This page is general health information, not medical advice. It cannot tell you whether you have an infection. A clinician can, and the testing options on this site are a good place to start.

Many sexually transmitted infections (STIs) cause no symptoms at all. Others cause symptoms that look a lot like everyday problems, such as a yeast infection or a urinary tract infection. That is why this guide covers two things: the signs that deserve attention, and the reasons a person may want a test even when everything feels normal.

It is written for women of every age, orientation and gender experience, including transgender women, and for anyone with a vagina, cervix or uterus. It also covers what is different about Atlanta, from local rates to the clinics that offer free and low-cost testing.

Key takeaways

The CDC says most people with chlamydia and many with gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, herpes and HPV have no symptoms. A lack of symptoms does not tell anyone what a test would show.
Common signs worth a test include unusual discharge, burning when urinating, bleeding between periods, pain during sex, and sores, bumps or a rash in the genital area.
Untreated chlamydia and gonorrhea can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which the CDC links to long-term pelvic pain, ectopic pregnancy and trouble getting pregnant.
Severe pelvic pain, pelvic pain with fever, or symptoms during pregnancy call for care the same day.
Bacterial STIs and trichomoniasis are curable with treatment from a clinician. HIV and herpes are not curable, but both are treatable and manageable.
Atlanta has free and sliding-scale testing, including walk-in options. The list is in the last section.

Why symptoms are an unreliable guide
Symptoms by infection
Signs that are worth a test, and other causes
Pelvic inflammatory disease and fertility
When to get an STD test for women, and what to expect
When to see a clinician the same day
Where to test in Atlanta
Sources

Why symptoms are an unreliable guide

It is natural to look for signs. The trouble is that the body often gives none. The CDC says that most people with chlamydia have no symptoms, and that about 70 percent of people with trichomoniasis have no signs or symptoms. Gonorrhea, herpes and HPV also often cause nothing a person would notice.

This matters for two reasons. First, an infection can go untreated for months or years without anyone knowing. Second, a person can pass an infection to a partner without knowing it is there.

It also means that searching for symptoms of an STD in a female body is only part of the picture. Symptoms are one reason to test. Screening is another. The CDC STI Treatment Guidelines (2021) and the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) both recommend routine screening for some infections in people with no symptoms, as covered below.

Why women are often told to test even without symptoms

Chlamydia and gonorrhea in the cervix and pelvis can quietly cause damage over time. The CDC recommends yearly screening for chlamydia and gonorrhea in sexually active women under 25, and for older women with risk factors such as a new partner, more than one partner, or a partner who has an STI. The USPSTF makes similar recommendations.

These are screening guidelines, not a judgment about anyone. They exist because finding an infection early is far easier than treating its complications later.

Symptoms by infection

Symptoms alone cannot say which infection is present, and only a clinician or a test can. Still, it helps to know what each infection can look like. The descriptions below follow the CDC.

Chlamydia

When chlamydia causes symptoms in women, they can include unusual vaginal discharge, a burning feeling when urinating, bleeding between periods or after sex, and pain during sex. Some people feel lower abdominal discomfort. Chlamydia can also infect the throat or rectum, usually without symptoms.

Chlamydia is curable with treatment from a clinician.

Gonorrhea

Gonorrhea can cause increased or changed vaginal discharge, burning when urinating, and bleeding between periods. Many women have symptoms so mild that they are mistaken for a bladder or vaginal infection, or have none at all. Like chlamydia, it can affect the throat and rectum.

Gonorrhea is curable with treatment from a clinician. A clinician chooses the medicine, because the CDC updates its treatment advice as bacteria change.

Trichomoniasis

Trichomoniasis is caused by a parasite. When it causes symptoms, they can include itching or irritation in the genital area, a change in discharge, an unusual odor, and discomfort when urinating or having sex. The CDC notes that most people have no symptoms.

Trichomoniasis is curable with treatment from a clinician.

Syphilis

Syphilis moves through stages. The first sign is usually a sore, often painless, where the infection entered the body. Because it does not hurt and can be inside the vagina or on the cervix, it is easy to miss. Later signs can include a rash, often on the palms or soles, along with fever, swollen glands, patchy hair loss and tiredness. These signs can fade without treatment while the infection stays in the body.

Syphilis is curable with treatment from a clinician, and it is much easier to treat early. It matters in pregnancy, which is covered in the testing section.

