good idea to consider:
STI testing services are available across NSW, but if you live in a regional or rural area, online/telehealth STI testing could be a good option for you.
Many STI testing services are free, including bulk-billing GPs (if you have a Medicare card), some telehealth services, sexual health clinics (for people at most risk), Aboriginal Medical Services (AMSs) and other STI testing services run by community organisations (aTEST, headspace, Family Planning etc.
There are a range of STI testing services that provide specialist services to different communities including:
At any service you can usually ask to see a doctor or nurse that is male, female or gender diverse depending on who you feel comfortable with. Availability will vary depending on the individual service, so it’s best to call ahead of time to find out more.
If at any time during your appointment you feel uncomfortable or unsafe, you can ask to end the appointment and visit another sexual health service.
This will help determine what type of STI testing service you need. If you’re experiencing symptoms, it’s best to get them checked in person by a doctor or nurse.
It’s also important to consider things like what transport or parking options are available, whether you have any physical or sensory needs or will require language/translation support.. It’s always a good idea to contact the STI testing service to see if they can meet your needs before making an appointment.
Every STI testing service will have different opening hours, so it’s important to consider when you might be able to go when choosing an STI testing service.
If you have a Medicare card and visit a bulk-billing GP, Aboriginal Medical Service (AMS) or sexual health clinic, your STI test should be free.
If you have a Medicare card and get tested at a ‘non bulk-billing’ or ‘part bulk-billing’ location, like a private doctors office, the pathology (tests) are usually bulk-billed (free), but there may be a cost to see the doctor to get the test.
If you don’t have a Medicare card, you have the option to pay out of pocket but you can also explore whether you may be covered for free STI testing under a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement, Overseas Visitors Health Cover (OVHC) or Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC).
If you’re worried about the cost of getting an STI test, find a testing location near you and give them a call or send them an email asking how much it would cost to get an STI test. They may ask you a couple of questions to help determine if your visit will be covered by Medicare or not and let you know an estimated price.
Bulk billing is when the government pays for the cost of seeing a doctor if you have a Medicare card. This means if you see a doctor that bulk bills 100% of their fees, it won’t cost you a thing! Many doctors will bulk bill people under 16, students, and healthcare concession cardholders but it’s worth checking with the service directly to be sure.
Yes, you can still get an STI test even if you don’t have a Medicare card. You may have to pay to see the doctor, but the actual STI test (pathology) is often free if you are covered by a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement, Overseas Visitors Health Covers (OVHC) or Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC).
We typically suggest getting an STI test every 6-12 months, but this will depend on a number of things including how many sexual partners you have, what kind of sex you have, your sexual health history, what medication you take (e.g. PrEP), if you are pregnant, or looking to become pregnant, and more. That’s why it’s important to be honest about your sexual history with your doctor or nurse so they can give you the best advice. You can also speak to a sexual health nurse over the phone for free via our confidential Sexual Health Infolink service.
Like any medical information, getting an STI test is 100% confidential. If you’re concerned, we’d suggest speaking with the STI testing service to find out more about this. Alternatively, you can speak anonymously to a qualified sexual health nurse for free by calling 1800 451 624.
If you would like more information about confidentiality laws in NSW visit NSW Health, or if you’re under the age of 16 check out Youth Law Australia.
During a sexual health check-up or STI test, you will be asked questions relating to your sexual health that may feel a little embarrassing. These are standard questions that your doctor should ask every patient. While many of these questions are quite personal, it’s important to answer as honestly as you can so that your doctor can better support your health needs. You can skip any questions you prefer not to answer.
Here are some questions you might be asked along with general questions about your overall health and lifestyle:
Remember, if during your appointment you feel uncomfortable or unsafe in any way, you can ask to end the appointment and visit another sexual health service.
The Australian STI Management Guidelines (which tell doctors to know what STI tests to run) recommend that as a minimum, every STI test includes checking for chlamydia, gonorrhoea, HIV and syphilis. Some online testing services offer tests for more infections, but these tests are often unnecessary and not very helpful in most cases.
The exact tests you receive will depend on a number of things, including the type of STI testing service you visit, your overall health, your sexual health history, whether you have any symptoms and how experienced your doctor is when it comes to sexual health and STI testing.
This is why it’s important to be open with your doctor/nurse and answer all their questions honestly, so they can give you the best care possible.
No. It usually takes a few days to process any blood, urine or swab samples that you provided when you got tested. Your doctor will usually contact you directly or ask you to book another appointment to go through your results. If you test positive for an STI, your doctor will chat to you about what treatment you may need.
There are some rapid STI/HIV tests available, but they aren’t as common.
It might feel scary, but open and honest communication with your partner/s about sexual health, STI testing and whether you have an STI is really important. Don’t stress though, you can always check out our top tips for tackling this conversation on our blog.
If you’ve been diagnosed with a sexually transmissible infection (STI), you might be feeling a bit overwhelmed, worried, or unsure about what’s next. That’s why we put together a step by step guide that will help you figure out what you need to do if you just found out you have an STI.
No worries! We have a team of qualified sexual health nurses who can help answer any questions you may have about sex or sexual health for free.. They’re easy to talk to and all conversations are 100% confidential.
If you need further support around getting an STI test, interpreting your results, or figuring out what to do if you have tested positive for an STI, check out these services:
