STI Screening Intervals — How Often to Get Tested

The right STI screening frequency depends on who you are, who you have sex with, and what protection you use. Some people should test every 3 months. Some only after specific exposures. CDC publishes recommendations by population.

Here's a clear breakdown.

The short answer (by population)

Why screening matters

Most STIs:

• Are silent (no symptoms)
• Have long incubation
• Are easier to treat when caught early
• Have lifetime consequences if missed

Screening catches what symptoms don't.

CDC screening guidelines by population

All sexually active women under 25

• Annual screening for chlamydia and gonorrhea
• This is one of the highest-impact public health interventions
• Recommendation applies whether you have symptoms or not
• Recommendation applies regardless of new partners

Women 25+ with risk factors

Annual chlamydia + gonorrhea if:

• New sex partner
• Multiple sex partners
• Partner with concurrent partners
• Partner with known STI
• Inconsistent condom use
• Previous STI history
• Exchange of sex for money/drugs
• History of incarceration

All sexually active women

• HIV at least once if never tested
• Repeat HIV testing based on risk
• Hepatitis C once in lifetime (since 2020 universal screening)
• Syphilis testing in some risk situations

Pregnant women

• First prenatal visit: HIV, syphilis, hep B, hep C, chlamydia, gonorrhea (under 25 or risk), routine
• Third trimester: HIV (high-risk), syphilis (high-risk), chlamydia + gonorrhea (high-risk)
• At delivery: HIV (if status unknown), syphilis (high-risk areas), HSV active lesions
• GBS: at 36-37 weeks

See STI testing during pregnancy.

Sexually active MSM

• Every 3-6 months if sexually active with new partners:
  • HIV (4th gen Ag/Ab)
  • Syphilis
  • Chlamydia (urine, rectal, throat)
  • Gonorrhea (urine, rectal, throat)
• At least annually if monogamous
• Hep B vaccine if not immune
• Hep A vaccine if not immune
• HPV vaccine if eligible
• Mpox vaccine if eligible

MSM on HIV PrEP

Every 3 months — required:

• HIV (required to continue PrEP)
• Syphilis
• Chlamydia (urine, rectal, throat)
• Gonorrhea (urine, rectal, throat)
• Kidney function

HIV+ patients (regardless of orientation)

• At HIV diagnosis: full STI panel
• Annually: chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, hep C antibody
• More frequently if sexually active with new partners: every 3-6 months
• Annual hep B status if vaccinated
• Annual cervical cancer screening for HIV+ women per their guideline

Trans women on hormone therapy

• Annual breast exam after starting estrogen
• Routine STI screening as for MSM with similar partner patterns
• Anal cancer screening if MSM-equivalent risk
• Discuss specific concerns with provider

Sex workers

• Every 1-3 months depending on:
  • Number of clients
  • Protection used
  • Specific practices
• Same panel as MSM full screening (HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea/chlamydia at all sites)
• Hepatitis vaccines if not immune
• HIV PrEP recommended if HIV-negative
• DoxyPEP eligibility

Anyone who injects drugs

• HIV (every 6 months minimum, more if frequent injection)
• Hepatitis B (vaccine if not immune)
• Hepatitis C (annual if ongoing injection)
• Syphilis (every 6 months)

Adults with chronic conditions

• HIV+: as above
• Liver disease: hep B vaccine status, hep C screening
• Sickle cell: pre-transfusion screening
• Cancer patients before chemo: full STI panel

Specific STI screening frequencies

HIV

• All adults: at least once
• Sexually active people with new partners: annual minimum
• High-risk: every 3-6 months
• MSM on PrEP: every 3 months
• After exposure: per retest schedule

Syphilis

• MSM: at least annual; every 3-6 months if active
• HIV+: at least annual
• Pregnant women: per prenatal protocol
• Anyone with known exposure: testing per window period

Chlamydia

• Sexually active women under 25: annual
• MSM at extragenital sites: every 3-6 months if active
• After diagnosis/treatment: re-test at 3 months
• Pregnancy: first prenatal visit (and 3rd trimester if risk)

Gonorrhea

• Same as chlamydia — usually co-tested
• Extragenital screening important for MSM
• Pharyngeal test of cure 7-14 days post-treatment

Hepatitis B

• One-time screening for all adults at minimum
• High-risk: periodic re-screening
• Vaccinate if not immune
• See hep B vaccine schedule

Hepatitis C

• Universal one-time screening for all US adults (since 2020)
• Pregnant women each pregnancy
• High-risk: periodic re-screening (annual if ongoing injection use)
• See hep C cure 2026

Herpes (HSV)

• NOT routinely screened in asymptomatic people
• Tested if symptoms or known partner exposure
• See herpes blood test accuracy

HPV

• Cervical cancer screening per age-appropriate schedule (Pap + HPV co-test for women)
• Anal Pap for high-risk MSM, HIV+
• No general HPV screening for men or asymptomatic adults

Trichomoniasis

• HIV+ women: annual
• Symptomatic patients: tested
• General population: not routinely screened
• Pregnancy: if symptomatic

Mpox

• Tested if symptoms suggest
• No routine screening; vaccinate eligible MSM

LGV

• Specific testing only if symptoms (proctocolitis) in MSM
• Not part of routine panels

Mycoplasma genitalium

• Symptomatic patients or treatment failures
• Not routine

After known exposure

See when to retest after STI exposure.

After diagnosis and treatment

Re-testing for "cure"

• Chlamydia (non-pregnant): Not routinely — re-test at 3 months for reinfection
• Gonorrhea (urogenital): Not routinely — re-test at 3 months for reinfection
• Gonorrhea (pharyngeal): YES at 7-14 days, then 3 months
• Syphilis: RPR at 6 and 12 months for treatment response
• HIV: Viral load every 3-6 months ongoing
• Hep B: at 6 months for clearance vs chronic
• Hep C: SVR12 (12 weeks post-treatment) for cure
• HSV: Not retested unless new symptoms
• HPV: Per age-appropriate cervical screening

Where to get screened

• Sexual health clinics
• Primary care
• Planned Parenthood
• Local AHF clinic
• Free STI testing at health departments
• Telehealth and at-home testing

See free STI testing for low-cost options.

What the testing should include

For comprehensive screening, ask for:

• HIV (4th gen Ag/Ab)
• Syphilis (RPR + treponemal)
• Chlamydia + gonorrhea at all relevant sites (urine + rectal + throat as applicable)
• Hepatitis B status (HBsAg, anti-HBs, anti-HBc)
• Hepatitis C antibody
• Plus condition-specific tests for women: trichomoniasis, BV, yeast as relevant
• Plus consideration of Mgen, LGV, etc. if symptoms suggest

If you only get urine + blood without rectal/throat swabs as MSM — you're missing significant infections.

Common scenarios

"I'm in a long-term relationship and we both tested negative — do I still need to screen?"

• Not regularly if truly monogamous, both tested
• Window period before any baseline test should be considered
• Periodic check (every 1-3 years) reasonable
• Important to test for HIV, hep B, hep C if unknown lifetime status

"I had unprotected sex once with a new partner"

• Full STI panel at appropriate intervals
• Window periods matter
• Re-test schedule per exposure

"I have multiple partners and use condoms consistently"

• Every 3-6 months for full panel
• Condoms don't fully prevent HSV, HPV, syphilis (some)
• Annual minimum even with consistent condom use

"I'm on PrEP — do I still need to screen for other STIs?"

• YES — every 3 months while on PrEP
• PrEP only prevents HIV, not other STIs
• Bacterial STIs (chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis) detect and treat early

"I've been with my partner for years but never tested"

• Both should get full baseline
• After both negative, decreased frequency reasonable
• Consider testing before/after new exposures

Bottom line

STI screening intervals depend on:

• Sex and population
• Sexual activity patterns
• Specific risk factors
• HIV status

For most sexually active adults:

• Annual full panel at minimum
• Every 3-6 months if multiple partners, MSM, HIV+, on PrEP
• At each new partner
• After any concerning exposure

The cost of screening is trivial. The cost of not knowing is real. Modern STI care is fast, often free, and not judgmental. Build it into your routine.

For more on specific testing, see STI testing window periods, when to retest after STI exposure, HIV test types compared, and free STI testing.