Use protection and get STI tests
Protection and appropriate testing help prevent infections and find those that have no symptoms.
The number, drawn
Sexually active women under 25 should be tested for gonorrhea and chlamydia every year
Why it matters
Many sexually transmitted infections cause no early symptoms and spread unnoticed; CDC states that most STIs have no signs or symptoms. Condoms reduce transmission risk, while testing makes treatment and partner care possible. CDC recommends yearly gonorrhea and chlamydia testing for sexually active women under 25, and testing early in every pregnancy for syphilis, HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C.
How to do it
- Use condoms correctly throughout sex when there is a risk of infection.
- Discuss STI testing with a clinician, including which sites need samples based on the kinds of sex you have.
- If you are a sexually active woman under 25, ask for yearly gonorrhea and chlamydia testing.
- If a test is positive, complete treatment and follow advice on partner care and when sex can resume.
- During pregnancy, arrange the recommended infection tests early in antenatal care.
Condoms do not eliminate every STI risk. Symptoms, pregnancy or a recent possible HIV exposure need prompt clinical advice; testing timing matters.
Do it
Pick the time you have. Anything beats nothing.
Start with the time you have
1 minute
Prepare this question for a sexual health service: which tests and sample sites fit the sex I have, and when should I test?
5 minutes
Find a local sexual health service and request advice on confidential testing; mention symptoms, pregnancy or a recent exposure.
15 minutes
Prepare a private summary of exposure dates, symptoms and oral, vaginal or anal sex so the service can choose tests and timing.
A plan
Testing with follow-through
- Discuss condoms and testing with your partner before sex.
- Ask a service which tests and timing fit your exposures; seek prompt advice for a possible recent HIV exposure.
- Complete the agreed testing and make sure you receive the results.
- If positive, arrange care and follow advice about partners, treatment and when sex can resume.
In real life
- Ask whether you need throat or rectal samples as well as urine or blood tests, based on the sex you have.
- Before sex with a new partner, discuss testing and using condoms together.
Watch out for
- Common mistakeNo symptoms does not mean no infection, so ask which tests suit your situation.
- Common mistakeOne test does not cover every infection or body site, so describe your exposures when arranging testing.
Trusted guides
In Germany
In Germany, statutory insurance covers a yearly chlamydia screening test for young women under 25.
Gemeinsamer Bundesausschuss checked
In Poland, testing points (PKD) offer free, anonymous HIV tests with counselling and no referral, and most also test for syphilis and HCV. Addresses are listed on aids.gov.pl.
Ministerstwo Zdrowia checked
Check usSources
- Evidence grade
- A Meta-analyses of randomised trials, or a major guideline consensus.
- Basis
- CDC STI prevention and screening recommendations
- The number
- Sexually active women under 25 should be tested for gonorrhea and chlamydia every year (CDC, 2026)
- Tier 1 guidelineGetting Tested for STIsCDC, 2026
- Tier 1 guidelineHow to Prevent STIsCDC, 2024
General health information, not a diagnosis or an individual treatment plan. Personalization changes the order of suggestions; it does not assess your medical risks. Follow the cautions and consult a qualified clinician when needed.