Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) test

Most sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can be easily treated. You only know if you have an STI when you have been tested. A healthcare provider can test you.
You can freely talk to a healthcare provider. They have all of the information needed to help you. A healthcare provider cannot give any information about you to anybody else. They are obliged by law to respect your privacy.

An STI test is done as follows:

• The healthcare provider checks with you what kind of sex you had and will ask about any symptoms.
• The healthcare provider examines your sexual organs, mouth and anus to check for symptoms.
• The healthcare provider often takes a blood sample or asks for a urine sample. The healthcare provider can also take a swab from the places which may be infected (e.g. mouth, throat, anus, vagina, pee hole).
• The healthcare provider sends the samples to a lab for testing.
• The healthcare provider receives the result of the lab test same-day or about one week later.
• The healthcare provider explains the result to you and talks with you about the next steps. If necessary, they will give you medicines to treat the STI. Most STIs can be cured or their symptoms can be treated.

You have to pay for the visit to the healthcare provider if you don't have health insurance. You will also pay lab costs. The exact price depends on how many STI tests are done.
The healthcare provider receives the test result, but the invoice is given to you. The invoice only states that your blood and urine was tested but does not say why.

Talk to your healthcare provider about the test and what the results mean.

It is best for a woman to have a smear test of the cervix from the age of 25 if she has already had sex (sexual intercourse). This smear test serves to discover diseases, such as cervical cancer, or sexually transmitted infections (STIs), such as HPV.