STIs Are Easily Treated, So Make STI Testing Your Beforeplay
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STI testing is听quick, easy听and the best way to protect yourself and your partners听from STIs.
New year, new priorities –听make听your sexual health听the top of the list. With sexually transmissible infections (STIs) like syphilis,听gonorrhoea, and chlamydia on the rise across Australia, regular testing听isn鈥檛听just smart,听it鈥檚听essential.听
Here鈥檚听the truth: STIs听don鈥檛听always show symptoms. You could feel fine and still have an听STI. The only way to know for sure?听Get tested.听Early detection helps make treatment simple and听prevents听long-term health issues.听
If听you鈥檙e听sexually active, even with one partner and听always听using protection, make STI testing part of your routine. At least once a year is recommended, and more often if you have multiple partners or change partners.听It鈥檚听quick, easy, and听often free.听
Why STI testing matters听
Testing听isn鈥檛听just about you听–听it鈥檚听about protecting your partners and your community. Untreated STIs听aren’t听always obvious but听can lead to serious听health issues. That鈥檚 why regular sexual health testing and safe sex practices help prevent infections from spreading and keeps everyone safer. 听听
Take syphilis, for example.听It鈥檚听a bacterial infection spread through听sexual contact –听oral, vaginal, or anal听–听and even kissing if sores are present. It often starts as听a painless听sore, but if left untreated, it can cause rashes, fever,听or swollen glands. At the same time, some people have no symptoms.听
If untreated, syphilis can stick around for years and lead to serious听complications affecting the heart,听brain听and nervous system.听If听you are听pregnant, it can be passed on to your baby.听
The good news?听Syphilis is curable.听A simple听course of antibiotics 鈥� usually a penicillin听injection听鈥撎齝lears听up听the infection. But you can get reinfected, so regular testing is key.听
What to expect when you test听
STI tests are quick听and听confidential.听Depending on听what鈥檚听being checked, you might听be asked to听provide:听
- A urine sample听
- A blood test听
- A self-collected swab听
No awkward questions, no judgment听–听just peace of mind.听
For most sexually active people, it鈥檚 recommended to get tested every six to twelve months but this may be more frequent depending on individual circumstances. For example, sexually active men who have sex with men or anyone with multiple partners are recommended to get tested every three months. You should speak with your healthcare provider to determine the testing frequency that鈥檚 right for you.
Where to go听for STI testing
You can get tested at:听
- Your GP听
- Sexual health or community health clinics听
- Aboriginal community health services听
- Family planning, youth, or women鈥檚 health听centres听
- Medicare Urgent Care Clinics for urgent STI testing听
Many clinics offer gender-affirming and culturally safe care for LGBTQIA+ people.听
Feeling nervous? Bring a friend or loved one 鈥� solidarity and support helps make everything easier.
Make Testing Part of the Conversation听
Condoms and dental dams can reduce risk, but they don鈥檛 prevent every infection. That鈥檚听why testing matters听–听even if you use protection. Talk to your partners about sexual health before things heat up.听听
Make STI testing your听Beforeplay听–听because nothing is sexier than looking after yourself, your听partners听and your community.听
To learn more about STIs and getting tested, visit听听
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