Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are rising in the USA, but people remain unaware of their adverse health consequences because most STDs are asymptomatic. Chronic health consequences like cancer, infertility, and pelvic inflammatory disease occur several years after the initial infection stage. In California, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis are the most commonly diagnosed STDs, whereas cases of congenital syphilis also increased, with a 391% rise recorded in the last decade. Therefore, it is essential to get tested for STDs. Learn more about the best STD screening options in San Diego, California.
Board Approved
Medically reviewed by one or more members of the editorial boardDiscover Nearby Options
In San Diego County, chlamydia is more prevalent, with 22,098 cases diagnosed in 2018 to 23,002 cases in 2019, marking a 4.1% rise. Gonorrhea cases increased by 3.1% (6,395 cases in 2019). Syphilis remains a significant public health concern in California as it is rising in all regions and genders. Around 15% of females aged 15-49 diagnosed with syphilis were pregnant, which is why congenital syphilis in newborns is a significant issue of concern. Think about protecting your sexual health by getting tested regularly. Find your nearest STD testing option in San Diego, California, here.
8901 Activity Rd. Suite 201, San Diego, California 92126
4.52 mile
Tel: 8586934332
Today's best offer is: $10 off any order. Discount will be applied automatically.
3737 Moraga Ave. Suite A102, San Diego, California 92117
5.35 mile
Tel: 8582744804
Today's best offer is: $10 off any order. Discount will be applied automatically.
5555 Reservoir Dr. Ste 101, San Diego, California 92120
5.42 mile
Tel: 6195831722
Today's best offer is: $10 off any order. Discount will be applied automatically.
If you are uninsured, you may qualify for a state-funded program or a lower fee scale. Please bring the following documents: photo ID. Fees for services are based on your household income. You will not be turned away because of your inability to pay.
7526 Clairemont Mesa Blvd, San Diego, California 92111
2.02 mile
Tel: (888) 743-7526
Tel: (619) 291-0959
Appointment Required: Yes
6973 Linda Vista Rd, San Diego, California 92111
4.1 mile
Tel: (858) 279-0925
Tel: (858) 633-4680
Appointment Required: Yes
Please visit the website or call for eligibility requirements. STD testing, HIV PrEP and PEP for patients 18+. Trichomoniasis testing available as part of STD testing services.
5644 Mission Center Rd, San Diego, California 92108
4.4 mile
Tel: (866) 389-2727
Please visit the website or call for eligibility requirements. STD testing, HIV PrEP and PEP for patients 18+. Trichomoniasis testing available as part of STD testing services.
4829 Clairemont Dr, San Diego, California 92117
4.78 mile
Tel: (866) 389-2727
4690 El Cajon Blvd, San Diego, California 92115
5.46 mile
Tel: (619) 445-6200
Appointment Required: Yes
4040 30th St, San Diego, California 92104
5.56 mile
Tel: (619) 876-4462
Appointment Required: Yes
4290 Polk Ave, San Diego, California 92105
5.63 mile
Tel: (619) 563-0250
Tel: (858) 633-4681
Appointment Required: Yes
FHC of San Diego is the largest provider of HIV and hepatitis treatment and prevention services in the region. PrEP referrals and insurance enrollment.
5454 El Cajon Blvd, San Diego, California 92115
5.67 mile
Tel: (619) 515-2400
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: photo ID. Fees for services are based on your household income. You will not be turned away because of your inability to pay.
4501 Mission Bay Dr, San Diego, California 92109
5.78 mile
Tel: (888) 743-7526
Tel: (619) 291-0959
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: photo ID. Fees for services are based on your household income. You will not be turned away because of your inability to pay.
4305 University Ave, Ste 350, San Diego, California 92105
5.8 mile
Tel: (888) 743-7526
Tel: (619) 291-0959
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: photo ID. Fees for services are based on your household income. You will not be turned away because of your inability to pay.
10717 Camino Ruiz, Ste 258, San Diego, California 92126
5.84 mile
Tel: (888) 743-7526
Tel: (619) 291-0959
Appointment Required: Yes
10737 Camino Ruiz, Ste 235, San Diego, California 92126
5.84 mile
Tel: (844) 200-2426
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 San Diego, 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.
Test Advisor
Know all about STD testing options, and the costs of different STD tests.
Select a city below to see more local STD testing options
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.
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.
Similar to what was previously mentioned, herpes infections are known for their recurring tendencies – causing outbreaks now and then and thus causing an intermittent spike in the patient’s viral load for specific instances. In addition to that, other STDs also take time to proliferate and produce a sufficient viral load that could warrant a positive and, more importantly, accurate diagnosis and detection from the tests being administered. As such, detecting an STD a few days following exposure is often complex and unpredictable – leading physicians to follow a certain timeframe instead for testing STDs instead of blindly testing immediately following exposure. Physical exams, however, may supplement inaccurate laboratory diagnoses, especially in cases where the test is prone to false results.
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!