STI Testing
Getting tested can be a stressful thing, especially if you’ve never done it before. This topic will shed a bit more light on what happens during an STI test to hopefully help you deal with or take away some of that stress.
The first thing you’ll want to think about is whether or not you should get tested. How you incorporate testing into your sexual health management is up to you, but a good first step is taking our Should I Get Tested self-assessment.
Our info page What To Expect: Getting an STI Test has a lot of helpful information and will walk you through the process, but we also have some tips to make the experience even easier:
- Do your research: not all clinics are created equal. If you’re concerned about getting tested by your family doctor, look up other sexual health clinics nearby that may make you feel more comfortable. Be sure to check their website or call to see what their policies are when it comes to serving youth, accessibility, whether or not they’re trans inclusive and will respect your pronouns/name, and any other accommodations you may need prior to your visit.
- If making calls is difficult for you think about writing down what you want to ask before calling to book an appointment, if talking on the phone really isn’t your thing, see if you can have a friend call for you.
- Remember that regardless of your age, you are legally entitled to receiving confidential care. Check out our article Youth and Healthcare Rights and our blog post FAQ: Can my parents access my health records? for more info.
