Chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis are the three most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in California. These are treatable bacterial infections if only early diagnosis is ensured, which is possible only through regular testing. Chlamydia and gonorrhea are more prevalent in women under 25. Chlamydia is called a silent infection because it never shows any symptoms. As per the Washington State Department of Health, STD cases are rising across all regions, but the most at-risk population is 15-24, MSM, African-Americans, and the gay/bisexual community. San Francisco offers many low-cost and free STD testing options, which you can find here.
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In 2018, the California Public Health Department recorded an all-time high rate of STD cases in three decades. In San Francisco, STDs dramatically rose in 2021; the city reported the 3rd highest STD rate in America. Gonorrhea cases rose from 4,109 in 2020 to 5,259 in 2021. Chlamydia increased to 6,185 in 2021 from 5,735 in 2021, whereas male rectal gonorrhea rates also increased, with 1,812 cases reported in 2021 and 1,160 in 2020. San Francisco residents can now access quality, free, or low-cost STD testing facilities in the following locations.
2198 15Th St, San Francisco, California 94114
0.88 mile
Tel: 4154318723
Today's best offer is: $10 off any order. Discount will be applied automatically.
2233 Post St Ste 105, San Francisco, California 94115
1.96 mile
Tel: 4159280199
Today's best offer is: $10 off any order. Discount will be applied automatically.
2201 Post St, San Francisco, California 94115
1.97 mile
Tel: 4159316492
Today's best offer is: $10 off any order. Discount will be applied automatically.
470 Castro St, San Francisco, California 94114
0.55 mile
Tel: (415) 437-3400
Tel: (415) 437-3450
Appointment Required: Yes
555 Cole St, San Francisco, California 94117
1.04 mile
Tel: (415) 386-9398
Tel: (415) 751-8181
Appointment Required: Yes
2424 Mission St, San Francisco, California 94110
1.31 mile
Tel: (415) 826-3484
Appointment Required: Yes
Ages 12 and up. In response to the outbreak of the respiratory illness, coronavirus (COVID-19), AHP is taking steps to ensure the safety of clients, staff, and community. Until further notice, the following services are suspended: Mobile HIV/HCV/STD testing; drop-in for people seeking behavioral...
1930 Market St, San Francisco, California 94102
1.37 mile
Tel: (415) 476-3902
Appointment Required: Yes
Services available to the public. Depending on the individual's insurance, testing services for Hepatitis, STD's, and TB might have a cost included. Rapid HIV tests are free...
160 Capp St, San Francisco, California 94110
1.43 mile
Tel: (415) 621-8051
Appointment Required: Yes
If you are uninsured, you may qualify for a state-funded program or a lower fee scale. Fees for services are based on your household income.
1650 Valencia St, San Francisco, California 94110
1.43 mile
Tel: (415) 821-1282
Tel: (415) 821-9047
Appointment Required: Yes
Must be homeless.
165 Capp St, San Francisco, California 94110
1.45 mile
Tel: (415) 869-7977
Appointment Required: No
Free rapid HIV testing offered to MSM (men who have sex with men) & transgender clients.
1800 Market St, Ste 401, San Francisco, California 94102
1.5 mile
Tel: (415) 292-3400
Appointment Required: Yes
240 Shotwell St, San Francisco, California 94110
1.56 mile
Tel: (415) 552-3870
Appointment Required: Yes
HIV open to the general public. Other services for patients only. Office visits by appointment only.
1735 Mission St, San Francisco, California 94103
1.57 mile
Tel: (415) 565-7667
Appointment Required: Yes
Women and trans folks age 12 and up who are uninsured or qualify for Medicaid.
1735 Mission St, San Francisco, California 94103
1.57 mile
Tel: (415) 379-7800
Tel: (415) 252-7512
Appointment Required: Yes
995 Potrero Ave, Bldg 80 1st and 5th FL, San Francisco, California 94110
1.64 mile
Tel: (628) 206-5252
Appointment Required: No
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 San Francisco, California. 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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Depending on the test being performed and the testing physician's targeted diseases, various types of samples can be requested from you. In some instances, a minuscule blood sample of a few milliliters will be collected, some might ask for a urine sample, and others may opt for a genital swab. Again, the sample being collected will depend on the test being conducted and the outcome that is being targeted for this particular procedure.
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.
Yes. Certain companies offer at-home testing kits wherein you are the one that will collect the specimens necessary for the test at the comfort of your own home. Sure, it might sometimes be subject to errors due to the potential contamination of the sample from collection to transportation, but it does offer a great deal of privacy and convenience for patients who would prefer to have their identities hidden in fear that their community will judge them.
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.
Although NAATs are well-known for their accuracy and sensitivity in detecting most STDs, it is also subject to certain inconsistencies, especially in the case of herpes infections. In Herpes, outbreaks often result in a relative increase in the patient’s viral load – leading to a timeline that usually has specific peaks at certain intervals instead of a consistent rise in viral load throughout. As such, sensitive tests such as NAATs are still unable to accurately diagnose herpes conditions, especially in cases where the patient has recently become asymptomatic and is currently between outbreaks. Other tests such as culture testing and type-specific virologic tests are often employed instead as a confirmatory diagnosis for the patient’s condition.
Help stop the spread of STDs by knowing your status. Get tested today!