How to Get an STI Check

As much as we love great sex, it’s even better when you know your status. Going into a clinic can be stressful, though, and not every location offers free STD testing. Even if you’re symptom-free, it’s easy to feel embarrassed even thinking about getting an STI check. It’s never anything to be ashamed of, but an STI check from home removes the public element from the equation. Arm yourself with knowledge to protect yourself and your partner (or partners, we don’t judge!) alike.

Why Regular STI Checks Matter

According to the World Health Organization, more than 1 million sexually transmitted infections are contracted each day. Specifically, it refers to curable ones, such as gonorrhea and chlamydia.

Notably, most of these infections don’t show any symptoms. That means that as long as you’re sexually active, you need to be testing.

Testing Keeps You and Your Partners Safe

Whether you have one steady partner, multiple partners you switch off with, or you cast your net far and wide, safety is crucial. Accidents can happen from infidelity to broken condoms. And while PrEP helps protect you against HIV, that’s just one of the many STIs out there.

We know it can sound intimidating, but the best sex is safe, confident sex—and that starts with knowing your status. Getting tested regularly is the best way to make sure any STIs are addressed quickly.

How to Get an STI Check at Home or Online

With MISTR, it’s easy to get a chlamydia check at home. Just make an account and answer some health-related questions. No need to stress; we talk about sex all day, and we’re here to keep it judgment-free

Virtual and At-Home Testing Options

Testing through MISTR is simple and catered to you. Make your way to one of the over 2,200 participating lab locations in the United States for fast in-person testing. (Appointments usually don’t take any more than 15 minutes!)

Prefer something more discreet? We get it. That’s why you can opt for STI testing without visiting a clinic instead. Our tests can detect HIV, chlamydia, and gonorrhea.

Please note: MISTR provides STI testing, PrEP, and DoxyPEP (in conjunction with PrEP).

What Happens During an STI Test

Whether you’re at home or in person, STI testing involves checking your blood for potential infections. Sometimes it’s a blood draw, while others (like MISTR’s testing) combine a few different methods.

Step-by-Step Overview

When you’re doing an STI check from home through MISTR, you’ll follow a few specific steps:

Run your finger under warm water for a minute or so, and then prep it with the included alcohol pad.
Prick your finger, and let your blood drip onto the testing card.
Make sure you fill the entire circle for accurate results!
Give it about 10 minutes to dry.
Package up the card in the bag provided.
You’re all done!

If you opt for multiple kinds of testing, you may also have an oral swab, a urine test, and an anal swab:

First and foremost: Keep the liquid in the tubes.
Fill the urine tube enough for the liquid to stop between the two lines.
For the oral test, swab the back of your throat for 20-30 seconds and place it in the tube as indicated.
For the anal swab, it’s the same 20-30-second time span, with the swab inserted approximately 2 inches.

When to Get Tested

Regular testing is crucial to catch any potential infections before they can impact your health. How often you should test depends on a few things, such as specific risk factors, individual biology, and the STI in question. That being said, there are some good rules of thumb to follow.

Frequency and Risk Factors

Cis and trans men alike should invest in STI checks at least once a year. If you or your sexual partners have multiple partners, that increases how frequently you should test. In that case, you’ll want to test for HIV, gonorrhea, and similar STIs every three to six months.

Less-frequent sex means you may be able to get away with testing closer to the six-month side of the spectrum. The thing is, STIs don’t always show up immediately. Gonorrhea, for example, can take up to two weeks to present. Keeping up on routine testing every three months can give you the best chances of detecting STIs and keep you and your partners safe.