Genital herpes

Herpes can cause blisters or open sores on or near the genitals, buttocks or thighs, often with tingling, itching or pain beforehand. The first outbreak can also bring fever, body aches and swollen glands. Many people have very mild symptoms or none, and so do not know they carry the virus.

Herpes is not curable, but it is treatable. A clinician can prescribe medicine that shortens outbreaks and lowers the chance of passing the virus on.

HPV

Most HPV infections cause no symptoms and clear on their own, according to the CDC. Some types cause genital warts. Others can cause changes in the cervix that, over years, may lead to cervical cancer. This is why cervical cancer screening matters. The USPSTF recommends regular cervical screening starting at age 21, and a clinician can explain the timing that fits a person's age and history.

HPV is not curable, but the infection often goes away without treatment, and the problems it can cause are treatable.

HIV

Some people have a flu-like illness, with fever, sore throat, rash or swollen glands, about two to four weeks after HIV enters the body. Many have no early symptoms. The only way to know is a test.

HIV is not curable, but it is treatable. The CDC says that with treatment, people with HIV can live long, healthy lives, and that treatment that keeps the virus at very low levels prevents passing HIV to partners during sex.

Other infections to know about

Mycoplasma genitalium, hepatitis B and pubic lice also appear in the CDC guidelines. Hepatitis B is often screened for in pregnancy. Mycoplasma genitalium can cause symptoms similar to chlamydia, and testing for it is usually considered when symptoms persist after other causes are ruled out.

Signs that are worth a test, and other causes

Any of the following is a good reason to see a clinician and ask about testing:

Discharge that is new, different in color or smell, or heavier than usual
Burning or pain when urinating
Bleeding between periods, or bleeding after sex
Pain during sex, or pain deep in the pelvis
Itching, irritation or swelling in the genital area
Sores, blisters, bumps or warts, even if they do not hurt
A rash, especially on the palms or soles
Sore throat or anal pain, discharge or bleeding after oral or anal sex
A partner who has been told they have an STI

Many of these signs have other causes

Bacterial vaginosis and yeast infections are common causes of discharge and itching. The CDC does not classify them as STIs, although bacterial vaginosis is linked to sexual activity. Urinary tract infections can cause burning when urinating. Skin conditions, irritation from soaps or products, and hormonal changes can also cause symptoms.

That is the reason guessing does not work well. A clinician can examine, ask questions and test for the right cause. Treating the wrong problem can leave an STI in place, so it is worth having the symptoms looked at before deciding what they are.

Symptoms that come and go

Some symptoms fade and return. Herpes outbreaks do, and so can the early signs of syphilis. If a symptom went away on its own, a clinician can still test. Ending a symptom is not the same as clearing an infection.

Pelvic inflammatory disease and fertility

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is an infection of the uterus, fallopian tubes or ovaries. The CDC says it often happens when chlamydia or gonorrhea is left untreated and the bacteria travel upward from the cervix.

PID can cause lower abdominal pain, fever, unusual discharge, pain during sex and bleeding between periods. It can also cause very mild symptoms or none, so a person may not know it is happening.

How PID relates to fertility

The CDC says PID can cause scarring in the reproductive organs. That scarring can lead to long-term pelvic pain, ectopic pregnancy (a pregnancy that grows outside the uterus) and difficulty getting pregnant. The CDC reports that about 1 in 8 women with a history of PID have trouble getting pregnant.

Two points keep this in proportion. Not everyone who has chlamydia or gonorrhea develops PID. And treatment helps: the CDC says prompt treatment lowers the chance of lasting damage. Treatment cannot undo scarring that has already happened, which is why catching infections early is the aim of screening.

A clinician prescribes the treatment for PID and decides whether it can be done as an outpatient or needs hospital care. Partners often need to be treated too.

When to get an STD test for women, and what to expect

Routine screening

The CDC STI Treatment Guidelines (2021), together with the USPSTF, point to these routine screening steps:

Chlamydia and gonorrhea: yearly for sexually active women under 25, and for older women with risk factors.
HIV: at least once for everyone, with the CDC recommending it for ages 13 to 64 and the USPSTF recommending it for ages 15 to 65. People with new or multiple partners are advised to test more often.
Syphilis, HIV, hepatitis B and others in pregnancy: the CDC recommends syphilis and HIV screening for all pregnant women, and hepatitis B screening as well.
Cervical cancer screening: regular Pap or HPV testing, with timing set by age and history.

