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STD Testing, Treatment, and Vaccines

Home | Services | Sexual Health | STI Testing, Treatment & Vaccines

Let Us Give You Some Peace of Mind

Sexually transmitted infections—not everyone’s favorite subject but nonetheless, a pretty important one for anyone who’s sexually active. STDs are infections that you can get from another person through semen, vaginal fluid, blood, or skin-to-skin contact. Anyone who is sexually active (vaginal, anal, or oral sex) is at risk for an STD.

At HealthQ, our Massachusetts clinics offer STD testing in Beverly, Lawrence, and Haverhill. A large part of what we do on a daily basis is help people learn if they have an STD, how to treat it, and how to prevent spreading it or getting it again.

If you are concerned that you may have contracted an STD, HealthQ offers completely confidential, judgment-free, and compassionate testing and treatment. You can come in for a test or order an at-home STD testing kit. While contracting an STI or STD may come as quite a shock, you might find that they’re more common and manageable than you think. We’ll help you through this.

Same or Next Day Appointments and Rapid Results

If you think you have an STD, call us for a same or next day appointment or order an at-home STD test. If you come to our office, you can expect on-site lab testing in our fully accredited lab for chlamydia and gonorrhea with results in the same visit. Other tests will be sent to an outside laboratory and results will be delivered in approximately 7 days. All test results will be posted on your private patient portal. If your results are positive and you need a prescription sent to your pharmacy, one of our medical providers will call you.

The tests are fast, simple, and pain-free. They involve a urine sample, finger prick, or blood draw.

WE’VE GOT SEVERAL OPTIONS TO HELP YOU GET TESTED.

Call one of our locations for STD testing in Beverly, Lawrence, and Haverhill or set up a telehealth visit from anywhere using your computer or cell phone.

You can also order one of our at-home STD kits to be sent to you. Depending on your symptoms we may or may not want to see you in the office.

It's No One's Concern but Yours and We'll Make Sure of That

If you are looking for 100% confidential STD testing and treatment, make an appointment or order an at-home STD testing kit. We will never disclose your test results to anyone. If you are concerned about the possibility that your insurance plan will disclose your health information by sending mail related to your visit, for example, find out whether you are eligible for our low-cost testing without insurance.

ORDER ONE OF OUR AT-HOME STD TEST KITS

We want to make it easy and convenient for you to get tested. We offer different at-home STD test kits. The right set of tests for you depends on your specific risk factors. Complete the risk assessment to find out which tests are right for you.

STD Testing FAQs

Why should I get tested for STDs? ≫
What does STD testing involve? ≫
Will I be asked extremely personal questions? ≫
Can I get an STD test on my period? ≫
Will my STD test include herpes? ≫
What’s the duration of an STD test? ≫
How frequently should I get tested for STDs? ≫
When will I receive the results? ≫

Why should I get tested for STDs?

If you’re sexually active, you should undergo regular STD tests. Not only does it give you the information necessary to tackle potential infections, but it also protects those you have sex with. Furthermore, you should undergo STD tests even if you’re asymptomatic because STDs don’t always produce symptoms.

What does STD testing involve?

During the STD test, the clinician will evaluate your symptoms and swab the symptomatic areas for testing (vagina, penis, anus, mouth). This will help them identify gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia, or HIV. If you don’t have any symptoms, they may ask for a urine sample and/or a blood sample.

Will I be asked extremely personal questions?

We ask questions that are essential for clinical care and no more, e.g., which body parts are involved. Other than this, it is up to you what you would like to tell us or not. All of your information is kept confidential—we never reveal your information or test results to anyone. If and when we have to report an STD to a local or state board of health, the information is completely anonymous and can’t be linked to a person.

Can I get an STD test on my period?

You can get an STD test at any point in your menstrual cycle, including on the heaviest days of your period. If you’re concerned about heavy bleeding during your STD test, please make an appointment regardless and discuss it with our clinicians.

Will my STD test include herpes?

No, a typical STD test includes gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, and HIV. The Centers for Disease Control doesn’t recommend testing for herpes without symptoms. However, if you’re concerned that you’ve been exposed to herpes but aren’t showing symptoms, please inform the clinician during your test.

What’s the duration of an STD test?

A typical STD test takes about 15 minutes. However, you may have a short wait, especially on busier days of the week. For your convenience, we offer at-home STD testing as well. At-home STD testing isn’t covered by insurance, but if you are uninsured and income eligible, we offer low or no cost tests. Please see our website for more information.

How frequently should I get tested for STDs?

All sexually active individuals should get tested for STDs at least once a year, even if they’re in monogamous relationships. Those with multiple partners should ideally get tested before having sex with a new partner. If you don’t do that, you should get tested after 10 days to identify a possible infection.

When will I receive the results?

You should receive the results of your STD test immediately for a rapid HIV test, within a day for gonorrhea and chlamydia, and within a week for a Pap, herpes, or syphilis test) If you have tested positive, we will notify you by phone and go over next steps. If you have tested negative, no news is good news and you won’t hear from us. However, we always encourage our clients to sign up for the patient portal to keep track of your test results and other information.

Get the Facts About STDs

Learn more about sexually transmitted infections—how you get them, symptoms, testing available, treatment, and the risk for your partners.

CHLAMYDIA ≫
GONORRHEA ≫
SYPHILIS ≫
GENITAL HERPES ≫
NON-SPECIFIC URETHRITIS (NSU) ≫
TRICHOMONIASIS ≫
HEPATITIS A ≫
HEPATITIS B ≫
HEPATITIS C ≫
HIV ≫
GENITAL WARTS ≫
PELVIC INFLAMMATORY DISEASE (PID) ≫
PUBIC LICE (CRABS) ≫
SCABIES ≫

Infections

Chlamydia
Bacterial infection of the genitals can lead to inflammatory disease (PID) and infertility.

How you get it

By having vaginal or anal sex without a condom with someone who has the infection; from mother-to-baby (eye and chest infection).

Symptoms

Some people often have no symptoms or may have pain with sexual intercourse, lower abdominal pain, or changes in bleeding patterns. Other people may have watery or thick discharge from the penis, pain, or urinating.

Treatment

Antibiotics.

Partners

Recent sexual partners need treatment. Don’t have sex until 7 days after starting treatment and until sexual contacts have been treated.

Infections

Gonorrhea
Bacterial infection of the genitals, throat, or anus, can lead to infertility.

How you get it

By having vaginal, anal, or oral sex without a condom with someone who has the infection; from mother-to-baby (eye infections).

Symptoms

People usually have no symptoms, but may have pain with sex, vaginal discharge, lower abdominal pain. Others may have discharge from the penis, discharge from the anus, pain in testicles, pain on urinating.

Treatment

Antibiotics.

Partners

Sexual partners must be tested and treated if positive. Avoid sex until 7 days after treatment is completed. Condoms provide some protection, but not total.

Infections

Syphilis
Bacterial infection entering the body through breaks in skin or linings of the genital area; over time, goes on to damage internal organs (heart, brain, spinal cord)

How you get it

By having vaginal, anal, or oral sex without a condom with someone who has the infection; from mother-to-baby across the placenta during pregnancy (congenital syphilis).

Symptoms

Painless ulcer (chancre) usually on genitals; later swollen glands, rash, hair loss.

Treatment

Antibiotics with follow-up blood tests.

Partners

Sexual partners must be tested and treated if positive. Current health regulations advise no sex until you are cleared.

Infections

Genital herpes
Herpes simplex virus causes skin infection usually on the mouth and lips (cold sores) or genitals.

How you get it

Close skin contact with someone with the virus; from mother-to-baby.

Symptoms

Painful, red blisters, little sores or ulcers, flu-like symptoms, and sometimes a discharge.

Treatment

Anti-herpes drugs and pain relief can be given to treat symptoms, but the infection cannot be cured. Some may need medication to prevent further outbreaks.

Partners

Partners may or may not catch herpes. Do not have sex when open sores are present. Condoms provide some, but not complete, protection.

Infections

Non-specific urethritis (NSU)
Infections that cause inflammation of the urethra.

How you get it

Can be caused by chlamydia or by bacteria, viruses or other organisms.

Symptoms

People usually have no symptoms, however some may have discharge from the penis, pain on urinating, but sometimes there are no symptoms.

Treatment

Antibiotics.

Partners

Partners need to be examined and treated.

Infections

Trichomoniasis
Trichomonas vaginalis, a small parasitic organism, causes irritation in the vagina and can cause irritation inside the penis.

How you get it

During sexual intercourse with an infected person.

Symptoms

Some people have no symptoms, but there may be a yellowy-green frothy vaginal discharge.

Treatment

Antibiotic tablets and/or vaginal pessaries.

Partners

Treat with antibiotics to avoid re-infection. Don’t have sex until 7 days after starting treatment and until sexual contacts have been treated.

Infections

Hepatitis A
A viral infection which affects the liver.

How you get it

Mainly through contaminated food or water or not hand-washing after toilet, before food, etc. Can be through anal sex and oral-to-anal contact (rimming).

Symptoms

Often no symptoms, or may have mild flu-like illness, or vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine, and yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes.

Treatment

Immunization for prevention. Good hygiene and hand-washing. Avoid alcohol and drugs. Eat a well-balanced low-fat diet.

Partners

Immunization for prevention and avoid anal sexual practices until recovered.

Infections

Hepatitis B
A viral infection which affects the liver.

How you get it

By having vaginal, anal, or oral sex without a condom with someone who has the infection; form mother-to-baby. By sharing needles, syringes, toothbrushes, razors, and unsterilized instruments that pierce the skin. Blood transfusion in countries that do not pre-test blood for transfusion.

Symptoms

May have no symptoms or mild flu-like illness or vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine, and yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes.

Treatment

Rest, exercise, and avoid alcohol, drugs and smoking. Eat a well-balanced low-fat diet. Check any prescribed or over-the-counter medicines are safe to take.

Partners

Always use a condom if your partner is not immunized. Protection is offered to babies on the immunization schedule and children under 16 years. Free immunization is available for household and sexual contacts.

Infections

Hepatitis C
A viral infection which affects the liver.

How you get it

After contact with infected blood or by sharing needles or syringes or possibly through sexual contact. Blood transfusion in countries that doe no pre-test blood for transfusion.

Symptoms

Often no symptoms or may have mild, flu-like illness or vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine, and yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes.

Treatment

Rest, exercise, and avoid alcohol, drugs and smoking. Eat a well-balanced low-fat diet.

Partners

Sexual and needle-sharing partners can have a blood test to check for Hep C antibodies.

Infections

HIV
Human Immunodeficiency Virus attacks the white blood cells and causes damage to the immune system so that it can be difficult to fight off infections.

How you get it

HIV is transmitted through blood, semen, vaginal fluids, sharing needles, and from mother-to-baby. Blood transfusion in countries that do not pre-test blood for transfusion.

Symptoms

Usually no obvious symptoms for many years.

Test

In-Office rapid Testing

Results in 10 minutes. Fingerstick. Able to detect HIV from 6 to 8 weeks after exposure. If the result is positive, a blood sample is taken and sent to a lab for confirmation.

Laboratory Testing

Results in one week. Blood draw. Able to detect HIV 2 weeks after exposure to the virus.

Blood drawn and sent to the laboratory. Results available in one week. Both tests more than 99% accurate.

Treatment

No immunization or cure available although some secondary infections can be treated or prevented. Keeping well for longer is possible with good care. Some people with HIV/AIDS need a cervical smear yearly.

Partners

Practice safer sex to prevent transmission.

Partners should ask for an HIV test, and consider using PrEP to prevent infection.

Infections

Genital warts
Human papillomavirus (HPV) causes fleshy or flat lumps—may be present even if not visible.

How you get it

HPV transmitted by direct skin-to-skin contact, usually during sex; from mother-to-baby. Sometimes no identifiable source of transmission.

Symptoms

Fleshy or flat lumps on or around genitals, anus, groin, or thigh.

Treatment

Visible warts can be treated, but the infection cannot be cured. On 1 January 2017, HPV immunization became free for everyone aged 9 to 26, including non-residents under the age of 18.

Partners

Condoms provide some protection, but not total.

Infections

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
An infection of the womb and fallopian tubes that can cause infertility.

How you get it

Usually by having vaginal sex without a condom with someone who has gonorrhea or chlamydia.

Symptoms

Pain during sex, sore abdomen or back, heavy, irregular or painful periods, spotting, high temperature, feeling sick; sometimes no symptoms.

Treatment

Antibiotics and rest.

Partners

Need to check for STDs and be treated to avoid reinfection. No sex until treatment is completed and until sexual contacts have been treated.

Infections

Pubic lice (crabs)
Small lice that live in the pubic hair and cause irritation.

How you get it

By close body contact, usually during sex with an infected person. Can be spread via infected bedding and clothing.

Symptoms

Intense itching in the pubic area, small nits (eggs) on pubic hair.

Treatment

Special shampoo, cream, or spray applied to the pubic area. Wash all clothing and bed linen.

Partners

Treat partners of the last 3 months in the same way at the same time.

Infections

Scabies
Small mites that burrow into the skin cause irritation.

How you get it

By close body contact, sometimes during sex. Can be spread by sharing clothes or bedding.

Symptoms

Itching, worse at night, and a rash on the body.

Treatment

Special lotion, cream, or ointment. Wash all clothing and bed linen.

Partners

Treat partners of the last 3 months in the same way at the same time.

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