The STI Test

There are several ways of testing for STI's.

Below the three most commonly used ones are described: blood test, physical examination and urine testing.

The way you are tested depends on your symptoms, if any, and on what kind of sexual contact you had.

In order to examine you properly, the doctor will have a chat with you before doing the test.

• Blood test

A blood sample will be taken. During a routine test at an STI clinic, the blood is always tested for syphilis and sometimes hepatitis B. The same blood can be used for an HIV test.

• Physical examination: swabs or smears

A smear or swab may be taken from the fluid in the penis, vagina, rectum (if you had anal sex) or the throat (if you had oral sex).

In women, some fluid is taken from the mucous membrane on the cervix (This is a different smear test than the one for cervical cancer). It is done with the help of a metal instrument called the speculum. With this instrument, the doctor or nurse can look at the mucous membranes of the cervix and vagina. The smear doesn't hurt. In men, the doctor or nurse uses a cotton bud to take fluid from the outermost part of the urethra.

A swab from the rectum is taken with an instrument that is inserted a little way into the rectum (the proctoscope). This instrument also allows the doctor to view the inside of the rectum. Genital herpes and genital warts show up clearly if the infection is active, so if there are blisters (erosions) or warts on or around the genitals. A doctor can make the diagnosis by looking closely at the warts, blisters or erosions. If there are blisters or erosions on or around the genitals, the doctor may take a specimen from them, to check whether you have herpes.

So if you have no signs or symptoms, a routine STI test gives no answer to the question whether you are a carrier of the herpes virus.

• Urine examination

Using new laboratory techniques, more and more tests for STI‘s can be done on urine. The doctor prefers to work with the first (morning) urine. Right now, testing men for Chlamydia on the basis of urine is just as reliable as a swab. For women, the urine test is somewhat less reliable.

Doctors and other medical personel are obliged to observe patient secrecy. This means that they are not allowed to give any information about you or your medical information to others

Where to test

• If you want to be tested for STIs, you can go to your GP (huisarts). He or she can also refer you to a dermatologist (specialist in skin and venereal infection) or a gynaecologist (specialist in women's reproductive system). The health insurance pays for this.
• If you feel uneasy about going to your GP, you can be tested anonymously at a low-threshold or a no-threshold STI clinic, under the responsibility of a dermatologist.
  • No-threshold means free and anonymous testing for STI and HIV, even if you are not insured. You can go there without a referral. There are no-threshold clinics in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague and Utrecht.
  • Low-threshold means that you need a referral from an STI social nurse at the local health authority (GGD). This test is also free and anonymous. You can find low-threshold STI clinics in Groningen, Leiden, Maastricht and Nijmegen.
• Some local health authorities, such as the GGD, also test you for STIs and offer treatment. For addresses of STI clinics or local health authorities (GGDs) click here  
• You can also go to CASA  (Centres for Anticonception, Sexual Health & Abortion)