Women who have sex with women, and transgender and nonbinary people, are not at lower risk by default. STIs can pass between any partners, and the CDC encourages testing based on a person's exposures, not their orientation.

What the test involves

For women, chlamydia and gonorrhea tests often use a urine sample or a swab, and many clinics let patients collect a vaginal swab themselves. Throat or rectal swabs may be added depending on the type of sex a person has. Syphilis and HIV tests usually use a blood sample, and some HIV tests use a finger stick. Herpes is tested by swabbing a sore when one is present. A clinician decides which tests fit each person.

Window periods from the CDC

After an exposure, a test may be too early to pick up an infection. This is called the window period. For HIV, the CDC says:

A nucleic acid test can detect HIV about 10 to 33 days after exposure.
An antigen/antibody test done on blood from a vein can detect HIV about 18 to 45 days after exposure.
An antigen/antibody test done on blood from a finger stick can take 18 to 90 days.
Antibody tests can take 23 to 90 days.

For other infections, the right time to test after an exposure depends on the infection and the test, so a clinician is the best person to ask. If testing soon after an exposure, many clinicians suggest a repeat test later. If an exposure was recent, ask about it when booking.

After a test

If a test finds a bacterial infection or trichomoniasis, a clinician prescribes treatment that cures it. Partners usually need testing and treatment too, so the infection does not pass back and forth. Georgia law allows expedited partner therapy in some situations, where a clinician may provide treatment for a partner. The CDC publishes the legal status of this practice in Georgia, and the Georgia Department of Public Health says local public health departments can help people find these services.

The CDC also published guidance in 2024 on doxycycline taken after sex (doxy-PEP) to lower the chance of some bacterial STIs. It applies to certain groups, and the CDC says there is not enough evidence yet to recommend it for cisgender women. A clinician can talk through whether it fits a person's situation.

Privacy and reporting in Georgia

Georgia Department of Public Health reporting rules require providers and labs to report some infections to the state. Syphilis is reported immediately, and chlamydia, gonorrhea and HIV are reported within 7 days. This is how public health staff track infections and, in some cases, help with partner notification. Anyone concerned about privacy can ask the clinic how results are handled before the visit.

When to see a clinician the same day

Some situations should not wait for a routine appointment. Seek care the same day, at an urgent care center or emergency department if a clinic cannot see you, for:

Sudden or severe pain in the lower abdomen or pelvis
Pelvic pain together with fever or chills
Pain with nausea or vomiting alongside pelvic symptoms
Heavy or unexpected vaginal bleeding
Any of these symptoms while pregnant, or a positive pregnancy test with pain or bleeding
Sores or rash together with fever, severe headache, vision changes or confusion

After a possible HIV exposure or sexual assault

The CDC says post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), medicine a clinician prescribes after a possible HIV exposure, must be started within 72 hours to work. The sooner it starts, the better. Emergency departments can assess this, and the Georgia AIDS and STI InfoLine, 1-800-551-2728, run through the Georgia Department of Public Health, provides information on PEP and PrEP.

If someone has been sexually assaulted, an emergency department can provide care, evidence collection if wanted, and STI prevention and testing. Care is never the survivor's fault, and the choice of what to do is theirs.

Where to test in Atlanta

Atlanta is in Fulton and DeKalb counties, and testing here is available at public health centers and community organizations. For the full local list with costs and details, see the guide to STD testing in Atlanta, where to get tested and what it costs. The clinics below are a starting point.

Why local testing matters

Georgia DPH data (OASIS, 2023) show Fulton County had 978.7 chlamydia cases per 100,000 people, or 10,599 cases. The CDC's 2023 state ranking tables put Georgia's rate at 646.4 per 100,000. For gonorrhea, Fulton County's rate was 569.4 per 100,000 in the same Georgia DPH data, compared with 274.8 for Georgia in the CDC tables.

Georgia DPH also reports 425 cases of primary and secondary syphilis in Fulton County in 2023, a rate of 39.2 per 100,000, compared with 20.0 for Georgia in CDC data. The CDC's 2023 tables list 127 congenital syphilis cases in Georgia, which is why syphilis screening during pregnancy matters.

For HIV, the Georgia DPH HIV Surveillance Summary for 2023 reports a rate of 50.5 new diagnoses per 100,000 people aged 13 and older in the Fulton Public Health District, or 466 cases, compared with 26.4 for Georgia. These numbers describe how common infections are in the community. They say nothing about any one person.

