STD Testing in Saint Petersburg, Florida

Privacy, accessibility, and affordability are the focus of most STD testing clinics. If you are concerned about an STD, you can find helpful and confidential services in Saint Petersburg.

Florida is 10th in the country for rates of syphilis. The CDC also ranks Florida in the mid-range for all other common STDs. Frequent testing is the best way to decrease the spread of STDs.

If you need testing in Saint Petersburg, several options are available. Metro Inclusive Health offers evening hours and a sliding scale, self-pay option. Saint Petersburg Free Clinic Health Center offers care and testing to those without insurance on a sliding scale.

STD Directory in St. Petersburg, Florida

To help you locate an accredited laboratory/testing center, a list of resources has been compiled and can be found below.

Consult with your health care provider about any lab testing that you may be considering. It is also important to follow up with your health care provider to discuss your results within the context of your medical history.

At-Home STD Testing

Testing for STDs at home is safe, convenient, and private. Performed regularly, it can help you stay healthy and avoid unknowingly transmitting STDs.

You have many options for at-home STD testing. The best at-home STD tests are FDA approved and evaluated for safety and accuracy with fast result turnaround times and support from health care professionals.

At-home STD testing kits should include instructions for collection and test registration, along with materials such as containers and swabs to collect and send your sample to the lab. Most at-home STD tests offer results in about five days through a secure online patient portal.

Ask your health care provider for STD testing recommendations or follow CDC recommendations for STD testing.

STD Trends in St. Petersburg, Florida

St. Petersburg is in Pinellas County and part of the Tampa and Clearwater Metropolitan Area. Florida Health Department’s statistics for 2019 show the infection rate for all STDs in Pinellas County was 679 per 100,000. Between 2012 and 2019, STD diagnoses increased by 3.4 % annually. Chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis are the most common STDs in St. Petersburg.

The 2019 incidence rate of chlamydia in Pinellas County was 471 per 100,000. Health department figures from 2008 to 2019 show an annual increase of less than 1%. Despite this, Pinellas County’s chlamydia infections are high and only slightly lower than national figures. Young and adolescent women in Florida between the ages of 15 and 24 are particularly susceptible to chlamydia, with an infection rate that’s five times higher than the overall incidence rate of chlamydia in Pinellas County.

Between 2012 and 2019, gonorrhea cases in Pinellas County increased by 141%. Gonorrhea infects men and women equally, causing inflammation and pain. Untreated gonorrhea is life-threatening and causes infertility and ectopic pregnancies. Most infections occur in men and women between the ages of 15 and 29, who are four times more likely to be infected.

Syphilis infections are increasing rapidly. Between 2017 and 2018, the number of early latent syphilis cases in Florida increased by 30% to 18.8 per 100,000. Over the same period, primary and secondary syphilis cases went up by 20%. Syphilis primarily affects males. If left untreated, tertiary syphilis may develop, affecting internal organs and possibly causing death. If you’re pregnant, you should get tested for syphilis as infection can cause premature or stillborn babies.

The CDC estimates that 20% of the population is infected by STDs, and young people between 15 and 24 account for half of all infections. Untreated STDs may damage your health, your partner’s health, and that of newborn babies. Learn your status by getting tested at one of the free or low-cost clinics in St. Petersburg.

Free STD Testing Centers in St. Petersburg, Florida

Community-based STD testing organizations help expand access to sexual health services by offering affordable, confidential testing and treatment.

You may choose a community testing center if cost, insurance coverage, privacy, or access to a regular healthcare provider is a concern. While some centers charge a small fee, many offer free or low-cost STD testing and additional support services. Below are examples of community-based resources where reduced-cost testing may be available.