Questions To Ask Before Testing

The following questions and concerns can be raised with the health care provider that will be testing you.

What STIs Will I Be Tested For?

The type of sex you have will determine the type of testing you should get. Usually information from the sexual health history taken by your health care provider will determine which testing you need. However, sometimes health care professionals are unaware, uninformed, or uncomfortable about the care required when working with GLBTT* people and may not test everywhere that should be tested. You may need to inform health care professionals about what kind of testing you need.

If you have oral sex, your mouth and throat should be tested. If you have anal sex, your anus should be tested. If you have vaginal sex, get your vagina and cervix tested. If you have front hole sex, get your front hole tested. If you use your penis for any kind of sex, get it tested. Tri-site testing refers to getting a urine test, throat swab, and rectal swab, which should be done for anyone who gives oral sex or receives anal sex.

How Will I Be Tested?

You can ask which types of tests will be conducted before the testing starts. Some possible testing methods include visually examining an area to look for open sores, collecting a urine sample (make sure you don’t pee within a couple hours of going for testing), getting a swab of the throat, rectum, or penis, vagina, cervix or front hole, and a pelvic exam (women and transmen).

• Urine Samples: Chlamydia and gonorrhea can be detected by a urine or swab sample.  Urine samples are much less invasive and painful than urethral swabs.  Very few sites continue to do urethral swabs.
• Blood Tests: HIV, syphilis and Hepatitis A, B & C can be detected by a blood sample. This is a common procedure where a health care practitioner will use a small needle to access your vein and take one or two vials of blood.
• Throat Swab: A throat swab will indicate if you have contracted oral gonorrhea.
• Anal Swab: Anal swabs will determine if you have contracted gonorrhea or chlamydia.
• Pap Test: HPV can be detected by having a pap test, and is important for anyone with a cervix and anyone who has receptive anal sex (an anal pap test would be performed).
• Visual: Herpes, genital warts and lice can be detected visually.
• Pelvic Exam: PID (Pelvic Inflammatory Disease) can be detected with a pelvic exam.

I Don’t Feel Comfortable With A Test

If there is any reason that a testing procedure makes you uncomfortable, you DO NOT have to get tested at that moment. Here are some things you can do:

• If you can, talk with your health care practitioner about why testing makes you uncomfortable.
• Request that another person (friend, nurse, doctor, etc.) be present in the room during testing.
• Go back to the same clinic at a later date to see if you get a different health care practitioner, or go to a different clinic.
• Sometimes you can do a test on yourself - ask about this option.
• Ask for just the test(s) that you feel comfortable with.
• Ask the health care practitioner if there are any different ways of testing for this STI (for example, sometimes a urine test can be done instead of a swab).
• Call your clinic and ask questions before arriving. Or call the STI information line to find a clinic that may better meet your needs.

How and when will I get my results?

Your results are confidential and will not be shared with anyone without your permission. If you are getting a test that requires you to wait for the results, make sure you give the health care practitioner a way of contacting you that maintains your privacy if this is a concern. For example, if you live with family or friends, can the health care practitioner leave a message? Can you get your results by email? By returning to the clinic again to inquire about your results?

Ask whether you will be informed if your tests are negative, or only if there is a positive result.

What If I Test Positive?

Some clinics offer counseling for people who test positive, particularly for STIs that are manageable, but have no cure. Consider how a potential positive test will impact you, and be prepared, either with your own supports, or ones offered by the clinic. If the clinic has no supports to offer, and you do not have supports of your own, you might consider waiting to get tested until you find a clinic or a support system (friends, family, etc.) that will be there for you if you need it.

When should I come back for my next STI test?

Ask when you should return for another test if your sexual practices/partner(s) remain the same, and if your sexual practices/partner(s) change. You may not need testing, or may be able to reduce the frequency of testing if any of the following are true:

• You have not yet had a sexual partner (for oral, vaginal, front hole, and/or anal sex).
• You have been tested since being with your last partner(s), and at least six months afterwards to test for HIV, and have not had any new sexual partner(s) since then.
• You and your partner(s) tested negative for STIs before, and at least once since, your first sexual encounter, and neither/none of you have had any new partners since then.
 Since even committed relationships experience the occasional slip-up, it’s a good idea to get tested regularly to be on the safe side.
• Your health care provider suggests that you can delay your next test for a certain amount of time if your sexual practices do not change, and you feel comfortable with this recommendation.
• It is advisable to check with a health care provider before temporarily stopping or reducing your frequency of getting STI testing.