STI Testing
STIs are infections that are spread between people through sexual contact.
If you’re sexually active, getting tested regularly for STIs is an important part of taking care of your sexual health.
Routine testing is important because it’s common for someone to have an STI and not have any symptoms at all. A healthcare provider may recommend STI testing in other circumstances as well.
When to get tested
There are many situations when it’s important to get tested. We recommend:
- If you’re sexually active, get tested at least once a year
- If you plan to have a new sexual partner, get tested before
- If you have multiple or casual partners, get tested every 3 months
- If you have symptoms or think you’ve been exposed, get tested immediately
How to get tested
At SHS
Complete a free online STI screening or schedule an STI testing appointment:
- Log on to Patient Connect
- On the left-hand side, select Appointments
- Select Primary care/Medical (for physical concern, illness, or injury)
- Select Sexual Health
- Choose Male, Female, or Intersex
- Select STI (Sexually Transmitted Infection) testing
- Select one of the following two options:
- I do not have symptoms of an STI. I would like to be checked for STIs as a preventative measure.
- I have symptoms of an STI and/or known exposure to an STI and would like to schedule a visit with a clinician.
- If you selected the first option, you’ll be directed to fill out a questionnaire and select Send
- If you selected the second option, you’ll be directed to schedule an online Zoom visit with a provider
Off Campus
There are many options for STI testing close to campus. Some include:
Test results & treatment options
If you are tested at SHS, your results will be sent through Patient Connect. Based on your results, a healthcare provider may contact you to discuss next steps, including any treatment.
STIs are common. All STIs are treatable, and most are curable. Treatment will usually include a prescription (such as antibiotics) and may also include in-person treatment components. It’s important to follow up with the healthcare provider promptly to discuss your treatment options and timeline.
Confidentiality
Students often want to know whether parents, spouses, or anyone else can find out about an STI test.
If you are tested at SHS, your results are confidential and sent to you through Patient Connect. However, the STI test will be included on an explanation of benefits (EOB) that is mailed to the subscriber of your health insurance plan. This means that if a parent or spouse is the health insurance policy subscriber, they may see that a STI test was performed for you.
If you have concerns about privacy regarding STI testing, you can pay for STI testing yourself or, if you have a Massachusetts-based insurance plan, contact your insurance company to request that they keep your information confidential. You can use our script when you call to request this.
Cost
The cost of STI testing will depend on where you get tested and whether you self-pay or use your health insurance plan to cover the expense.
At SHS,
- If you have the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP), STI testing is covered with no additional cost to you.
- If you have another insurance plan, the cost will depend on your insurance provider’s policy. SHS will charge the fees to your health insurance, and you can submit these for reimbursement.
- If you pay out of pocket, you can expect the following costs at SHS.
There are also many options for low-cost or free STI testing close to campus. At these community resources for STI testing, you may be able to use your insurance or self-pay. If you choose to self-pay, many community resources have a “sliding scale fee,” meaning the cost of testing is adjusted based on your income and the number of people in your household.
STI Prevention
If you are sexually active, there are many ways you can help prevent STIs:
Correct and consistent use of condoms and other barrier methods is a highly effective method to prevent STIs. BU students can get free condoms and other safer sex supplies delivered to their on- or off-campus mailbox through Condom Fairy.
Vaccines are available to prevent certain STIs, including HPV, Hepatitis A, and Hepatitis B. Make an appointment to receive a vaccine.
Routine STI testing is an important part of taking care of your sexual health if you are sexually active. Read more about timing recommendations in the “when to get tested” section above.
Open communication with your sexual partners is an essential part of STI prevention. You can talk about your current STI status, testing history, whether you have other current sexual partners, and agreements around using condoms or other barrier methods. Learn more about how to talk with a sexual partner about STIs in the “FAQ” section below.
FAQS
How are STIs transmitted?
STIs are most commonly transmitted through sexual activities that include skin-to-skin contact and fluid transmission, such as oral and penetrative sex.
What are common STI symptoms?
People often have no symptoms at all, which is why it’s so important to get tested regularly. When someone does have symptoms, they may include discharge, itching, rash, lesions (blisters, sores, or warts), pain with sex, or burning when peeing.
I don’t have any symptoms. Should I still get tested?
Yes! It’s possible to have an STI and not show any symptoms at all. Getting tested regularly can help you identify an infection early, prevent the spread of the infection to others, and block an undetected STI from causing other potential health concerns down the road.
What should I expect when I get tested for STIs?
If you are experiencing symptoms or have had an exposure to STIs, a healthcare provider will determine what tests are necessary and may also do a physical exam. You may need to provide a urine sample, vaginal or rectal swab, and possibly a throat swab.
If you have no symptoms, you will typically be tested for chlamydia, gonorrhea, HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis C. If you get tested at SHS, no appointment is required, and you can bring your sample directly to the lab. Your results will be sent to you confidentially through Patient Connect, and a provider will follow up with you about any next steps.
Will my parents find out if I get tested?
If you are tested at SHS, your
results are confidential. This is because the results are sent to you via Patient Connect and not the
subscriber of your health insurance plan (who may be a parent or spouse)
The STI test, however, will be included in an explanation of benefits (EOB) that is mailed to the subscriber of your health insurance plan. This means that if a parent or spouse is the health insurance policy holder, they may see that an STI test was performed for you.
If this is a concern, SHS provides the option to pay for STI testing yourself (“out of pocket”). If you have a Massachusetts-based insurance plan, you can also contact your insurance company to request that they keep your information confidential. This script is a resource to help you make the request.
I tested positive for an STI. What do I do now?
Many STIs can be treated, and others can be managed with the support of a healthcare provider. If you were tested at SHS, one of our healthcare providers will follow up with you about treatment options and next steps. They will recommend that you refrain from sexual activity until after you have been treated.
How can I talk with a sexual partner about STIs?
If you’re unsure how to start this conversation, here are a few tips:
- Find a comfortable time and place. Whenever possible, have a conversation before sexual activity.
- Be direct. Approach the conversation with openness. Emphasize that knowing your STI status and getting tested is important for their health and yours.
- Keep the conversation focused on health. Discussing STI status and testing isn’t about judgment! Have an open conversation, share your STI testing status, and consider suggesting that you get tested together.
If you’re feeling nervous about disclosing your STI status to a sexual partner, you are not alone – STIs are common. Here are some ideas for approaching the conversation:
- Before we have sex, let’s talk about our sexual health. I last got tested for the STIs (name of STIs), and I tested (positive or negative) for (STI). Have you had a chance to get tested?
- I take my sexual health seriously, and I care about yours too. I was recently diagnosed with (name of STI). I’m treating it. Before we have sex, we should talk about how to best practice safer sex in a way that works for us.
- I went for a routine STI test and found out I tested positive for (name of STI). Since we’ve been involved, I wanted to let you know so you can get tested, since sometimes STIs don’t show any symptoms.
- I got my results back and tested positive for (name of STI). It’s treatable, and I was prescribed medication. I’ll get tested again soon to make sure it’s gone. You probably have some questions. Let’s talk about it?
If you feel unsafe in your relationship, please tell your healthcare provider. SHS can help support you through services from SARP.
