Recommended health screening exams + tests

Discuss with your clinician

For people 25 and older with a cervix, cervical cancer screening with a Pap plus HPV test or preferably, if available a primary HPV test is recommended every five years. Cervical cancer screening is no longer recommended from age 21-24 yrs of age. For more information about screening for cervical cancer see our UHS Gynecological Care and Screening webpage.    

Average-risk people can now order basic STI testing through our self-directed STI screening program in eTang! This program offers screening for Gonorrhea, Chlamydia, Syphilis, and/or HIV without an appointment at low or no cost depending on insurance.
Please note that an appointment is more appropriate if you: 

• have symptoms or questions
• have had a known recent exposure to an STI*
• are the victim of a sexual assault
• need oral or anal testing for GC/CT**

*Call or come in within 72 hours to discuss Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) if you think you are at high risk for HIV exposure* 
Most sexually active young people need screening no more often than annually. Consider screening more often for STIs if you think any of the below RISK FACTORS apply to you.

• Inconsistent condom use
• A history of multiple partners or a partner with multiple contacts or a partner who is not known to you
• Sexual contact with a partner with an STD/STI 
• You've had an STI within the past year
• Men who have sex with men
• Sex work or drug use
• Pregnancy  

Our recommendations for screening are consistent with those of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which bases its recommendations on the prevalence of these infections within different epidemiological risk groups:

• HIV counseling and testing should be offered to all sexually active people at least once.
• Sexually active women <26, and any women with risk factors for STIs should be screened for chlamydial +/- gonococcal infection annually.
• Pregnant people should be screened for gonorrhea, chlamydia, HIV, hepatitis B, and syphilis infections.
• **Men who have sex with men (MSM) who are sexually active should have screening for STIs every 6-12 months, including site-specific testing such as oral and anal swabs when appropriate.
• **Syphilis screening is recommended for MSM, commercial sex workers, persons who exchange sex for drugs, and persons in correctional facilities. There has recently been an increase in Syphilis rates in certain geographic communities including San Francisco, Alameda, and Contra Costa Counties as well as numerous counties in Southern California. If you are a sexually active person who lives in these counties, Syphilis testing is advised. STI wizard can further help you determine if Syphilis testing is right for you. 
• Hepatitis B screening should be offered to men who have sex with men (MSM), injection drug users (IDU), persons attending an STI clinic or seeking STI treatment, persons with a history of multiple sex partners, pregnant women, persons born in an endemic area of the world, and persons with liver conditions. Patients who are not immune should be offered vaccination.
• Hepatitis A screening should be offered to MSM and injection drug users, as well as those with liver conditions. Those who are not immune should be offered vaccination.   

For more information:

• CDC STD Page
• SF City Clinic STD Page
• Make an STD/STI screening appointment on eTang
• Make an appointment to see a clinician
• If you don't have symptoms, consider self-directed screening.