Go to Content Go to Navigation Go to Navigation Go to Site Search Homepage


STI Testing & Treatment

Planned Parenthood health centers offer judgment-free STI testing, treatment, and prevention, including HIV prevention (PrEP and nPEP), for everyone. Most people get an STI at least once in their lives, so it’s important to get tested and know your status.

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs): The Basics

STIs are infections that can be passed through vaginal, anal, or oral sex. Some are carried through semen, pre-cum, vaginal fluid, or blood while other STIs are spread through skin-to-skin contact.

So why get tested? Many STIs are asymptomatic – in fact, the most common STI symptom is none at all! If you are sexually active, the only way to be 100% sure of your STI status is to get tested. And don’t worry: Most STIs are curable, and ALL are treatable.

At Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast, we’re here to help. Our expert, compassionate health care providers will always offer a safe, non-judgmental space where your care is 100% private and no question is off-limits. We want you to feel comfortable and empowered to take charge of your sexual health.

STI Services at Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast

 

TESTING & TREATMENT

Getting tested is the only way to know for sure if you have an STI. And if you do? No worries! Most common STIs can be easily cured with medicine, and STIs that can’t be cured often have treatments to help you with symptoms and to lower your chances of giving the STI to anyone else. At PPGC, we can provide testing and/or treatment for STIs like HPV, chlamydia, genital warts, gonorrhea, herpes, trichomoniasis, pubic lice, syphilis, HIV, and hepatitis B. Give us a call to learn more about testing and/or treatment options for specific STIs at each location.

PREVENTION

The best way to prevent STIs? Stop them in their tracks. We are all about prevention here, and we can help you take charge of your sexual health by providing condoms and other barrier methods for safer sex, HPV vaccines to help prevent infection by types of the virus that can lead to cervical cancer, and multiple types of PrEP and nPEP to lower the risk of contracting HIV through sex by more than 90 percent and to help prevent infection within 72 hours of a potential exposure  (learn more).

Did you know we accept private insurance at all of our health centers?

FIND A LOCATION

Want to learn more about STIs?

Should I get tested for STIs?

Short answer: Yes! If you are sexually active, the only way to know for sure whether or not you have an STI is to get tested. Testing is typically quick, easy, and painless. Talk to your doctor or nurse about which tests are right for you.

READ MORE
What are some common symptoms?

The most common STI symptom is actually none at all! But different STIs can present with different symptoms, so it’s a good idea to get tested regardless and especially if you’re experiencing any of these symptoms: 

  • sores or bumps on and around your genitals, thighs, or butt cheeks 
  • unusual discharge from your vagina or penis 
  • burning when you pee and/or having to pee a lot 
  • itching, pain, irritation, or swelling in your penis, vagina, vulva, or anus 
  • flu-like symptoms such as fever, body aches, swollen glands, and feeling tired
READ MORE
How does STI testing work?

STI testing is not always part of a regular checkup or gynecological appointment, so be sure to ask for STI testing specifically. Types of tests include a urine test, an oral test, a blood test, a physical exam, a blister swab, or a genital swab. Your provider will determine what kind of test you need based on your sexual partners, use of protection, type of sex, and other factors.

READ MORE
How do I talk to my partner about getting tested?

We know it, you know it – it can feel awkward bringing up STIs with a new partner! Remind yourself that this is about keeping both you and your partner safe and healthy, and it’s always best to talk about getting tested before having sex. You’ll feel better after you have the conversation, and you never know — your partner might be glad you brought it up first

READ MORE
How much does getting tested cost?

The cost of STI testing and treatment will vary based on what tests you need, your income, and whether or not you use health insurance. Total final price may vary between $0-250. You can call us for a good-faith estimate before booking an appointment.

CALL
Do you test for HIV?

Yes! At PPGC, we offer HIV testing, prevention, and referrals for treatment . If you’re at risk for HIV or think you may have been recently exposed, we offer both PrEP (ongoing HIV prevention) and nPEP (post-exposure HIV prevention).

LEARN MORE

Planned Parenthood cares about your data privacy. We and our third-party vendors use cookies and other tools to collect, store, monitor, and analyze information about your interaction with our site to improve performance, analyze your use of our sites and assist in our marketing efforts. You may opt out of the use of these cookies and other tools at any time by visiting Cookie Settings. By clicking “Allow All Cookies” you consent to our collection and use of such data, and our Terms of Use. For more information, see our Privacy Notice.

Cookie Settings

Planned Parenthood cares about your data privacy. We and our third-party vendors, use cookies, pixels, and other tracking technologies to collect, store, monitor, and process certain information about you when you access and use our services, read our emails, or otherwise engage with us. The information collected might relate to you, your preferences, or your device. We use that information to make the site work, analyze performance and traffic on our website, to provide a more personalized web experience, and assist in our marketing efforts. We also share information with our social media, advertising, and analytics partners. You can change your default settings according to your preference. You cannot opt-out of required cookies when utilizing our site; this includes necessary cookies that help our site to function (such as remembering your cookie preference settings). For more information, please see our Privacy Notice.

Marketing

On

We use online advertising to promote our mission and help constituents find our services. Marketing pixels help us measure the success of our campaigns.

Performance

On

We use qualitative data, including session replay, to learn about your user experience and improve our products and services.

Analytics

On

We use web analytics to help us understand user engagement with our website, trends, and overall reach of our products.