If you think you may have an STI, you can get tested by a doctor.
You can freely talk to the doctor. He/she needs to have as much information as possible to be able to help you. A doctor cannot give any information about you to anybody else. He/she is obliged by law to respect your privacy.
Woman talking with a doctor
STI test
A test is done as follows:
- The doctor ask you about what kind of sex you have had, if you have had any symptoms and what symptoms you have.
- If you have had any symptoms, the doctor examines your visible sexual organs, mouth or anus.
- The doctor considers which tests you should take. This might be a urine sample, a swab from the vagina, throath or anus, or a blood sample.
- The doctor sends the samples to a lab for testing.
- The doctor receives the result of the test about 1 week later.
- The doctor explains the result and talks with you about the next steps. If necessary, he/she will give you medicines to treat the STI. Most stis can be cured or their symptoms can be treated.
Doctor taking a blood sample
Doctor taking a swab from the mouth