Fulton County Board of Health

The Fulton County Board of Health sexual health services include STI screening and treatment. Its page says that for people without insurance, fees can be charged on a sliding scale. Services may be walk-in or by appointment, and appointments are recommended. The Board of Health says its sexual health clinics serve Fulton County residents ages 14 and up.

10 Park Place Health Center: 10 Park Place S.E., 5th floor, Atlanta, GA 30303. Phone (770) 520-7500. The Board of Health lists STI screening and treatment, PrEP and doxy-PEP here, plus HIV testing. Hours are Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Walk-ins are accepted, and the last walk-in appointment is at 3:00 p.m.
Adamsville Regional Health Center: 3700 MLK Jr. Drive S.W., Atlanta, GA 30331. Phone (770) 520-7323. STI screening and treatment, HIV testing and PrEP are listed. Hours are Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call to ask about walk-ins.
Neighborhood Union Health Center: 186 Sunset Avenue N.W., Atlanta, GA 30314. Phone (770) 520-7351. STI screening, treatment and PrEP are listed. The Board of Health's pages give different days for this location, so call to confirm hours before going. The Board of Health's HIV testing page does not list it for HIV testing.

The full list of locations is on the Fulton County Board of Health locations page. DeKalb Public Health serves the DeKalb portion of Atlanta, and readers there can check its website for services and fees, since its details were not available to confirm here.

AID Atlanta Wellness Center

AID Atlanta offers free HIV tests and free STI screening for chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis, and says free treatment is available for reactive screening results. It is at 1438 W Peachtree Street NW, Atlanta, GA 30309. The STI testing line is (404) 870-7741.

Testing is offered Monday to Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with the last check-in at 5:30. AID Atlanta says walk-ins are welcome and no appointment is needed. Its HIV testing uses either a fourth-generation blood test or a rapid test.

Planned Parenthood East Atlanta Health Center

The East Atlanta Health Center is at 440 Moreland Avenue SE, Atlanta, GA 30316. Phone 404-688-9300. It lists STD testing and treatment, HIV testing and PrEP. Its page says insurance is not required and that it accepts cash and major cards as well as listed insurers. It does not state a sliding scale, so ask about cost when calling.

The most recent hours available are Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., closed on weekends. Walk-ins are welcome, but the page says that appointments are the only way to be sure of being seen. Confirm hours by phone.

Teens and young adults

The Fulton County Teen Health Clinic at Adamsville Regional Health Center serves ages 12 to 21, at 770-520-7323. Its services include STI exams and HIV counseling and testing. The Board of Health says fees are based on income and family size, and that no teen is turned away for inability to pay.

Georgia law, O.C.G.A. § 31-17-7, lets a minor consent to care for a venereal disease without a parent's consent. The law defines that term as syphilis, gonorrhea and chancroid, and it allows providers to inform a parent, guardian or spouse. The version of the law reviewed for this guide may not reflect later changes, so teens should ask the clinic what applies to them, especially for HIV testing.

Testing at home

Georgia DPH offers an at-home HIV self-test by online request. Its page does not state the cost or who is eligible. The CDC's HIV testing page also links to free HIV self-tests ordered online through a national program. A self-test can be a first step. A reactive result still needs confirming with a clinician.

The Fulton County Board of Health does not describe an at-home test program for other STIs. For other infections, an in-person visit is the usual route. The CDC's GetTested locator can also help find a site by ZIP code.

Pregnancy and prenatal testing

Under Georgia's HIV/Syphilis Pregnancy Screening Act of 2015 (O.C.G.A. § 31-17-4.2), a provider assuming responsibility for prenatal care must test for HIV and syphilis unless the woman refuses. The provider must also offer both tests again at the first exam of the third trimester. At delivery, a test is required if there is no written proof of one. Pregnant women who have symptoms or a possible exposure should tell their prenatal provider.

What to bring and ask

A photo ID and insurance card if you have them. Ask whether either is needed, since several clinics above serve people without insurance.
A list of any symptoms, when they started, and any medicines you take.
Questions about which tests are included, how and when results arrive, and what a visit costs.

Testing is a routine health step, with no judgment attached. Clinic staff handle STI visits every day.

STD Symptoms in Women: Signs, When to Test and Where in Atlanta