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</ iframe > </noscript> <!-- End Google Tag Manager (noscript) --><div id="header"> <div id="CClogo"><a href="https://www.cookchildrens.org"><span class="srText">Cook Children's</span></a></div> <div id="CCsearch"> <form id="searchform" name="searchform" method="GET" onsubmit="return (this.q.value == '') ? false : true;" action="/CookChildrens/en/parents/"> <input type="hidden" name="search" value="y"/> <input type="hidden" name="getfields" value="description"/> <input type="search" class="search" name="q" id="q" maxlength="256" autocomplete="off" autocorrect="off" placeholder="Search"/> <input type="hidden" name="datasource" value="cookchildrens"> <input type="hidden" name="start" value="0"> <input type="hidden" name="rows" value="10"> <input type="hidden" name="lang" value="english"> <input type="hidden" name="section" value="parents_teens_kids"> <input type="submit" value="" id="searchButton" class="buttonImage"/> </form> </div> </div> <!-- If we have main navigation separated then it will reside here --> <div id="thelou" tabindex="-1"> </div> <div id="mainContentContainer" class="kh-article-page"> <div id="rsSearchBrowse"> <div id="rsBrowse" role="navigation"> </div> <div id="rsSearch"> <div id="rsSectionLabel">teens</div> </div> </div> <div id="khContentHeading" class="ar licH"> <h1>How Do Doctors Test for STDs?</h1> </div> <div class="clearBox"> </div> <div id="khcontent"> <div id="xp1"> </div><br clear="all" style="width: 0; height: 0; line-height: 0; font-size: 0;"><div id="khcontent_article" lang="en-us"> <div id="NavigatePage1"> <div id="whichRead_1"><span class="ISI_MESSAGE"><!-- The following article is brought to you by CookChildrens. --></span><div class="rs_skip rs_skip_en rsbtn_kidshealth rs_preserve" id="readspeaker_button1"><script> var theRSURL = (escape(document.location.href)); var rsAudioTitle = document.title.replace(/ |\'|\?/g,"_"); var whichReadPage = 1; var doesItGotFlash = ''; makeTheRSLinkEN(); var readSpeakerDownloadLink = "//app-na.readspeaker.com/cgi-bin/rsent?customerid=5202&lang=en_us&voice=Kate&speed=100&readid=khcontent_article&url="+theRSURL+"&audiofilename=KidsHealth_"+rsAudioTitle+""; </script></div><div class="rte-image"><!--<sly data-sly-test.buttonBorder="khb-noborder"></sly> --><p><em>How does a doctor test to see if you have STDs?<br /></em>– <em>Perry*</em></p><p>There are different tests for different <a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/std.html">sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)</a>. The kind of test a person gets will depend on the type of STD, symptoms (like sores, discharge, or pain), and his or her medical and sexual history.</p><p>To get this history, a doctor or nurse practitioner (NP) will ask about things like how many partners the person has had. After that, the doctor or NP will examine the person's genitals. For girls who have symptoms of STDs, this might include a <a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/pelvic-exams.html">pelvic exam</a>. Girls who do not have symptoms and are just getting screened for STDs as part of a <a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/obgyn.html">routine checkup</a> probably won't need a pelvic exam.</p><p>Based on what's learned from the interview and exam, the doctor or NP may take one or more of these samples:</p><ul><li>a blood sample (from either a blood draw or a finger prick)</li><li>a urine sample</li><li>a swab of the inside of the mouth</li><li>a swab from the genitals, such as the <a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/male-repro.html">urethra</a> in guys or the <a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/female-repro.html">cervix</a> in girls</li><li>a swab of any discharge or sores</li></ul><p>Sometimes, the sample can be tested right there in the health provider's office. Other times, the sample is sent to a lab and the results come later. It depends on the office and the type of infection doctors are testing for.</p><p>STDs can be sneaky. Often there are no signs that a person has one. That's not necessarily a good thing. These "hidden" STDs can still put people at risk for health problems. Anyone who is having sex (or has had sex in the past) should get tested.</p><p><em>*Names have been changed to protect user privacy.</em></p></div> <div id="reviewerBox"> <div id="reviewedBy">Medically reviewed by: Elana Pearl Ben-Joseph, MD</div> <div id="reviewedDate">Date reviewed: January 2017</div> </div><span class="ISI_MESSAGE"><!--Thank you for listening to this KidsHealth audio cast. The information you heard, is for educational purposes only. If you need medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment, consult your doctor. This audio cast is Copyrighted by KidsHealth. All rights are reserved.--></span></div> </div> </div> </div> <!--googleoff:all--> <div id="relatedBoxParents" class="t1 "> <div id="navTabs"> <ul id="navTabsPKT" role="tablist" aria-labelledby="moreOnThisTopicHeader"> <li role="presentation" class="current" id="PKTtabTeens"><button class="PKTJSTButton" role="tab" id="teens_tab" aria-controls="relatedArticlesListTeens" aria-selected="true" tabindex="0"><span>for Teens</span></button></li> </ul> </div> <div id="mainBar"> </div> <div id="mrLinks"> <h2 id="moreOnThisTopicHeader">MORE ON THIS TOPIC</h2> <ul id="relatedArticlesListTeens" role="tabpanel" aria-labelledby="teens_tab"> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/std-talk.html?WT.ac=t-ra">How Can I Find Out If My Boyfriend Has an STD Before We Have Sex?</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/std.html?WT.ac=t-ra">STDs (Sexually Transmitted Diseases)</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/hiv-tests.html?WT.ac=t-ra">How to Get Tested for HIV</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/imebriated-sex.html?WT.ac=t-ra">How Do I Find Out If a Guy I Had Sex With Has an STD?</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/stds-check.html?WT.ac=t-ra">How Do I Get Checked for STDs Without My Parents Knowing?</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/transmit-hsv.html?WT.ac=t-ra">If Someone With Herpes Has No Sores, Can It Still Be Passed On?</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/stds-talk.html?WT.ac=t-ra">Telling Your Partner You Have an STD</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/the-talk.html?WT.ac=t-ra">Talking to Your Partner About STDs</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/talk-about-condoms.html?WT.ac=t-ra">Talking to Your Partner About Condoms</a></li> </ul> </div> <div id="boxBreaker"> </div> <div id="zeroTester"> </div> <div id="relatedButtonsHolder"> <div id="relatedButtonsBoth"> <ul> <li id="relatedPrinterButton"><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/std-testing.html?view=ptr&WT.ac=t-ptr" rel="nofollow" onclick="printWindow(this.href); return false;" title="This link will open in a new window.">Print<span class="newWindowIcon_leftSpace"> </span></a></li> <li id="relatedEmailFriendButton"><a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.kidshealth.org/CookChildrens/en/teens/std-testing.html?view=emailto&WT.ac=s2af-en-teens-std-testing.html" target="_blank" title="This link will open in a new window.">Send to a Friend<span class="newWindowIcon_leftSpace"> </span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div><br clear="all"></div><br clear="all"><script>window.onload=setVars('');PKTChoose(0,0,9,0);</script><div id="kh_lic_footer"> <nav aria-label="Content info"> <ul id="kh_lic_footer_links"> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/editorial-policy-licensee.html">Editorial Policy</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/policy-licensees.html">KidsHealth Privacy Policy & Terms of Use</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/copyright.html">Copyright</a></li> </ul> </nav> <div id="kh_lic_footer_legalease"> <p><img lang="en" alt="A TeensHealth Education Partner" src="/images/n00/logos/THeduPartner3.svg"> Note: All information is for educational purposes only. 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