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Sexual Health Testing

A sexual health test is a medical test that checks your body for Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and Blood Borne Viruses (BBVs – we’ll include BBVs when we talk about STIs from here onwards). 

STIs are bugs or viruses that can be passed from one person to another during sexual contact. This can include using hands or fingers, mouths, genitals, bums or sex toys. 

  • If you’re having any kind of sex you should get a sexual health test. 
  • Knowing your STI status puts you in charge of your health, and testing is quick and easy to access. 
  • STIs don't always have symptoms - getting tested is the only way to know for sure.
  • Depending on the kinds of sex you’re having, you should test between every 3 months to every 12 months – your clinician can help you decide how often is best for you.
  • Most STIs can be easily treated if they're detected early. 

We’ve put together a map of sites across the ACT that offer free sexual health tests. The pins in green are open and free for anyone, and the pins in orange have some eligibility requirements. Click on a pin for more information about the service, and how to book it in. 

You can also visit your regular GP for a sexual health test. 

Meridian runs a free monthly sexual health testing clinic called STRIP, which is a safe and confidential service for LGBTIQA+ people. STRIP Clinic is for people who are not experiencing symptoms of STIs. The clinic is run with friendly and professional nurses and doctors from Canberra Sexual Health Centre. Find out more about STRIP Clinic here. 

Sexual Health Testing: Frequently Asked Questions 

Who needs a sexual health test? 

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 (eg. 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. 

Why Get Tested? 

STIs don't always have symptoms, which means people can carry a bug or virus in their body without being aware of it. People can then pass the STI on to a sexual partner without knowing, or it could impact their health at a later time if it isn't treated.  

STIs can be easy to treat if they're detected early, but not all STIs can be cured. If you get a positive result, it means you can do something about it, 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 your blood). 

What happens during a sexual health test? 

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

When you arrive, let the staff at the front desk know you've arrived, 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 questions 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 3-6 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? 
  • They may also help answer any questions you have about prevention or sexual health. 

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

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 (genitals, bum, throat) - Swabs can test for chlamydia and gonorrhoea in the throat, genitals, internal reproductive organs (e.g. cervix), or anus.  
  • A urine (pee) sample - A urine sample can test for chlamydia and gonorrhoea in the genitals.
  • Blood test  - A blood sample can test for HIV, syphilis, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C. 

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

A standard sexual health test appointment usually takes around 15–30 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. 

How do I test for HIV? 

You can be tested for HIV during a sexual health check (blood test), but self-testing kits are also available. HIV antibodies can take up to 12 weeks (three months) to be detected in your blood with a test. If you are at risk of HIV, you should test every three months. A ‘window period’ is the amount of time between exposure to HIV and when it shows up in a test. HIV may not show up on a test if you have been exposed to it within this ‘window period’. That’s why getting tested every three months is important to know your status. 

If you think you have been exposed to HIV in the last 72 hours (3 days), start PEP (Post-Exposure Prophylaxis) now. PEP is a month-long course of medication that helps prevent HIV infection after a possible exposure to HIV. In Canberra, you can access PEP from the Emergency Departments of Canberra Hospital and North Canberra Hospital, and during business hours at the Canberra Sexual Health Centre. Click here to learn more about PEP.

Rapid or Self-Test Kits use a finger prick blood test that you can do yourself and will give you a result within 15 minutes. The advantage of HIV Self-Test Kits is that you can do it at home or somewhere you feel comfortable. Meridian sells ATOMO HIV Self Tests from our office and our online store. If you get a positive result, you can follow up with a doctor or nurse who will do a blood test to confirm. Self-Test Kits will have information about follow-up testing, or you can call the Meridian office for support (02) 6257 2855. 

When will I know my test results? 

Test results can take several days or up to a week to come back to your clinic. You can discuss 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. 

When do I need a sexual health test? 

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. 

Does it cost anything to get tested? 

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 youth, 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 ahead or look at a service 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. 

What if I get a positive test result? 

It's good to know your status because it means you can do something about it. Your doctor or nurse will provide information, and support you through treating the STI. Most STIs can be treated easily if they’re detected early. Some STIs can only be treated and not cured. 

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 happen to anyone.  

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, or an injection (or a combination of these). 

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). 

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, your doctor can help 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. And you can still have a full and healthy life as someone living with HIV. 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.  Meridian’s HIV-positive services offers free peer to peer support activities, HIV case management, counselling services, and can facilitate referrals and collaboration with partner organisations in health and community support. Meridian also offers free counselling for people living with HIV and people impacted by HIV in the ACT.

How do I let my partner/s know that I’ve tested positive? 

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: 

  • 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 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 when you tell someone that you’ve tested positive: 

  • Tell them as soon as you can and suggest that they get a test (check that they’re in a good space for an important conversation) 
  • Plan how you will tell someone and think about what the best approach might be for both of you. 
  • Avoid language like ‘caught’ and ‘given’ - no one is at fault here. Blame free language can include ‘I’ve tested positive for...’, ‘I’ve been diagnosed with...’.  

If you’re unable to tell someone personally, there are anonymous ways to let sexual partners know if you test positive for an STI. Use one of these websites to notify sexual partners that they should get tested:  

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.  

A note on stigma: 

There are lots of reasons why people might worry about getting an STI, and shame is a big one. Fear of shame or judgement (from a partner, doctor, friend, etc.) can stop us from wanting to get checked in the first place. Unfortunately, this means that if we do have an STI, it might impact our health more seriously because we delay finding out our STI status. 

It might feel uncomfortable or intimidating to talk to your doctor or seek out a sexual health service, but it's better to know your STI status so you can seek treatment and support if you need to. 

Proactive behaviours around sexual health testing, like talking about your status with partners, encouraging your friends or sexual partners to get tested, accessing and staying connected with you local GP/sexual health service all help to reduce stigma around sexual health testing and STIs.