As a medical professional who specializes in sexual health, I cannot stress enough the importance of STBBI screening. If you have a new partner, a condom slips, you notice burning, discharge, or sores, or you simply want peace of mind, screening is a safe way to get clear answers. I understand that a positive result can feel scary. You’re not alone in feeling that way. The good news is that most infections are treatable, and when we catch them early, care is usually straightforward. Please don’t let worry keep you from getting help.
In this article, I’ll walk you through what STBBIs are, key symptoms, when to get tested, which tests are used, what to expect during the visit, and how results and follow-up work.
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Key Takeaways
- Many STBBIs have no symptoms, so screening, even when you feel fine, prevents complications and protects partners.
- Testing after specific situations (new partner, condom break, symptoms, partner positive) is recommended, as well as regular screening if risks are ongoing.
- Urine, blood, and swab tests are quick, discreet, and chosen based on your history and symptoms.
- Timing matters in recent exposure. A baseline test and confirmatory retest after the window period are important.
- Most infections are treatable, and care includes treatment, partner notification options, vaccination where appropriate, and prevention tools like PrEP.
What Are STBBIs?
STBBI stands for sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections and refers to infections that can be passed through sexual contact (oral, vaginal, anal) or through blood. You’ll still hear “STD” or “STI” in everyday language, but “STBBI” is simply broader and more accurate.
Common examples include:
- Chlamydia and gonorrhea
- HIV
- Syphilis
- Hepatitis B and hepatitis C
- HPV (human papillomavirus)
- Herpes (HSV-1/HSV-2)
Some infections cause obvious symptoms (see common ones further down below), but many don’t. That’s why someone can feel fine and still test positive. Screening confirms whether an infection is present, identifies which one, and helps prevent long-term problems like pelvic pain, fertility issues, or transmission to partners.
Learn more about our sexual health and STBBI screening services.
When Should You Get Tested?
Knowing when to get tested helps you act quickly and confidently. The situations below are common reasons to get tested. However, remember that testing supports prevention but does not replace it; adopting responsible and safe habits helps prevent transmission, protect your partners, and reduce your overall risk.
Screening as a Preventive Measure
Preventive screening for STBBIs is recommended if any of the following apply:
- You have a new sexual partner.
- You or your partner(s) have new partners frequently — consider a regular schedule every 3–6 months.
- You’re in a steady relationship and want to stop using condoms or sheets of latex.
- You are pregnant or planning a pregnancy.
Screening for Specific Groups of People
Some groups face higher rates of STBBIs. If any apply, speak with a health professional about screening:
- You are under 25 years old and sexually active.
- You are a man who has sex with men.
- You are a sex worker (or a client).
- You inject or inhale drugs.
- You are currently or were previously incarcerated.
- You come from a region or country where STBBIs are widespread.
Screening if You Think You Have Been Exposed
Screening after possible exposure is essential. Test if any of the following occurred (even once):
- You had sex without a condom, or a condom broke/slipped.
- You learned that a partner or ex-partner has or recently had an STBBI.
- You learned your partner(s) had sex with other people.
- You are experiencing symptoms that could be an STBBI (see symptoms below)
- You had contact with blood or potentially infectious bodily fluids (semen, vaginal secretions).
- You shared equipment to prepare, inject, or inhale drugs.
- You had a tattoo or piercing with equipment that may not have been sterile.
If something happened very recently, timing matters because tests only turn positive after a short window period. Testing now can provide a baseline, and a follow-up test may be recommended at the right interval. If the exposure could involve HIV and occurred within the last 72 hours, ask us about HIV PEP.t in a moment.
Symptoms of STBBIs
STBBI symptoms can be obvious, subtle, or completely absent. Here’s what usually prompts people to seek medical advice. Use this as a guide, not a diagnosis, as different infections can look alike, and the same infection can look different from person to person.
Genital or Urinary Changes
- Burning or pain when you pee
- New discharge from the vagina, penis, or rectum (thin, thick, clear, yellow/green, or with odour)
- Genital itching, irritation, or swelling
- Pain with sex; pelvic or lower-abdominal pain
- Testicular pain or swelling
- Unexpected vaginal bleeding (between periods or after sex)
Sores, Bumps, or Rashes
- Painful or painless sores, blisters, or ulcers on the genitals, anus, or nearby skin
- Warts or small, cauliflower-like bumps
- Unexplained rashes, including on the palms or soles
Throat or Rectal Symptoms (Often After Oral or Anal Sex)
- Sore throat without a cold, swollen glands
- Rectal pain, discharge, bleeding, or a feeling of needing to pass stool even when empty
Whole-Body Clues
- Fever, fatigue, night sweats, swollen lymph nodes
- Yellowing of the skin/eyes, dark urine, or pale stools (possible hepatitis)
- New joint pain or eye irritation
Urgent Signs — Seek Care Promptly
- Severe pelvic or testicular pain
- High fever with pelvic pain or discharge
- Spreading skin infection, rapidly worsening sores, or severe rectal bleeding
- Symptoms in pregnancy
If any of this sounds familiar, avoid sexual contact until you’ve been tested and treated as needed. And a gentle reminder: many infections cause no symptoms at all, which is why routine screening still matters even when you feel okay.
