STD Information
Eight sexually transmitted infections account for the large majority of new cases. Four of them can be cured outright; the other four are viral and are managed rather than cured. Start with the infection you are worried about, or with the symptom you noticed.
Not sure which test you need?
A 10-test panel covers the infections below that have a blood or urine test. No appointment needed at most locations.
The infections
Each one has its own page covering symptoms, testing and treatment.
ChlamydiaThe most reported STI in the U.S. Most people have no symptoms.Curable · View →GonorrheaOften occurs alongside chlamydia, and is tested on the same panel.Curable · View →SyphilisMoves through four stages. Curable at any stage, but damage can be permanent.Curable · View →TrichomoniasisA curable parasitic infection, and the most common one of its kind.Curable · View →HIVManageable with treatment. The window period depends on which test is used.Manageable · View →HerpesHSV-1 and HSV-2. Very common, lifelong, and controlled with medication.Manageable · View →Hepatitis BA vaccine-preventable liver infection. Our menu also covers A and C.Manageable · View →MycoplasmaA common bacterial STI that most standard panels do not test for.Curable · View →HPVThe most common STI overall. Most cases clear on their own.Manageable · View →
Curable or manageable?
Curable means a course of medication clears the infection. Manageable means the virus stays in the body but treatment controls it.
| Infection | Curable? | What we test |
|---|---|---|
| Chlamydia | Curable | Urine |
| Gonorrhea | Curable | Urine |
| Syphilis | Curable | Blood |
| Trichomoniasis | Curable | Urine |
| HIV | Manageable | Blood |
| Herpes | Manageable | Blood |
| Hepatitis B | Manageable | Blood |
| Mycoplasma | Curable | Urine |
| HPV | Manageable | No blood or urine test |
Curability follows the WHO STI fact sheet: syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia and trichomoniasis are curable; hepatitis B, herpes simplex, HIV and HPV are viral.
Start with a symptom
Symptoms overlap heavily between infections, and many infections cause none at all. These pages cover what a given symptom does and does not tell you.
Sources
This page is informational and is not medical advice.
