Sexual health screenings by age

Five infections have USPSTF screening recommendations: chlamydia and gonorrhea, HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B and hepatitis C. Some apply to everyone in an age range, others only if you are at increased risk. The CDC, which writes the US STI treatment guidelines, recommends more testing in a few places. Here are both, side by side.

USPSTF and CDC, test by test

Sexual health screenings: who the USPSTF recommends screening, how often, and where the CDC differs
Screening	Who (USPSTF)	How often	Where the CDC differs
Chlamydia and gonorrhea	Sexually active women 24 or younger; women 25 and older at increased risk. Men: evidence insufficient (grade I) (USPSTF, 2021, grade B)	No set interval; test again if new or ongoing risk factors since the last negative test	Yearly for sexually active women under 25; at least yearly for men who have sex with men, at the sites of contact (CDC, 2021)
HIV	Everyone 15 to 65 at least once; younger or older if at increased risk (USPSTF, 2019, grade A)	At least once; repeat testing is reasonable for people at increased risk	Routine opt-out testing at 13 to 64; at least yearly for people at high risk (CDC, 2006)(USPSTF, 2019)
Syphilis	Adults and adolescents at increased risk (USPSTF, 2022, grade A)	Evidence on intervals is limited; at least yearly, or every 3 to 6 months, for men who have sex with men or people with HIV who stay at high risk	At least yearly for men who have sex with men, more often at higher risk; at least yearly in HIV care (CDC, 2021)
Hepatitis B	Adolescents and adults at increased risk (USPSTF, 2020, grade B)	Periodically for people whose risk continues	All adults 18 and older at least once, with three blood tests, plus risk-based testing (CDC, 2023)
Hepatitis C	All adults 18 to 79 (USPSTF, 2020, grade B)	Once for most adults; repeat if risk continues (for example, injection drug use)	All adults 18 and older at least once, with no upper age limit, where infection is not very rare (CDC, 2020)

Your screening plan lists the age-based tests for you and puts the risk-based ones under "Also ask your doctor about", since it never asks about your sex life.

By age

15 to 17: HIV at least once from 15, and chlamydia and gonorrhea for sexually active girls. (USPSTF, 2021) HIV: (USPSTF, 2019) The CDC guideline for HIV testing starts at 13. (CDC, 2006)
18 to 24: add hepatitis C once (USPSTF 18 to 79) and, for sexually active women, chlamydia and gonorrhea. (USPSTF, 2020)(USPSTF, 2021)
25 to 65: chlamydia and gonorrhea for women at increased risk, such as a new partner, more than one partner, a partner who has other partners or an STI, or a past STI. (USPSTF, 2021) HIV once if you have never been tested. (USPSTF, 2019)
Over 65: HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B screening still apply if you are at increased risk; hepatitis C applies to 79. (USPSTF, 2019)(USPSTF, 2022)(USPSTF, 2020)(USPSTF, 2020)

At any age, syphilis and hepatitis B screening is for people at increased risk, and people who stay at risk may need repeat tests. (USPSTF, 2022)(USPSTF, 2020)

Where the CDC goes further

Hepatitis B for everyone once. The USPSTF recommends hepatitis B screening for people at increased risk. (USPSTF, 2020) The CDC's 2023 recommendations add screening with three blood tests at least once in a lifetime for all adults 18 and older. (CDC, 2023)

Hepatitis C with no upper age. The USPSTF range is 18 to 79. (USPSTF, 2020) The CDC recommends screening at least once for all adults 18 and older, except where infection is very rare (under 0.1%). (CDC, 2020)

HIV from 13, and yearly at high risk. The CDC recommends routine HIV screening in health care settings, unless you decline, and at least yearly for people at high risk. (CDC, 2006) The USPSTF notes that the CDC range is 13 to 64. (USPSTF, 2019)

Men who have sex with men. The CDC recommends at least yearly testing for HIV, syphilis, and gonorrhea and chlamydia at the body sites exposed, and more often (every 3 to 6 months) for those at increased risk. (CDC, 2021) The USPSTF does not recommend chlamydia and gonorrhea screening for men, finding the evidence insufficient, but its syphilis statement says men who have sex with men may benefit from screening at least yearly or every 3 to 6 months. (USPSTF, 2021)(USPSTF, 2022)

PrEP

PrEP is not a screening test but a medicine that lowers the chance of getting HIV. The USPSTF recommends that clinicians prescribe it to people at increased risk of HIV (grade A, 2023). (USPSTF, 2023) See PrEP: who it is for.

Symptoms such as discharge, sores or pain are not a screening matter: see a doctor or a sexual health clinic. This page is educational only, not medical advice; talk to your doctor about which tests fit you. Many tests are free or low cost; see free screenings without insurance.

Questions people ask

How often should I get tested for STIs?

It depends on age, sex and risk, not on a single schedule. Under the USPSTF, sexually active women 24 or younger are screened for chlamydia and gonorrhea, everyone 15 to 65 is tested for HIV at least once, and hepatitis C is checked once from 18 to 79. Syphilis and hepatitis B screening is for people at increased risk. The CDC suggests at least yearly testing for some groups, such as men who have sex with men. (USPSTF, 2021) (USPSTF, 2019) (USPSTF, 2020) (CDC, 2021)

Should men be screened for chlamydia?

The USPSTF found the evidence insufficient for men (grade I). The CDC also does not recommend routine screening for young heterosexual men, but says to consider it in settings where chlamydia is common, and recommends at least yearly testing for men who have sex with men. (USPSTF, 2021) (CDC, 2021)

I am over 65. Do I still need an HIV test?

The USPSTF routine range ends at 65, but it recommends testing older adults who are at increased risk. If you were never tested, ask your doctor. (USPSTF, 2019)

Is PrEP a screening?

No. PrEP is medicine that lowers the chance of getting HIV. The USPSTF recommends that clinicians prescribe it to people at increased risk of HIV (grade A). Starting it involves an HIV test first. (USPSTF, 2023)