What to Expect at the Appointment
An STBBI visit is straightforward. You’ll answer a few questions about your health, partners, protection, and any symptoms, so the right tests are chosen. Care is confidential and non-judgmental, and you can ask us questions or decline anything. Most of our appointments are quick, and you can pause at any time.
Tests usually include a urine sample and a small blood draw; swabs from the throat, vagina, rectum, or urethra may be added when needed, often as self-swabs. A brief exam is done only if visible changes need a closer look. Before you leave, we’ll explain how and when results will arrive (often within days), and what follow-up will look like, including when it’s safe to resume sexual activity.
The Different Types of STBBI Tests
Urine tests (NAAT): Often the first choice for chlamydia and gonorrhea. You provide a urine sample; no exam is required. Results usually return within a few days.
Blood tests: Used to check for HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B and C. A small sample is taken from your arm (or occasionally a finger prick). Some results come back quickly; others may take a bit longer or require confirmatory testing.
Swab tests: Taken from the throat, vagina, rectum, or urethra to look for infections at those sites (including chlamydia, gonorrhea, and sometimes herpes). If there’s a visible sore, a swab from the lesion helps confirm herpes.
Brief physical exam (when indicated): If you have visible symptoms like sores, rashes, discharge, pelvic or testicular pain, a short exam can guide which tests or treatments make sense.
How to Prepare for Your Test
A little prep makes STBBI screening smoother and results more reliable. You don’t need to fast unless you were told to.
- Try not to urinate for 1–2 hours before your appointment (helps with urine testing).
- Avoid douching, vaginal creams, rectal enemas, or genital ointments the day of your visit; they can affect swab results.
- If a throat swab is likely, avoid eating, drinking, smoking, or chewing gum for 30 minutes beforehand.
- Don’t start antibiotics for possible STBBIs unless prescribed by a doctor; they can alter results.
- Bring your health card/ID, a list of medications (including PrEP/PEP), and any past results if handy.
- If you have visible sores, don’t apply creams right before the visit, so a good sample can be taken.
- Menstruation is fine. Come as scheduled unless told otherwise, and wear clothing that’s easy to change in and out of.
If you’re feeling anxious or prefer extra privacy options (like self-swabs), feel free to let us know.
What Happens After the Test?
Most results are ready within a few days. If STBBI testing followed a recent event, we may repeat some tests later to account for the window period. We’ll explain how results will be shared (phone, secure message, or follow-up visit), and what to do while waiting, usually avoiding sexual contact if symptoms are present.
If a result is positive, we’ll walk you through what it means, start treatment when indicated, and discuss when it’s safe to resume sexual activity. We can also help with partner notification, plus simple prevention steps going forward, such as barrier methods, timely re-testing, vaccinations (e.g., Hep B/HPV), and whether a PrEP consult is necessary.
Common Myths About STBBIs (And the Facts)
Myth: If I don’t have symptoms, I’m fine.
Fact: Many STBBIs are silent. Screening is the only reliable way to know.
Myth: STBBI testing is painful or embarrassing.
Fact: Most tests are quick and simple (urine, small blood sample, or gentle self-swabs). Staff do this every day.
Myth: One negative test covers me for the year.
Fact: Results reflect a moment in time. Re-testing may be needed after new partners or recent exposure.”
Myth: Only people with multiple partners need STBBI screening.
Fact: STBBIs can occur in any relationship, including new monogamous ones, before both partners test.
Myth: I can tell who has an infection by looking.
Fact: You can’t. Many infections have no visible signs.
Myth: A condom makes STBBI testing unnecessary.
Fact: Condoms lower risk but don’t cover everything (e.g., skin-to-skin infections). Screening still has value.
Myth: A positive result means my life is on hold.
Fact: Most infections are treatable, and care plans aim to get you back to normal activities quickly and safely.
Your Health, Your Choice
Whether starting a new relationship, following up on a concern, or building routine screening into your care, STBBIs screening is a straightforward and private process. Nowadays, most infections are treatable, and acting early keeps things simple for you and your partners.
If you think you might have an STBBI or would like to get a preventive screening, you can book a confidential consultation with Clinique Médicale Santé Plus. Ask us any questions about timing, test types, prevention, or follow-up; we’ll answer all of them so that you can move forward knowing your health has been understood, respected, and looked after without judgment. Our private medical clinic serves Vaudreuil, Saint-Lazare, Hudson, and many more municipalities west of Montréal. If you don’t have a doctor, we can act as your private family doctor for accessible sexual health care.
