STI testing and prevention
Many urgent care clinics offer confidential STI testing and treatment without a primary care referral. Many STIs cause no symptoms at all, so testing is the only way to know.
Go to the ER or call 911 if
- Severe pelvic or abdominal pain
- Fever with pelvic pain
- Pregnant with bleeding or severe pain
- Possible HIV exposure and no clinic can see you today (PEP must start within 72 hours)
What urgent care can usually do
- Testing for common STIs
- Treatment for many infections
- Starting HIV PEP after a possible exposure, at many locations
- Referral for ongoing care
Steps that lower your risk
- Use condoms or other barriers every time. They greatly reduce the risk of HIV, gonorrhea and chlamydia and lower the risk of others.
- Get tested regularly. The CDC recommends at least one HIV test for everyone 13 to 64, and yearly chlamydia and gonorrhea testing for sexually active women under 25 and others at higher risk.
- Get vaccinated. The HPV and hepatitis B vaccines prevent infections that spread through sex.
- Ask about PrEP if you're at ongoing risk for HIV. It's a prescription that prevents HIV when taken as prescribed.
- Talk with partners about testing, and get tested together when you can.
If you may have just been exposed
- For a possible HIV exposure (condom broke, unprotected sex with a partner whose status you don't know, sexual assault), ask about PEP right away. It has to start within 72 hours, and sooner is better.
- Some infections take time to show up on a test. A clinician can tell you when to test and whether to retest.
- If you test positive, your recent partners need to be told so they can get tested and treated. Health departments can notify partners without using your name.
- If you were sexually assaulted, the ER can provide care, testing and evidence collection. You can also call the RAINN hotline at 1-800-656-4673.
What to bring
- Photo ID and insurance card (or ask about self-pay)
- When the exposure or symptoms started
Free and low-cost testing
- CDC GetTested ↗ finds free and confidential STI and HIV testing near you, including health department clinics.
- Community health centers ↗ charge on a sliding scale based on income.
- More on free and low-cost care →
Nearest clinics
Sorted by distance only. Call ahead to confirm hours and services.
Other guides
General information to help you choose where to go. It isn't a diagnosis or medical advice. A clinician will decide on testing and treatment. Last reviewed October 2026. Editorial standards