CDC STI Screening Recommendations by Group, in Plain English

"How often should I get tested?" is one of the most common questions in sexual health, and the honest answer is that it depends on who you are and the kind of sex you have. CDC publishes screening recommendations for different groups in its STI Treatment Guidelines. They are written for clinicians, so they use terms like "increased risk" and "pharyngeal" without much explanation. Below, we've rewritten them for real people, one group at a time, based on CDC's screening recommendations page (last reviewed in March 2024). Nothing here is a judgment about anyone's sex life. Screening is routine health care, like a blood pressure check. If you already know your group and just want a frequency guide for new or multiple partners, our article on how often to test with new or multiple partners covers that angle.

Screening vs testing: what this guide covers

Screening means testing people who feel fine, because many STIs cause no symptoms. That's what CDC's recommendations describe. Diagnostic testing is different: if you have symptoms, a partner tells you they tested positive, or you had a specific exposure, you should get tested whatever your screening schedule says.

A few more things to keep in mind:

• "Increased risk" isn't a label about you as a person. CDC's examples include being on PrEP, having more than one partner in the past 6 months, having partners who have other partners, a recent STI evaluation, a history of incarceration or transactional sex, and living in an area with high STI rates. Your clinician can help you decide whether it applies.
• Body site matters. A urine test checks the urethra or vagina, not the throat or rectum. Several recommendations below call for site-specific testing. Our guide to chlamydia and gonorrhea sample types explains the options.
• You can always ask. CDC's recommendations set a floor, not a ceiling.

Recommended for nearly every adult

Neither test depends on your sexual history. If you've never had either one, that's an easy place to start. Our hepatitis B and C testing guide explains what those blood tests measure.

Women and people with a cervix

The under-25 recommendation is the one people most often miss. If you're sexually active and under 25, chlamydia and gonorrhea screening is recommended even if you've had only one partner and feel completely well. Our article on whether your annual physical includes STI testing explains why you may need to ask for it.

During pregnancy

Pregnancy has its own schedule, because some infections can affect the pregnancy or the baby. Per CDC, this includes syphilis, HIV and hepatitis B testing at the first prenatal visit, hepatitis C screening, and chlamydia and gonorrhea screening for those under 25 or at increased risk, with some tests repeated later in pregnancy. Your prenatal care team will guide the timing. We cover this in detail in STI testing during pregnancy.

Men who have sex with women

This is the group where routine recommendations are lightest, which surprises many people.

• Chlamydia and gonorrhea: CDC says the evidence is insufficient to recommend routine screening for low-risk heterosexual men. Screening young men may be considered in high-prevalence settings such as adolescent clinics, correctional facilities and STI clinics.
• Syphilis: Screen men at increased risk, which CDC notes includes men under 29 among other factors.
• HIV: At least once for everyone 13 to 64.
• Hepatitis B: Screen men at increased risk.
• Hepatitis C: At least once for all adults.

Gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men

CDC's recommendations for this group are the most detailed, because they include specific body sites. Condom use doesn't change them.

CDC gives examples of increased risk such as being on PrEP, living with HIV, or having partners who have multiple partners. If you take PrEP, your prescriber will usually build STI testing into your regular visits. See the PrEP STI testing schedule and our rectal STI testing guide.

Transgender and gender-diverse people

CDC's approach here is practical: screening should match your current anatomy and the kind of sex you have, not the sex you were assigned at birth.

• If you have a cervix (for example, many transgender men and nonbinary people), CDC extends the routine annual chlamydia and gonorrhea screening for people under 25 to you. Over 25, screening is based on increased risk. Cervical cancer screening follows the standard guidelines.
• Throat and rectal sites may be tested based on the sex you report.
• Syphilis: CDC says to consider screening at least annually, depending on sexual behavior and exposure.
• HIV: CDC says testing should be discussed and offered to everyone, with frequency based on risk.

If you've had gender-affirming surgery, tell your clinician what anatomy you have now so they can choose the right sample types. A good clinic will ask respectfully. If one doesn't, you deserve one that does.

People living with HIV

For sexually active people with HIV, CDC recommends chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis screening at the first HIV evaluation and at least once a year after that, with more frequent screening depending on risk and local rates. Trichomoniasis screening is recommended for sexually active women at entry to care and at least yearly. Hepatitis C blood testing is recommended at the first evaluation, and every year for men who have sex with men. Your HIV care provider usually coordinates this as part of routine visits.

Turning the guidelines into your own plan

Take this checklist to your next appointment, or use it to choose the right panel if you test at home or through an online lab order.

• Have I ever had an HIV test? A hepatitis C test?
• Which group or groups above describe me right now?
• Which body sites do I use for sex (genital, oral, anal), and does my test cover each one?
• Has anything changed since my last test, such as a new partner or a partner's new partner?
• Was I treated for chlamydia or gonorrhea in the past 3 months? If so, CDC recommends a retest at about 3 months.
• Do I have any symptoms or a known exposure? If yes, I need testing now, not on a schedule.

Not sure whether to test at home or in person? Compare the formats in our guide to FDA-authorized at-home STI tests. Worried about cost? Many of these screenings count as preventive care. See does insurance cover STI testing?

Frequently asked questions

This article is for general information only and is not medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Testing needs differ from person to person, so talk with a clinician, local health department or sexual health clinic about your situation. If you think you were exposed to HIV in the last 72 hours, seek care right away to ask about PEP. Guidance referenced here was checked against official sources in October 2026 and can change. Some links on this site are affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you.