The Best STD Test Kits for Women in 2026
Compare STD Tests and Order a Home Test Kit Today
Updated January 2026
9.9
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Certified & discreet STDs home kit
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Lab results in 2-5 days
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Screens for the highest risk factors
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Free medical consultation for positives
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Accepts FSA & HSA cards
9.9
9.3
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100% confidential STD testing
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10-test panel detects all major STDs
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Test results return within 1-2 days
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Same day STD testing available
9.3
7.8
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Fast, private & affordable lab testing
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Order online - no doctor referral required!
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Most results return in 1-3 days
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4,500+ conveniently located labs
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Get results privately via online portal
7.8
Women STD Testing
STDs (sexually transmitted diseases) in women may be contracted via vaginal, oral or anal contact with another person.
STDs can be bacterial, viral or parasitic, meaning that they may be caused by bacteria, viruses or parasites. STDs are most commonly contracted during unprotected sex (sex without a condom) with an infected partner, however, to understand your risk, it’s important to have an awareness around all of the different ways that you can get an STD.
STDs in women and men may be contracted if:
- You have unprotected sex with an infected partner.
- You come into contact with infected fluids including blood, semen or vaginal fluids.
- You come into contact with an infected sore or open wound, for example, mouth to genital contact.
- You use a needle that has been used by an infected person for recreational drug use or other purposes.
- You come into contact with infected blood or body parts, for example, through a blood transfusion or organ donation.
It is also possible for STDs to pass from mothers to babies during childbirth, this is known as a congenital STD.
Finding out that you have an STD can be a scary experience, but they are much more common than you think, in fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are 20 million STD cases diagnosed in the United States each year(!), with over half of all cases diagnosed in the 15-24 year old age group.
The incubation period (length of time) it takes to experience symptoms of an STD will depend on the type of STD you have, oftentimes, an STD will be asymptomatic, which means you won’t experience any symptoms. That is why it is so important to regularly get tested and proactively manage your sexual health.
As mentioned, the symptoms of an STD can vary but some of the most common symptoms of STDs in females include:
- Pain in the affected area
- Itchiness
- Lumps and bumps
- Changes in vaginal discharge
When it comes to understanding STDs in women, it’s important to know which types of STDs you may be at risk of contracting, as well as what you can do to lower your risk.
STDs in women: Which STDs can affect women?
- Human papillomavirus (HPV)
- Chlamydia
- Gonorrhea
- HIV
- Herpes (1& 2)
- Syphilis
- Trichomoniasis
- Ureaplasma
- Hepatitis
The only way to know if you have an STI is to get tested.
The above facts are not here to scare you. If you are practicing safe sex and are attending regular sexual health screenings, you are proactively doing what you need to do to protect your sexual well-being.
If you are sexually active, you should get tested once a year. Sexual health screening should become part of your yearly health and well-being routine.
Besides your yearly sexual health screening, there are also some other instances in which you should get tested, which include:
- You have had unprotected sex
- You are planning on having a family
- Your partner has multiple sexual partners
- You have multiple sexual partners
- Your contraception has failed (the condom has broken or fallen off)
At this point, you may have never attended a sexual health screening, or you may not know how they work yet. Sexual health screenings are nothing to be scared of, and what’s more, now it’s possible to do a sexual health screening from home, the important thing to remember is that it’s not as scary as it seems!
Sexually transmitted diseases can be detected through blood, urine and swab tests.
If prevention methods have failed, early detection is the next best thing. There are a range of at home STD testing options which you can use to get answers from the comfort of your own home.
Why Get Tested for STDs?
Diagnosis and treatment are of great importance because letting such a disease go unchecked can lead to significant health issues down the road, including:
Damage to Body Tissue and Organs – The infection caused by STDs may lead in some cases to permanent damage to body tissue and organs, including mouth, throat, anus, and even the eyes, where it will eventually result in severe loss of eyesight and even blindness.
Infertility – In most cases, untreated STDs such as chlamydia and gonorrhea, are relevant causes of both Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and infertility. Testing for these STDs is of great importance, as PID is known to be a “silent” infection, developing in (~20%) of STDs and leading to permanent damage of the Fallopian tube and other surrounding tissues, which for instance cause infertility in women.
Malignant Cancer – Evidence demonstrates STD/STIs increase your risk of several cancer such as cervical, penile cancers, as well as other parts of the body (anus, mouth, throat) both in males and females.
So, with this in mind, it’s important to understand what an STD is and isn’t, and how you should act if you suspect you have an STD or are even just sexually active.
How do I get tested for an STD?
You can visit a health professional in a healthcare setting or take an at home STD test. The STD that you have, or think you have will determine the type of testing required. Some STDs involve a physical examination and a blood test, others will require a urine sample or a swab test. Your symptoms and/or whether your previous sexual partners are aware of an STD they could be carrying will help to determine the type of testing that you require. In most cases, you can test with blood, urine, or swabs of the mouth or sex organs.
How long do the results of an STD test take?
Depending on the testing route you take, i.e whether you decide to visit your doctor or take an at home STD test, your STD results could take anywhere 2-5 days.
Private STD Testing
There’s no way around it – one of the most critical points of concern, especially when it comes to STDs, is privacy. Perhaps more so than other medical conditions, STD and STI testing that isn’t handled responsibly could reveal private information about us that we don’t want to share, as it could have unforeseen consequences.
Don’t Let Privacy Concerns Stop You from Getting Tested!
There are too many cases in which a person has decided to skip STD testing out of privacy concerns, even when suspecting exposure. The good news is that you have nothing to worry about in terms of privacy. You have full control over the information you share, if you’re doing it the right way.
Good News for Privacy
Private STD testing services are aware of this concern and have gone to great lengths to make sure privacy is not an issue. For example, you’ll notice that these services employ highly capable safeguards on their website, including industry-standard encryption protocols. Many companies will also allow you to use an entirely unidentifiable digital code that you can use instead of your name.
Reputable and reliable STD testing services are fully compliant with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability ACT (HIPAA). This act ensures that your private information is protected from any unsolicited access and gives you the right to decide who can access your private health data.