Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) have become more common in the USA regardless of age. The worst-impacted population group is people aged 15-24. Those living with HIV are at an increased risk of other STIs, whereas those with untreated STIs can develop HIV. Most infections don't cause any symptoms early on, so without testing/screening, it is impossible to detect them, especially if you have a low CD4 count. Iowa offers free to low-cost STI/HIV testing clinics statewide, and same-day results are offered for common STIs, including chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis. Learn more about STI testing in Des Moines, Iowa, here.
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Iowa's STI prevalence rate still touched an all-time high in 2019-2020, with syphilis increasing by over 53%, gonorrhea by 30%, and chlamydia becoming the state's most common notifiable STI. In Polk County, authorities registered 28 positive STI diagnoses per week in 2019, which increased to 78 per week in 2022. cases of HIV and all common STIs have increased in 2022 in Polk County. This led to an unprecedented rise in congenital syphilis cases among infants that can cause developmental delays and even death. Find your nearest STD/HIV testing clinic in Des Moines, Iowa.
11208 Aurora Ave Bldg 12, Urbandale, Iowa 50322
9.44 mile
Tel: 5152784411
Today's best offer is: $10 off any order. Discount will be applied automatically.
11319 Aurora Ave, Urbandale, Iowa 50322
9.64 mile
Tel: 5152768402
Today's best offer is: $10 off any order. Discount will be applied automatically.
2615 Northgate Dr Ste B, Iowa City, Iowa 52245
109.5 mile
Tel: 3193373292
Today's best offer is: $10 off any order. Discount will be applied automatically.
Primary Health Care (PHC) will not turn a patient away, regardless of ability to pay.
2353 SE 14th St, Des Moines, Iowa 50320
0.93 mile
Tel: (515) 248-1400
Appointment Required: Yes
HIV and STI testing is free and open to the general public. The PrEP Consultation including testing is free. The appointment with the provider for PrEP treatment will be covered based on insurance. If the person cannot secure insurance there is a sliding fee scale for medical services as a...
1200 University Ave, Ste 120, Des Moines, Iowa 50314
2.24 mile
Tel: (515) 248-1595
Appointment Required: Yes
$5 fee for STD testing and treatment for ages 13 and up. High risk HIV testing- no fee. Low risk HIV testing $25.
1907 Carpenter Ave, Des Moines, Iowa 50314
2.71 mile
Tel: (515) 286-3798
Tel: (866) 209-1300
Appointment Required: Yes
If you are uninsured, you may qualify for a state-funded program or a lower fee scale. Please bring the following documents: birth certificate, pay stub, photo ID, proof of residence.
2304 University Ave, Des Moines, Iowa 50311
2.76 mile
Tel: (515) 362-8033
Tel: (515) 362-8033
Appointment Required: No
If you are uninsured, you may qualify for a state-funded program or a lower fee scale. Please bring the following documents: birth certificate, pay stub, photo ID, proof of residence.
1000 E Army Post Rd, Des Moines, Iowa 50315
3.13 mile
Tel: (515) 362-8033
Tel: (515) 362-8033
Appointment Required: Yes
3509 E 29th St, Des Moines, Iowa 50317
4.56 mile
Tel: (515) 248-1600
Appointment Required: Yes
If you are uninsured, you may qualify for a state-funded program or a lower fee scale. Please bring the following documents: birth certificate, pay stub, photo ID, and proof of residence.
3303 109th St, Urbandale, Iowa 50322
8.83 mile
Tel: (515) 362-8033
Tel: (515) 362-8033
Appointment Required: Yes
1606 Golden Aspen Dr, Suite 105, Ames, Iowa 50010
30.09 mile
Tel: (515) 620-5892
Appointment Required: No
If you are uninsured, you may qualify for a state-funded program or a lower fee scale. Please bring the following documents: birth certificate, pay stub, photo ID, proof of residence. Walk ins are taken based on how busy the center is at the time of walk in. Attempt is made to accommodate all who...
2530 Chamberlain St, Ames, Iowa 50014
31.08 mile
Tel: (877) 811-7526
Tel: (515) 362-8033
Appointment Required: Yes
3510 Lincoln Way, Ames, Iowa 50014
31.23 mile
Tel: (515) 232-0628
Appointment Required: Yes
All services are free and confidential. Walk-ins welcome. Appointments preferred. Please bring photo ID.
212 S Division St, Stuart, Iowa 50250
36.95 mile
Tel: (515) 523-1173
Appointment Required: No
Accept all insurances. If the person cannot secure insurance there is a sliding fee scale for medical services as a federally qualified health center.
412 E Church St, Marshalltown, Iowa 50158
48.22 mile
Tel: (641) 753-4021
Appointment Required: Yes
Use our confidential STD symptom checker to get an idea of what STDs/STIs your symptoms align with and what STD tests are recommended to you.
Start Symptom CheckerWhich Method of STD Testing is Suitable for Me?
Every sexually active individual must protect their sexual health. Regular STD testing is the only way to care for your sexual health. However, sometimes it becomes confusing to select the right testing method as there are so many options available. For your convenience, we have gathered information about all available STD testing methods in Des Moines, Iowa. Check them out to find out which option is suitable for you.
This is one of the most popular ways to get tested for STDs today. These tests combine the best of both worlds for convenience and accuracy. You will order the test online at home, but you can walk into a professional lab testing center to get tested.
Another option is to simply visit your regular clinic and talk to your doctor.
If you do not want to visit a testing center, then a great alternative is an at-home test kit. You don’t even need to leave your house to get tested for STDs this way, which makes it the most discreet option. Everything is done through email and snail mail.
One last option for STD testing is a trip to a free clinic. If you go to a public STD-testing clinic, then you may get a free or discounted test, depending on your financial situation.
Learn more in our ultimate guide to STD testing.
It can be, but it does not necessarily have to be. What many people need to understand is that laboratory tests would most often than not be relatively pricey due to the technology that is being utilized behind these diagnostic techniques. However, opting for specific laboratories that offer more convenient testing procedures and discounted prices for diagnostic tests would help ensure that the price will not be much of an issue in providing you with the conclusive diagnosis of your condition. It might take some independent scanning to find the right testing center for you in the most acceptable price range, but it is not as impossible as many people make it out to be.
Considering that a wide variety of testing kits and laboratory procedures can be performed to determine conclusively whether you have a particular STD or not, the time that it will take for your results to return will also be subject to the same inconsistency. Although there are specific laboratories that could produce your results even by the end of the day (albeit, it is extremely rare for institutions to do so unless necessary), most would often take a few days to a week before the results are either delivered or posted online through your secure personal profile (in the case of online transactions). In addition to that, the capability of the laboratory performing the test may also contribute to the overall timeframe of result delivery – causing delays in cases where there are several requests or understaffed to provide expedited results.
For more information, skip to the FAQs section on this page.
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It would vary depending on the condition that is being tested. STDs behave differently due to the varying pathogenicity of each STD’s causative organism. In some instances, you can get accurately tested as early as two weeks following exposure, while some are intermittently inaccurate due to its recurrence (much like in the case of herpes infections). To avoid this, be sure to discuss the intricacies of the test with your physician to understand whether a particular test could provide you with a conclusive diagnosis or if it still needs another confirmatory test to establish its premise.
It is recommended to get tested for STDs if you have had unprotected sexual contact, multiple sexual partners, or if you are experiencing symptoms associated with STDs. Additionally, regular testing is recommended as part of routine sexual health care, even in the absence of symptoms, especially for individuals who are sexually active.
Standard STD testing can detect common sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, herpes, and hepatitis B and C. Additional tests may be required for less common STDs or specific situations.
Similar to how other testing procedures behave, false-positive results are still evident even in STD testing. False-positive and even false-negative results are standard instances that showcase the imperfection of the test’s design – a factor that is present everywhere. However, despite certain inconsistencies in laboratory tests as such, physicians commonly use confirmatory tests that would often take another path entirely to arrive at the same conclusion – solidifying the initial test’s diagnosis while still ensuring that the second test is not following the inconsistencies of the first.
A nucleic acid amplification test is a laboratory procedure that professionals often perform to make detecting a particular nucleic acid or gene being targeted easier and more convenient while still ensuring that the sample being collected is relatively minimal. Nucleic acid amplification tests, or NAATs, are usually the mainstay diagnostic test for most STDs due to their ability to detect the presence of pathogenic nucleic acids and genes in the patient sample with utmost accuracy and speed. NAATs depends on their ability to replicate the target RNA and DNA to create numerous copies – resulting in an increased convenience in the detection of the desired molecules instead of trying to either blindly look for one strand in a minuscule sample or collecting a large sample that could make the patient uncomfortable throughout the process. Although NAATs are often preferred for a more conclusive diagnosis of STDs, certain exceptions such as the availability of resources and instances of intermittent viral shedding could make NAATs less desirable than other tests. Fret not, however, as your physician is knowledgeable regarding these instances and would often request the best diagnostic procedure for your instances.
Help stop the spread of STDs by knowing your status. Get tested today!