Sexual health testing

If you’re having any kind of sex, you should get a sexual health test. This could be sexual contact with hands or fingers, mouths, genitals, bums or sex toys. You should get tested even if you don't have any symptoms. How often you should get tested will depend on your personal experiences (see below about how often to test).

If you do have symptoms or signs of an STI, you should contact your doctor or a sexual health clinic as soon as possible. You should let them know what symptoms you have, which can be:

• a rash or sore (on your genitals or bum)

• genital discharge or bleeding that is not normal for your body (for example, not related to your period)

• pain when urinating (peeing) or having sex.

These symptoms don't always mean you have an STI, but it's good to know so you can take steps to treat anything uncomfortable or painful.

It's good to know your STI status because it means you can do something about it. STIs don't always have symptoms, which means people have an STI in their body without being aware of it. They can then pass the STI on to a sexual partner without knowing, or it could impact their health later if it isn't treated.

STIs can be easy to treat if they're detected early.  If you get a positive result, it means you can take control of your health and help to keep your partner(s) safe.

Testing is quick and easy, and you can collect your samples yourself (except for blood).

Some services require a booking for a sexual health test; others are walk-in services. Find out how appointments are made by looking at the service’s website or contacting them.

When you arrive, let the staff at the front desk know you're there and wait for your name to be called. You will be guided into a private room by a staff member.

A staff member will ask you questions about the kinds of sex you’re having and about your life experiences (including drug use and travel), so they know what kinds of samples to collect. They are not there to judge, but to make sure they give you the best care. It is a safe space to be honest and open; they are there to help.

Questions could include:

• How many sexual partners have you had in the past 3 to 6 months? 

• When was the last time you had sex?

• What gender are your partners?

• Are you in the ‘top’ or ‘bottom’ position during anal sex?

• Do you have any symptoms of a sexually transmitted infection?

• Do you use condoms or PrEP?

If there's anything relevant to your sexual health care that they should know about, now is the time to bring it up.

Based on your answers, the clinician will determine the most appropriate tests for you. If you think they’ve missed something, or there’s a certain test you want, you can ask them. For example: ‘Can you also do a throat swab?’ or ‘I’d like you to include a blood test to check for HIV.’

They may also help answer any questions you have about STI prevention or sexual health.

A sexual health test checks fluids from different body parts, which may depend on the kind of sex you're having. Different STIs will show up on different tests, which is why there can be a few different steps, like:

• Swabs of your genitals, bum and/or throat can test for chlamydia and gonorrhoea in those locations.

• A urine (pee) sample can test for chlamydia and gonorrhoea in the genitals.

• A blood sample can test for HIV, syphilis, hepatitis A, hepatitis B and hepatitis C. 

Your nurse or doctor will take your blood and will tell you how to collect your own swabs and urine sample.

A standard sexual health test appointment usually takes around 15 to 30 minutes from start to finish. An appointment may take longer depending on individual needs such as the presence of symptoms, specific concerns you'd like to discuss or if additional support is helpful during your appointment.

HIV is detected through a blood test. This test detects the antibodies that are produced by the body when an HIV infection occurs.

You can be tested for HIV during a sexual health check (while getting tested for other STIs) or use a self-testing kit.

HIV antibodies can take up to 12 weeks (3 months) to be detected in your blood with a test. This period of time between exposure to HIV and when it shows up in a test is called a ‘window period’. Because of this window period, it is best practice to get an HIV test every 3 months if you are at risk of HIV, or 3 months after a potential exposure to HIV.

Your healthcare provider or local sexual health clinic can advise you on how frequently you should get tested based on your level of risk.

A HIV self-test kits is a HIV test that you can perform in your own home or wherever you feel comfortable. It involves a finger prick blood test with a result provided in 15 minutes after taking the test.

You can get a free HIV self-test kit from our reception (during business hours) or 24/7 using the CONNECT vending machine outside our office, thanks to the federally funded CONNECT project by Thorne Harbour Health. To get a kit through the vending machine, you just need to head to the CONNECT website, answer a few questions and provide a mobile phone number. You'll then get an SMS with a code you can use at the machine to get your free test. Using the kit is straightforward and there’s a detailed instructional video on the CONNECT website, along with plenty of other information. If you are not near Meridian or a HIV self-test kit vending machine, and you live in Australia, you can get a HIV self-test delivered to you from HIV Self-Testing Australia.

If you get a positive result, you can follow up with a doctor or nurse who will do a blood test to confirm. You can call the Meridian office for support on (02) 6257 2855 during business hours.

Results from an in-clinic sexual health test can take several days or up to a week to come back. You can talk with your doctor or nurse about how you will receive your results. Services may not contact you unless you have a positive test result, or they may contact you via text or over the phone.

Waiting for results might feel stressful or daunting, so take care of yourself while you wait and seek support if you need to.

Anyone who is having sex should get tested at least every 12 months. How often to get tested depends on the kinds of sex you’re having. Your doctor can help you decide how often is best for you.

If you're having casual sex, sex with multiple partners and/or sex without condoms, you should get a sexual health test every 3 months.

If you're monogamous (you and your partner only have sex with each other), sexual health tests are still important. STIs can stay in your body without symptoms for a long time, so you should test every 12 months.

There is no need to have a sexual health test more than every 3 months. A virus or infection takes time to build up in your body to a level where it can be detected by a test. This is called a ‘window period’, which can be several weeks or months depending on the STI. Testing too often or too soon may not give you an accurate result.

It depends where you go. Free testing is available at some clinics around Canberra (see our Free Testing Map above). Some places offer free testing for eligible groups of people like young people, students or concession card holders.

Meridian’s STRIP Clinic is a monthly service which provides free sexual health tests for LGBTIQA+ people. You can also get a sexual health check from your general practitioner (GP).

If you're not sure, you can call a service or look at their website to find out if there’s any cost for a sexual health test. Some places (like your GP) may provide low-cost appointments or offer a rebate if you have a Medicare card.

If you get a positive result, your doctor or nurse will provide information and support you through treating the STI.  Your results will remain confidential, only you and your doctor will know result.  Most STIs can be treated easily if they’re detected early. The type of treatment you take will depend on the STI, but it usually involves taking a course of medication. Medication might be taken as a course of pills, topical cream or ointment, an injection or a combination of these. STI treatment helps to manage symptoms, prevent transmission to other people, and in some cases, cure the infection.

You might be advised to not have sex for a period while you treat the STI. You should also tell your sexual partner(s) that you’ve tested positive, and that they should get tested too (see below for tips).

There’s a lot of stigma and misunderstanding around STIs. It’s OK to feel stressed or anxious about testing positive for an STI but make sure you look after yourself and seek support if you need to. Remember that STIs are common and can (and do) happen to anyone.

Testing positive for HIV 

If you test positive for HIV, your doctor will call you to come back in for more tests. Once the positive result is confirmed, a HIV specialist doctor can support you with the next steps for starting HIV treatment as soon as possible.

People living with HIV on treatment in Australia live long and healthy lives. Your results will remain confidential, only you and your doctor will know your HIV status.  

A positive HIV diagnosis can be a lot to process. Remember that HIV is a manageable condition. 

Take some time to understand the diagnosis and come to terms with how you’re feeling. But know this: you’re not alone.

In Australia, there are many services available to you through the public health system. These can help you manage HIV and include many forms of support, including counselling.

Staff at Meridian can support you with this new diagnosis and meet you where you are at with your journey. Our HIV Services include free peer support activities, HIV case management and counselling services, and we can facilitate referrals and collaboration with partner organisations in health and community support.

It’s important to let sexual partners know if you test positive so they can get tested too.

Your nurse or doctor can provide guidance and information specific to the STI.

Some benefits to telling a sexual partner that you have tested positive include:

• It signals to a partner that you value honesty and communication in the partnership.

• It may help them avoid long-term health impacts that could result from unknowingly living with an STI.

• They can give you support while you seek treatment for the STI.

• It’s the perfect opportunity to talk about how you’re managing your HIV and STI risk together in the future.

Telling a sexual partner that you have tested positive for an STI can be daunting. Remember that STIs are common and can happen to anyone, and that by telling your partners you’re helping to keep the community safer. You’re doing someone a solid by letting them know you care enough about them to make sure they stay healthy. 

Things to keep in mind about telling someone that you’ve tested positive:

• As soon as possible, arrange to tell them and check that they’re in a good space for an important conversation
• Plan how you will tell them and think about what the best approach might be for both of you.

• Have some information on the STI, though you don’t need to know everything about it. You could check out Sexual Health & Family Planning ACT’s factsheets or contact a doctor or sexual health service for specific advice specific. You could also suggest the person you’re telling gets this information themselves.

• Avoid language like ‘caught’ and ‘given’. No one is at fault here. Blame-free language can include ‘I’ve tested positive for...’ or ‘I’ve been diagnosed with...’.
• Suggest that they get a test or get their own advice from a healthcare provider.

If you’re unable to tell someone personally, there are anonymous ways to let sexual partners know they should get tested an STI, such as:

• Let Them Know

• The Drama Down Under

• Better to Know.

Use these services for legitimate purposes only and consider implications to the person who receives the message. Under Australian law, the use of a telecommunication service to menace or harass is a criminal offence.