A service provided by the BC Centre for Disease Control
In the years since SmartSexResource launched, we have developed a library of questions asked by you, and answered by our expert sexual health nurses.
Our answered questions library cover a broad range of sexual health topics and common questions we hear at our clinics.
It’s normal to want to be sure, but getting every possible test isn’t always helpful — and can sometimes cause confusion or worry. STI testing recommendations are based on research and guidelines that help decide which tests are needed and when.
Our bodies naturally have some bacteria and viruses that don’t cause harm, and don’t need treatment. That’s why we recommend tests based on your situation, to make sure you get the care that’s right for you.
In BC, the only HPV test available is used for cervix screening. This means you can’t ask your doctor, clinic, or lab for an HPV test, even if a sexual partner tells you they have HPV.
There are a few reasons for this. The HPV test used in cervix screening only checks for the types of HPV linked to cervical cancer. It does not test for the types that cause genital warts, other types of cancer, or the types that don’t cause any symptoms at all.
Instead of testing everyone for HPV, health care providers look for signs or complications from the infection and follow up if needed.
Mycoplasma genitalium is a common infection that often causes no symptoms and usually goes away on its own without treatment. In most cases testing or treatment isn’t needed unless you’re having symptoms.
Because of this, testing for Mycoplasma genitalium isn’t recommended for most people. STI testing recommendations are based on research and guidelines that help decide which tests are needed and when. Unnecessary testing and treatment can lead to using antibiotics when they’re not needed. This can make it harder to treat infections in the future.
If you do have symptoms like unusual discharge, pain when peeing, or pelvic discomfort, talk to a health care provider. They can help decide if testing is right for you.
Over time bacteria can change and evolve. These changes can make it so that certain medication no longer works to treat the infection. This is called antibiotic resistance.
The bacteria that cause gonorrhea have changed and some of the medicine we have used no longer works as well against them. We have to use different medicine that can stop the infection. Learn more about gonorrhea treatment and antibiotic resistance with this handout.
After you have had syphilis, future blood tests will show that you have antibodies, which is your body’s memory of the infection.
Your blood tests will show if you have a new infection or not. This is because each blood sample will have 3 tests performed on it to help get a full picture.
It is important to get syphilis blood testing every three to six months after treatment to make sure that the treatment was effective. Repeat blood testing for syphilis will also let us know if there is a new infection so it can be treated as quickly as possible.
After treatment your future blood tests will show that you have antibodies for syphilis, which is your body’s memory of the infection. The number of antibodies should continue to go down over the next year or two.
It can take up to 3 months after sexual contact for a blood test to show that someone has syphilis, so your partner could still have the infection even if they tested negative. This means that you could be re-infected if you have sex before they are treated.
By looking at your test results, symptoms and medical history, your healthcare provider can get a good idea of how long you may have been infected with syphilis.
If you are diagnosed with syphilis, all sexual partners from the last 3 months will be asked to get treatment as well as testing.
You might experience discomfort or pain during or after injectable syphilis treatment. Some options to reduce this include: