STI Testing in India: Where to Go, What to Get, and How Often

This content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted infections.

The Testing Gap Nobody Talks About

India has an estimated 30 million sexually transmitted infections diagnosed every year, according to the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO). And that number — as large as it is — represents only the cases that actually get diagnosed. The real figure is almost certainly far higher, because the majority of sexually active Indians have never been tested for a single STI.

The reasons are predictable: stigma, shame, lack of information about where to go, fear of judgment from healthcare providers, and the persistent myth that STIs only happen to "certain kinds of people." None of these reasons are medical. All of them are cultural. And they're costing people their health.

This guide exists to make the practical side of STI testing in India as clear and straightforward as possible. Where to go. What to ask for. How much it costs. What the results mean. No judgment, no lectures — just information you can actually use.

Why Testing Matters (Even If You Feel Fine)

Here's the fact that changes everything: most STIs are asymptomatic in their early stages. Chlamydia, the most common bacterial STI worldwide, shows no symptoms in approximately 70% of women and 50% of men. Gonorrhoea can be silent for weeks. HPV is almost always asymptomatic. HIV can remain without symptoms for years.

This means that "I feel fine" is not a reliable test. You cannot know your STI status based on how you feel, how your partner looks, or how many partners either of you have had. The only way to know is to test.

Early detection matters because:

• Most bacterial STIs are easily curable — chlamydia and gonorrhoea are treated with a short course of antibiotics when caught early
• Untreated infections cause serious complications — pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), infertility, ectopic pregnancy, chronic pain, and increased vulnerability to HIV
• You protect your partners — knowing your status allows you to make informed decisions about protection and disclosure
• Viral STIs are manageable — while not curable, HIV and herpes are highly manageable with modern treatment, especially when detected early

The Essential Tests: What to Ask For

When you walk into a clinic or lab, knowing exactly what to request makes the process smoother. Here's the standard screening panel that sexual health experts recommend for sexually active adults:

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)

The test: A blood test (ELISA or rapid antibody test). Fourth-generation tests can also detect the p24 antigen, which appears earlier than antibodies.

Window period: Antibody tests are reliable 3-12 weeks after exposure. Fourth-generation tests can detect infection as early as 2-4 weeks.

Who should get tested: Everyone who is sexually active, at least once. More frequently if you have multiple partners or don't consistently use barrier protection.

Syphilis

The test: Blood test (RPR or VDRL for screening, followed by TPHA or FTA-ABS for confirmation).

Window period: 3-6 weeks after exposure.

Why it matters: Syphilis has seen a resurgence globally. It progresses through stages and can cause serious neurological and cardiovascular damage if untreated. The good news — a single injection of penicillin cures early-stage syphilis completely.

Hepatitis B

The test: Blood test for HBsAg (surface antigen). Additional markers (HBsAb, HBcAb) can determine if you've been vaccinated or had a past infection.

Window period: 4-10 weeks after exposure.

Note: Hepatitis B is vaccine-preventable. If you haven't been vaccinated, this is one of the most effective things you can do for your sexual health. The vaccine is widely available at government health centres across India.

Hepatitis C

The test: Blood test for anti-HCV antibodies, followed by HCV RNA if positive.

Window period: 2-6 months for antibody tests; RNA testing can detect it earlier.

Why it's included: While primarily transmitted through blood, sexual transmission of Hepatitis C does occur, particularly during activities that involve blood contact.

Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea

The test: NAAT (Nucleic Acid Amplification Test) from urine sample or swab. This is the gold standard.

Window period: 1-2 weeks after exposure.

Important: These infections can occur in the throat and rectum as well as the genitals. If you've had oral or anal contact, request testing at those sites too — standard urine tests won't detect infections elsewhere.

HPV (Human Papillomavirus)

The test: For women, HPV DNA testing is done alongside a Pap smear. There is currently no approved HPV test for men.

Note: HPV is extremely common — most sexually active people will encounter it at some point. The vaccine (available for ages 9-45 in India) protects against the highest-risk strains that cause cervical cancer and genital warts.

Herpes (HSV-1 and HSV-2)

The test: Blood test for type-specific antibodies (IgG). Swab testing of active sores is also possible.

Window period: Up to 12-16 weeks for blood tests to become positive.

A note on herpes testing: Many sexual health experts debate whether routine herpes screening is helpful, because the infection is extremely common (an estimated 67% of the global population has HSV-1) and blood tests can produce false positives. Discuss with your doctor whether herpes testing makes sense for your situation.

Where to Get Tested in India

Government Facilities (Free or Very Low Cost)

ICTC Centres (Integrated Counselling and Testing Centres): NACO operates over 25,000 ICTC centres across India. These centres offer free, confidential HIV testing and counselling. Many also screen for syphilis. Testing is anonymous — you can use a code instead of your real name. Find your nearest centre through the NACO website or by calling the national AIDS helpline (1097).

Government hospitals and district hospitals: STI clinics within government hospitals offer testing and treatment for most common infections. Costs are nominal (often under Rs 100 for basic tests). The quality varies by facility, and wait times can be long, but the medical testing itself is reliable.

STI/RTI clinics under NACP: The National AIDS Control Programme funds dedicated STI clinics in many districts. These are specifically designed for sexual health and may offer a more comfortable experience than general hospital outpatient departments.

Private Laboratories

National chains (SRL, Thyrocare, Metropolis, Dr Lal PathLabs): These labs offer comprehensive STI panels ranging from Rs 2,000 to Rs 5,000. You can walk in without a doctor's referral at most locations. Results are typically available within 24-72 hours and delivered online through apps or portals. Privacy is generally good — results are shared directly with you.

Advantages: Convenient locations, professional staff, quick results, option for home sample collection in many cities.

What to ask for: Request the "STI panel" or "sexual health screening package." If that's not available as a pre-made package, ask for HIV ELISA, VDRL/RPR, HBsAg, anti-HCV, chlamydia NAAT, and gonorrhoea NAAT individually.

Home Testing Options

Several services now offer home sample collection for STI testing in major Indian cities. Companies like MyDiagnostics, Healthians, and Orange Health send phlebotomists to your home. This is a good option if clinic anxiety is a barrier to testing. Costs are similar to walking into a lab.

Self-collection kits (where you collect your own sample and mail it) are less widely available in India than in Western countries, but the market is growing. If you use these, ensure the laboratory is NABL-accredited.

Understanding Your Results

Negative Results

A negative result means the infection was not detected in your sample at the time of testing. However, if you're within the window period for any infection, a negative result may not be conclusive. Your doctor may recommend retesting after the window period has passed.

Positive Results

A positive screening result usually requires a confirmatory test. For example, a reactive VDRL (syphilis screening) will be followed by a TPHA test to confirm. A reactive HIV ELISA is followed by a Western Blot or confirmatory ELISA.

If you test positive for any STI:

• Don't panic. Most bacterial STIs are cured with a simple course of antibiotics. Viral STIs are manageable with modern medicine.
• See a doctor. Get proper treatment from a qualified physician — not from a chemist, not from the internet.
• Inform your partner(s). This is difficult but essential. Your current and recent partners need to be tested and treated if necessary to prevent reinfection and further spread.
• Complete the full treatment. For bacterial STIs, finish the entire course of antibiotics even if symptoms resolve early. Incomplete treatment contributes to antibiotic resistance.
• Retest after treatment. A test of cure (usually 3-4 weeks after completing treatment) confirms the infection has been cleared.

How Often Should You Get Tested?

General recommendations from sexual health organisations:

• Everyone sexually active: At least once a year for the core panel (HIV, syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhoea)
• New partner: Test before becoming intimate with a new partner, ideally together
• Multiple partners: Every 3-6 months
• After condom failure: Test at appropriate window periods after the incident
• Pregnant women: Routine STI screening is part of standard prenatal care in India (HIV, syphilis, Hepatitis B at minimum)
• After any symptoms: Unusual discharge, sores, pain, itching, or burning should prompt immediate testing regardless of your schedule

Navigating Stigma

Let's address the elephant in the room. In India, getting an STI test can feel like an admission of something shameful. Healthcare providers, unfortunately, don't always help — some patients report judgmental questions about their personal lives, unsolicited moral lectures, or breaches of confidentiality.

Here's what to know:

You have the right to confidential care. Under Indian medical ethics guidelines, your test results and the fact that you were tested are confidential. A doctor who shares your results with anyone without your consent is violating professional ethics.

You don't owe anyone an explanation. You don't need to justify why you're getting tested. "Routine health screening" is a perfectly sufficient reason. A good healthcare provider won't interrogate you.

Choose your provider carefully. If you encounter judgment, you have every right to leave and find a different provider. Private labs generally offer more privacy and less personal interaction during the testing process.

Testing is responsible, not shameful. Getting tested is one of the most mature, health-conscious decisions a sexually active person can make. It's the equivalent of getting a dental check-up — routine maintenance, not a confession.

Normalising STI testing in India requires all of us to talk about it the way we talk about any other health screening. The more ordinary it becomes, the more lives it saves.

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Written by the MyMuse Editorial Team

Last updated: February 2026